Chance the Rapper Says He Joined ‘The Lion King’ Cast as a ‘Nostalgia Consultant’

By BreAnna Bell

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – Chance The Rapper revealed he’s a Lion King expert on the red carpet at the film’s world , describing his early role in the live-action film as a “nostalgia consultant.”

“Donald Glover called me. I was not in that movie. Donald and Jon Favreau, the director, are really close, obviously from the film and he told Jon early on that I was ‘The Lion King’ aficionado, which I am,” the rapper told Variety’s Marc Malkin on Tuesday in Hollywood.

Chance said he always knew he would work with because of the movie’s influence, calling it “a coming of age film for the youngest of itty-bitty babies.”

“It’s integral to every child’s childhood. At least the ones I know. It teaches a lot of people responsibility, death. For a lot of people, it’s their first introduction to that,” he told Variety. 

After the showing, the Chicago lyricist took to Instagram to share more of his “Lion King” enthusiasm. “One day I’m there Jon asks me to do some singing stuff, another day he asks me to do some lines,” he said. “Its all a blur, but I’ll tell you its one of the best blurs of my life.”