Donald Glover is finding success in everything that he does lately. He's a successful actor, writer, and comedian, and with the release of his first studio album, Camp, Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino), shows the world he can also make music.
Here's a quick background of Glover for those of you who don't know his story. He has been a writer for The Daily Show and 30 Rock, he starred in the online sketch comedy group called Derrick Comedy that generates millions of YouTube hits per video, and he now co-stars in the very successful NBC sitcom, Community, all before he turned 28.
Now Glover, as his rapping alter ego, Childish Gambino, can add an exceptional hip-hop album to his list of impressive achievements.
Camp is the complete hip-hop album. Production wise the album is top notch. Gambino raps on everything: synth, piano, violin, dubstep, and even a full choir to name a few. Glover's whole career has been about versatility, and it's no different as Childish Gambino.
One of the strengths of Camp is Gambino's honesty. He intelligently raises unconventional racial issues of racism directed at him about not being black enough on tracks like "Hold You Down" where he raps, "This one kid said something that was really bad/ He said I wasn't really black because I had a dad." Gambino hears all of the people who attack his race, sexuality, and his right to be a rapper, and chooses to fight back by cleverly worded, and carefully placed lyrical fire throughout his album.
Although there are many serious themes throughout the album, it's complemented by Gambino's premier wordplay. On Camp's first single, "Bonfire",Gambino proves he can go line-for-line with anyone in the game. With lines like "Made a beat and murdered it, Casey Anthony", and "So this rap is child's play, I do my name like Princess Di," Gambino has his coming out party for anyone who thought his rapping was just a gimmick.
Whether or not Gambino's music will be able to push through into mainstream remains to be seen, but it is worth pointing out if he so chooses, Gambino has a radio gem in Fire Fly. The song is infectious. Lyrically, it's not one of the albums strongest, but with the relaxing synth, combined with an upbeat sound and beautiful melody, it has the potential to blow up on the radio.
As much as I didn't want this album to end, Camp has a perfect closing track. On "That Power", Gambino goes off lyrically for the first two and half minutes backed up by a choir, but at 3:00, the beat switches to an acoustic set highlighted by some crisp violin. Gambino decides to tell us a story about a girl he met at summer camp when he was 13, and engages whoever's ears cross its path. If you don't like hip-hop, you should still listen to this song just for the story.
Camp is ambitious,experimental, and original. Gambino is clever, emotional and honest. And if this album is heard by enough people, it can change the way hip-hop sounds entirely. In mainstream music right now, everything is sounding the same. Gambino admits that he's different, and if this is what different sounds like, then sign me up for Camp.
One of the strengths of Camp is Gambino's honesty. He intelligently raises unconventional racial issues of racism directed at him about not being black enough on tracks like "Hold You Down" where he raps, "This one kid said something that was really bad/ He said I wasn't really black because I had a dad." Gambino hears all of the people who attack his race, sexuality, and his right to be a rapper, and chooses to fight back by cleverly worded, and carefully placed lyrical fire throughout his album.
Although there are many serious themes throughout the album, it's complemented by Gambino's premier wordplay. On Camp's first single, "Bonfire",Gambino proves he can go line-for-line with anyone in the game. With lines like "Made a beat and murdered it, Casey Anthony", and "So this rap is child's play, I do my name like Princess Di," Gambino has his coming out party for anyone who thought his rapping was just a gimmick.
Whether or not Gambino's music will be able to push through into mainstream remains to be seen, but it is worth pointing out if he so chooses, Gambino has a radio gem in Fire Fly. The song is infectious. Lyrically, it's not one of the albums strongest, but with the relaxing synth, combined with an upbeat sound and beautiful melody, it has the potential to blow up on the radio.
As much as I didn't want this album to end, Camp has a perfect closing track. On "That Power", Gambino goes off lyrically for the first two and half minutes backed up by a choir, but at 3:00, the beat switches to an acoustic set highlighted by some crisp violin. Gambino decides to tell us a story about a girl he met at summer camp when he was 13, and engages whoever's ears cross its path. If you don't like hip-hop, you should still listen to this song just for the story.
Camp is ambitious,experimental, and original. Gambino is clever, emotional and honest. And if this album is heard by enough people, it can change the way hip-hop sounds entirely. In mainstream music right now, everything is sounding the same. Gambino admits that he's different, and if this is what different sounds like, then sign me up for Camp.
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Best Tracks: "All of the Shine", "Bonfire", "Fire Fly", "That Power"
Here's the video for Bonfire. It's awesome. And not for children (lyrically or visually)Best Tracks: "All of the Shine", "Bonfire", "Fire Fly", "That Power"
