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Chance The Rapper Makes History With 7 Grammy Nominations

CHICAGO (CBS) – Nominations are out for the 2017 Grammy Awards.

Some Chicagoans are on the list, but it's Beyoncé who tops the list, with nine nominations, including Best Album and Record of the Year. Queen B is up against superstar Adele in both categories, who has a total of five nominations.

CBS This Morning announced the full list of nominees.

Making history, is Chicago's very own, Chance the Rapper whose mixtape Coloring Book is the first streaming-only album to receive a Grammy nomination. Chance has been nominated for seven different awards.

Is the 23-year-old from Chatham setting a new standard for the music industry? CBS 2's Vince Gerasole has the story.

By streaming his works independently and almost exclusively, Chance the Rapper has tapped into music's next generation.

The 13-song collection, Coloring Book, reached 57-million steams in its first week and is now the first streaming-only album to receive a Grammy nomination.

"Huge, this is huge man," said Frankie Robinson, WGCI. "Chance the Rapper just came and kicked the door down."

All without the backing of a major label, said WGCI's Frankie Robinson.

"He is doing something no artist has done in history," Robinson said.

And in his hometown, he is interacting beyond music – rallying young people to vote, or just last night, he sponsored an open mic night for teen artists.

"It's case specific," said Chance the Rapper. "The way I grew up, this is what I was around. This is what I do."

"His love of community and of Chicago is so close in his music," said Leor Galil, music journalist.

Leor Galil covers music and hip-hop for the Chicago Reader and said Chance's sense of social responsibility also sets him apart.

"He is completely engaged in the community," Galil said. "Talking to kids like him, to kids who dream of his position and encouraging them to follow their goals."

"He is giving us something back, we have not had is some time," Robinson said. "And that is exciting right now."

Chance's nominations include Best New Artist and Best Rap song.

Keep these terms in mind, Chance didn't release an album, he released a mixtape that was shared on streaming services. No one paid to own the music, and it reached No. 8 on the Billboard Top 100.

The Grammy's will air Feb. 12 hosted by James Corden, right here on CBS.

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