Chance the Rapper cancels more shows, issues statement on health

Days after being hospitalized and forced to pull out of his Coachella performance last weekend, Chance the Rapper will miss additional shows in order to recover from “a combination of the flu virus and tonsillitis.”

The 21-year-old rapper, born Chancelor Bennett, fell ill Friday night and was admitted to a hospital Sunday, according to tweets sent on his behalf from his management.

“On behalf of @chancetherapper and our entire team- We sincerely regret to have to cancel our 2nd weekend at coachella,” his management tweeted Sunday afternoon.

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No reason for the hospitalization was given. On Friday, Chance had tweeted that he was sick following a gig in Las Vegas but said he thought he would recover in time for Coachella.

Bennett had to be rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after running a 104-degree fever and losing the ability to speak due to throat inflammation, his manager, Patrick Corcoran, wrote in a statement on Wednesday.

Doctors concluded his illness was caused by a combination of the flu virus and tonsillitis. Bennett is recovering at his home in L.A. and is scheduled to see a specialist this week to determine whether he needs surgery.

In the statement updating fans, Corcoran wrote all shows through Sunday are canceled. He was slated to perform at the CounterPoint Music & Arts Festival in Kingston Downs, Ga., on April 27.

Chance is also scheduled to perform at a number of festivals in May, including JMBLYA, Big Guava, Hangout, Sasquatch and Soundset.

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Here’s the rapper’s full statement:

Last Friday, April 18, 2014, Chancelor Bennett PKA Chance the Rapper came down with a high fever and was experiencing difficulty breathing. Upon arriving at the Coachella music festival that day, he requested that he be brought home to rest for two days before his appearance at the festival on Sunday afternoon. He spent the night and Saturday in bed with assistance from his family whom had been in Los Angeles area at the time.

Upon rising on Sunday morning, Chance was running a 104 degree fever and could not speak due to the inflammation of his throat. He was rushed to Hollywood Presbyterian hospital where he was put on an IV drip and medicines were introduced to help control his body temperature and pain caused by his illness.

Chance has since returned to his home in L.A. and is recovering. His doctors have come to the conclusion that this illness was caused by a combination of the flu virus and tonsillitis. Chance is due to see a specialist this week to determine whether or not surgery is required.

The CTR team, in accordance with Chance, his family and doctors, have cancelled the remainder of this week’s shows, 4/23 - 4/27. We appreciate your concern and prayers.