CHICAGO — The 2017 Emmy Awards will set the stage for a battle between Chicago natives Chance the Rapper and Common for the title of best original music and lyrics.
Chance, from the Chatham neighborhood, is nominated for his song "Jingle Barack" which is a play on 90s rap featuring memorable moments from President Obama's early days in the White House.
MAMA I GOT NOMINATED FOR A EMMY :sob::sob::sob::sob: THANK YOU SNL https://t.co/KB3nJEgL0D #EmmyNominations
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) July 13, 2017
Chance said he submitted his tribute to Muhammad Ali at the 2016 ESPY awards for an Emmy nomination.
Funny story, I secretly submitted this for @TheEmmys for Original Music & Lyrics. Today's the 1 year anniversary https://t.co/17RX6iUmhs
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) July 13, 2017
Common, from the Calumet Heights neighborhood, is nominated for his song "Letter To The Free" which was featured in Ava Duvernay's documentary "13th" about mass incarceration.
The song addresses how the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution formally abolished slavery yet for more than 2 million black Americans incarcerated in prisons "slavery is still alive."
The song was first performed live during an NPR Tiny Desk Concert and is part of the last scene of the documentary.
Chance's real name is Chancelor Bennett. Common grew up as Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr.
The Emmy Awards will be on Sept. 17 on CBS.
