Chance The Rapper announced as headline speaker for SXSW Sydney

The Grammy award-winning rapper will lead a headline panel at Sydney’s inaugural South by Southwest festival and said he wants to discuss the “transformative power” of his genre.

Chance the Rapper, who was once described by President Barack Obama as an “outstanding role model”, will headline a panel at SXSW Sydney about Hip Hop’s global impact. Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images.

Grammy award-winning artist Chance the Rapper is headed Down Under next month to headline the speaking panels at Sydney’s inaugural South by Southwest festival.

The futuristic conference combining music, film, gaming and culture will see the American rapper, singer, and producer reflect on 50 years of Hip Hop.

The Cocoa Butter Kisses and No Problem singer, who was once described by President Barack Obama as an “outstanding role model”, will be reflecting on the genre’s indelible impact on his hometown of Chicago and beyond.

“As we celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop in 2023, I’m reminded of the transformative power this culture has had, not just on the world stage, but on the streets of Chicago’s South Side,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“Hip Hop has provided a rhythm to our stories and a canvas for our creativity. I’m really looking forward to joining SXSW Sydney as a speaker to expound upon Hip Hop’s transcendent legacy.”

Chance will be appearing alongside previously announced headline speakers, including Coachella festival CEO Paul Tollett, visionary Slack Co-Founder Cal Henderson, futurist and AI expert Amy Webb, and Queer Eye’s Tan France. Photo: NDZ/Star.

The panel will be an unmissable event for burgeoning and established artists coming out of Western Sydney’s blooming Hip Hop scene.

Chance will be appearing alongside previously announced headline speakers, including Coachella festival CEO Paul Tollett, visionary Slack Co-Founder Cal Henderson, futurist and AI expert Amy Webb, and Queer Eye’s Tan France.

Chance the Rapper performs on the Black Radio stage during the Blue Note Jazz Festival at Silverado Resort and Spa on July 30, 2023 in Napa, California. Photo: Richard Bord/Getty Images.

Traditionally held in the depths of Austin, Texas, this is the first time in 36 years the citywide festival that introduced Uber and Billie Eilish to the world has left the US.

The 2023 event will see more than a thousand sessions, screenings, performances and parties over one week.

SXSW will provide a significant boost to the NSW economy.

“This world-class event will be a significant drawcard for Sydney, attracting 27,000 visitors and injecting $24 million into the NSW economy,” Minister for Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin said.

“This will activate numerous city venues, supporting the entire ecosystem of Sydney’s visitor and night-time economy while supporting jobs in our creative industries.”

The event builds on the success of this year’s Vivid Sydney light festival that saw record crowds brought into the city — a reprieve after two years with lockdowns.

Overall, crowd numbers at Vivid reached 2.58 million — up by 7.5 per cent from 2019.