Chance hit "The Breakfast Club" Tuesday and said Dave once put things in perspective for him … comparing album and touring periods to yearbook photos -- they capture moments in time but don’t “define” one's career.

Pretty sound advice from someone with real-life experience on the matter … Dave recently dealt with protestors' demands to shut down his show in Minneapolis.

Chance was also excited to plug his Black Star Line Festival -- the event he and fellow Chicago rapper Vic Mensa will co-headline together in Ghana next year, and stunt on the haters.

Chance reminded his detractors ... artists who “fall off” don’t get booked for BC and Fallon … where he later performed his “Highs and Low” single with Joey Bada$$.