Time Magazine released their annual list of the 100 Most Influential People In The World on Thursday (April 20). The list, as Time explains, is not a ranking of power or wealth, but rather solely a ranking of influence — both good and bad. This year’s list includes Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino), and Chance The Rapper, who appear alongside names like Alicia Keys, Barry Jenkins, Jordan Peele, Ava DuVernay, John Legend, Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.
Chance The Rapper has undoubtedly had a big year. For one, he was honored with three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, without selling a single song. That’s a first in the award’s long history. Then, he made more headlines by donating $1 million to Chicago Public Schools, which are currently facing a budget crisis. Chance reacted to his place on the list on Twitter.
His write-up was provided by fellow Chi-town rapper Common, who described how he unknowingly motivated Chance as a child. As he explains, his grandmother asked if he could call her friend’s grandson, who wanted to become a rapper. He called and left a message for young Chance, who describes Common as a hero.
Donald Glover, whose write-up was provided by his one-time employer Tina Fey, also has had a great run as of late. On top of his Golden Globe win for his network series Atlanta, he took on a new musical direction with his third solo album, Awaken, My Love!. He also has a slew of upcoming film roles including playing Lando Calrissian in the 2018 untitled Han Solo film and voicing Simba in an upcoming re-boot of The Lion King.
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As Tina wrote, “Now Donald is serving you best-case-scenario millennial realness. He embodies his generation’s belief that people can be whatever they want and change what it is they want, at any time.”
Rapper/actor/activist Riz Ahmed also made the list, getting honored by Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote, “The year 2016 was when all the seeds he planted bore glorious fruit, and here’s the best part: he’s just getting started.”
You can see the full 100 Most Influential People in the World list here.
