Childish Gambino, or Donald Glover, is one of the most influential modern rap and R&B artists. Gambino is known for his attention-grabbing, experimental, and sometimes weird sounds, while Glover is known for his offbeat, dark, and inappropriate humor. He has released five albums and almost 200 songs since he began rapping in 2008.
However, Gambino’s explosive 16-year musical career has reached its end, with his final effort Bando Stone and The New World having been released on July 19, 2024.
Glover started his comedy career as a member of the sketch comedy group, Derrick Comedy at New York University. At 23, comedian and actress Tina Fey hired Glover to write for the 2006 sitcom 30 Rock. Two years later he found success in the role of Troy Barnes in the 2009 comedy series Community. Glover has also gained acclaim in the Golden Globe and Emmy-winning television series Atlanta.
During his time on 30 Rock and Community, he worked to grow his musical career under the moniker Childish Gambino, which he received from a Wu-Tang Clan name-generator. Due to the sudden success of his first two albums, Because the Internet and Camp, he left to pursue the growth of Childish Gambino early in the 5th season of Community
Gambino has won five Grammys, four of which were from his 2018 single: “This is America.” Reaching #1, “This is America” won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Best Music Video. It was a powerful condemnation of the oppression of black Americans and gun violence as a whole. The song was the first rap song to receive the Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Gambino’s sound has changed drastically throughout his career, starting out as an angry kid from Georgia rapping, he transformed into a wise 40-year-old dude mixing psychedelic funk with soft rock.
Rashad Burton, senior, said, “In his 2011-2013 albums he was mainly focused on rapping and hip hop then he transitioned to funk and psychedelic sounds but now he has more pop and rock. He has many different sounds.”
Glover realized his music could no longer surpass his standards due to the many projects he is working on, including parenting.
In a New York Times interview, Glover said, “I think grace is undervalued in the world. When I put my son on my shoulders, I feel deep joy. That’s real. No one on their deathbed is going to look back and say, ‘Thank God I avoided being cringe.’”
When asked about Glover ending Childish Gambino, Burton said, “I’m fine with it, I think it did need to end because he couldn’t surpass his old albums. Those are like must hear albums, his newer albums felt a bit rushed but they were still great.”
It’s unclear if Glover is stepping away from his Childish Gambino persona or leaving music altogether, but the former seems more likely.
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