SEB Honors Chicago Roots with Cover of Chance The Rapper’s “Paranoia”

Rising LA-based artist and producer SEB has released a soulful reinterpretation of Chance the Rapper’s “Paranoia,” originally featured as a hidden track on Acid Rap. Commissioned by Apple Music for its 2022 Juneteenth initiative, the cover is a stirring tribute to Black musical innovation and a powerful showcase of SEB’s genre-fluid, emotionally resonant sound.

SEB, whose upbringing spanned New York, Haiti, Oklahoma, Miami, and ultimately Chicago, brings a personal perspective to the track. “I remember feeling the hype around Acid Rap in high school,” he recalls. “Being in Chicago, it was so visceral. The day it came out I downloaded the project, and on song two there was a 30-second pause of silence. Then, ‘Paranoia’ creeps in and I was blown away he did that mid-song. I’ve loved it ever since.” His version honors that same eerie stillness and lyrical vulnerability, filtering it through his own sonic lens of alt-R&B, lo-fi hip-hop, and indie-pop textures.

The cover follows SEB’s recent singles “SAVE ME” and “fuck it, i’m the man,” which have garnered praise from The FADER, Paste, and NME, and earned spins on Apple Music and BBC Radio 1. These new releases hint at a larger project in the works, expanding the dreamlike world he built on his breakout EP IT’S OKAY, WE’RE DREAMING and his viral hit “seaside_demo.”

More than a tribute, SEB’s take on “Paranoia” is a bridge between eras—a modern artist reconnecting with the moment that first made him feel seen. It’s also a poignant reminder of the enduring influence of Chicago’s rap renaissance, and how its echoes continue to shape the next generation of visionary Black artists.