Who is Childish Gambino?
Don't call him a comic: Community's Donald Glover shows his talents as a rapperon Culdesac
Childish Gambino's "Culdesac" is actually a well produced free album. Who wouldhave known that Glover is a talented rapper?
Donald Glover performing stand-up. Most of the time, you would think comedy ishis only game. Well, you're wrong...Photo by Gaelen Hadlett
As a writer on 30 Rock, co-star of Community, part of the Derrick Comedy improv troupe, stand-up comedian, and rapper, Donald Glover is a true renaissance man. He's probably least known as a full-fleged rapper, but he's out to change that.
Using the pseudonym Childish Gambino, Glover recently released a CD, Culdesac. He explores life as the only black kid in suburbia and other topics.
With Derrick Comedy, Glover starred in the infamous "Bro Rape: A Newsline Investigative Report" comedy skit making fun of bros and To Catch a Predator. It has received nearly eight miliion views on YouTube and countless non-bros quoting it whevever a bro actually passes by. it's quotable, memorable, and funny.
Childish Gambino rhymes about everything from his famous "Bro Rape" video to being a writer on 30 Rock. He even admits in "The Last" that "this next part sounds like nonsense/ But I swear to God, Tina Fey gave me confidence."
Another impressive feat is his variations on rap styles. From the booty-dancing song, "Put It in My Video," to the Adele "Chasing Pavements"-sampled "Do Ya Like", Childish Gambino gives listeners a rap album that is well worth the price --- free.
A favorite track is "Do Ya Like", a sexual confessional and explicit song: "Yes I'm drinking whiskey/ Baby I ain't gone tonight/ NBC is not the only thing I'm coming on tonight."
In the same song, he mentions his Twitter campaign -- an attempt to get the new Spiderman part despite the fact that Peter Parker is Caucasian. "Yes I bring the heat girl/ fire for fireman/ baby I'm your hero/ Donald 4 Spiderman." Even though he didn't get the part, even Spiderman creator Stan Lee weighed in, saying Glover is a good actor who should have his chance at an audition.
Another great track is the Kanye-esk "Glory" with the use of 808s.
Ultimately, Culdesac is an album worth paying for. In the era of Drake and B.O.B., he continues (even expands) his high pitched whiny un-rap like voice and life with backing tracks, samples, and 808s, to rap about life (although some would say it's sappy rap or alt rap).The music is well-produced and even though his background strays from the hard life of legendary rappers like Biggie Smalls, his geeky, quirky, clever, and methodical rhymes prove that this album has been made with a lot of loving care.
"Do Ya Like"
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"Glory"
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See Glover's famous YouTube video:
