3 minute read
Childish Gambino
The Future of Hip-Hop
by Jonathan Robles
It’s a rainy, early summer evening in New York City’s Central Park. Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) is set to take the stage after fellow rappers Danny Brown and ScHoolboy Q. The weather has caused the show to be delayed, but the attendees are only more energized, with roars of “Gambino! Gambino! Gambino!” waving across the sold-out crowd.
Following brief performances by the aforementioned, the venue becomes electric as Glover finally takes the stage.
“I want to see every one of you move,” he requests. “This isn’t a rap concert; this is a rock ‘n’ roll concert!” The young MC then proceeds into a freestyle rap over Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”
Weather a non-factor, Glover performs for over an hour, hypnotizing his audience for every second. It’s what he does. Sure, he’s a rapper, but he has captivated music lovers in a different way from many of his peers. And it’s safe to say he’s becoming aware of that.
Donald Glover doesn’t have the rap “credentials” of so many before him. The 28-year-old was raised in a middle-class home in Georgia. He graduated from New York University with a degree in Dramatic Writing, landing a writing gig for the Tina Fey comedy 30 Rock shortly afterward. His cameos on the NBC series led to a full-time role on another cult favorite, Community, where he currently plays the hilariously quirky Troy Barnes.
He’s a writer, a DJ, a musician, an actor, and a comedian, but recently he’s proving to be a major player as a rapper. Since the release of his debut album, Camp, which sold 52,000 copies in its first week, he has slowly crept his way into the viewpoint of the music world. There’s something about this guy.
Many critics have dismissed Glover— who has taken his geeky TV role into the studio—calling his rapping foray just a phase or novelty act. It doesn’t even matter. Is he the best rapper that ever was? Probably not. But his timing is absolutely impeccable.
The music industry isn’t in the business of selling music anymore. It’s about pushing acts--personas. Watch five minutes of a reality singing competition, and someone will talk about “package artists.” Donald Glover is a package deal.
People relate to him. He’s personable. But more importantly, he’s on their TV playing a community college student. He’s in their city performing a show. He’s on their Twitter feed. He’s on their iTunes. He knows what he’s doing.
Although Glover signed with Glassnote Records last year, he runs his music career like an indie artist. His approach to promoting his upcoming mixtape has been nothing short of pure savvy, releasing track after track--most of which have been available for free download-- only days apart. Again, he knows what he’s doing.
Glover isn’t just a rapper. He’s an artist. Listen to his lyrics. Watch him light up a TV screen. Watch him command a stage. He may be new to the game, but he’s mastering it. The man has incredible talent, and all signs show he is starting to own it.
With his mixtape releasing on July 4 and a full slate of upcoming performances--not to mention the highly anticipated return of Community in the fall, Glover is proving he’s a force to be reckoned with; not just in music but in entertainment, not just in rap but in hip-hop. In fact, he’s demonstrating what hip-hop can be.
While even some of the best in the business perform to tracks, on this hot summer night in Central Park, Glover is accompanied by a full backing band (including a violinist), providing a rich, soulful sound. He croons passionately to his popular single “Heartbeat,” only to wail on tracks like “Difference” and “You See Me.” He moves seamlessly, never releasing the audience from the palm of his hand.
His skill is evident, and it’s obvious he knows he’s a rockstar, but as he looks into the audience in the heart of New York City, he remains humble. Between songs, he takes a moment to express his gratitude: “I got my start rapping here, and I never thought this could happen. Thank you.”
The new Gambino mixtape will likely launch the “Freaks and Geeks” rapper further into the spotlight, attracting fans and critics alike, but Glover has a long career ahead of him, and whatever he’s doing, he seems to be doing it right.
The new Childish Gambino mixtape, which is still untitled as of this writing, is available July 4. For tour dates and more news from the man himself, go to iamdonald.com.
