Chant (song)
{{Short description|2022 single by Macklemore and Tones and I}}
{{Other uses|Chant (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Chant
| cover = Macklemore & Tones and I - Chant.jpg
| type = single
| artist = Macklemore and Tones and I
| album = Ben
| released = July 22, 2022
| recorded =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 4:30
| label = Bendo
| writer = {{hlist|Ben Haggerty|Joshua Karp|Tyler Andrews|Tyler Dopps|Andrew Joslyn|Josephine Howell}}
| producer = {{hlist|Budo|Macklemore}}
| chronology = Macklemore
| prev_title = Next Year
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Maniac
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Tones and I
| type = single
| prev_title = Eyes Don't Lie
| prev_year = 2022
| title = Chant
| year = 2022
| next_title = Charlie
| next_year = 2022
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|MLuDL-TlJgg|"Chant"}}}}
}}
"Chant" is a song by American rapper Macklemore and Australian singer Tones and I, released on July 22, 2022 as the lead single from the former's third solo studio album Ben (2023). It was produced by Budo and Macklemore.
Background
Macklemore told Good Morning America, "'Chant' is about the human spirit, it's about resilience, it's about facing fear, pushing through, and reminding yourself and the world who you really are."{{cite web|title=Macklemore talks new song, 'Chant' and upcoming tour with Imagine Dragons|url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/macklemore-talks-song-chant-upcoming-tour-imagine-dragons-87261639|website=Good Morning America|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201132446/https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/macklemore-talks-song-chant-upcoming-tour-imagine-dragons-87261639|archive-date=December 1, 2023|url-status=live}} In an interview with Rolling Stone, he said "This song is a bit of a rebirth. I wanted to challenge myself, get through moments of writer's block, and capture the spirit of what it's like to overcome something, push through it, and get up the next day and do it again."{{cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Andy|title=Macklemore on His 'Rebirth,' Sobriety Challenges, and Life After the 'Ultra A-List'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/macklemore-new-single-chant-1384571/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2023|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807182432/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/macklemore-new-single-chant-1384571/|archive-date=August 7, 2022|url-status=live}}
Macklemore started teasing the song on July 6, 2022, posting the cover art on Instagram. He shared snippets of the song via TikTok and Instagram before finally releasing it on July 22.{{cite magazine|last=Denis|first=Kyle|title=Macklemore Returns With New Tones And I Collab: Stream It Now|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/macklemore-tones-and-i-chant-1235116781/|magazine=Billboard|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819011728/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/macklemore-tones-and-i-chant-1235116781/|archive-date=August 19, 2023|url-status=live}}
Composition
"Chant" is a gospel-inflected song over a piano instrumental.{{cite web|last=Provost|first=Rex|title=Macklemore Returns With Emotional "CHANT"|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/410392-macklemore-returns-with-emotional-chant-new-song|website=HotNewHipHop|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819011725/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/410392-macklemore-returns-with-emotional-chant-new-song|archive-date=August 19, 2023|url-status=live}} Lyrically, Macklemore reflects on key moments in his past, including his near-fatal drug overdose in 2020,{{cite web|last=Eustice|first=Kyle|title=Macklemore Touches On Near-Fatal Drug Overdose In 'Chant' Video Featuring Tones & I|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.71930/title.macklemore-touches-on-near-fatal-drug-overdose-in-chant-video-featuring-tones-i|website=HipHopDX|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819011727/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.71930/title.macklemore-touches-on-near-fatal-drug-overdose-in-chant-video-featuring-tones-i|archive-date=August 19, 2023|url-status=live}} and his deepest insecurities, while insisting he will not retire from rapping. In the chorus, Tones and I sings about fighting, rising up and not dying. From there, the instrumental uses a thumping beat with a piano riff. In addition, Macklemore discusses bringing Seattle SuperSonics back to the NBA and highlights his music teaching program, the Residency.{{cite magazine|last=Uitti|first=Jacob|title=Macklemore Releases New Epic Single, Video "Chant"|url=https://americansongwriter.com/macklemore-releases-new-epic-single-video-chant/|magazine=American Songwriter|date=July 22, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819011729/https://americansongwriter.com/macklemore-releases-new-epic-single-video-chant/|archive-date=August 19, 2023|url-status=live}}
Music video
The music video was co-directed by Macklemore and Jake Magraw, and released alongside the single. It begins with Macklemore rising out of a misty lake, and features cameos from NBA stars Jamal Crawford and Isaiah Thomas.
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Chant" ! scope="col"| Chart (2022–2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite magazine|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 August 2022|magazine=The ARIA Report|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|issue=1691|page=4|date=August 1, 2022}}
| 81 |
|---|
| scope="row"| Canada Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/macklemore/chart-history/cns/|title=Macklemore Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs Sales)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 19, 2023}}
| 29 |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2022-08-26|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=August 1, 2022|access-date=August 19, 2023}}
| 8 |
| {{single chart|Billboarddigitalsongs|31|artist=Macklemore|rowheader=true|access-date=August 19, 2023}} |