Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino Essential Songs

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Childish Gambino, the musical alter ego of Donald Glover, has made a significant impact on the music and entertainment industry. Known for seamlessly blending genres and addressing complex themes, Gambino’s work transcends conventional hip-hop and R&B. His music often explores identity, race, and societal issues, echoing deeply with a diverse audience.

By delving into five of his essential tracks, we gain a comprehensive understanding of his evolution as an artist and the unique contributions he has made to contemporary music. Each song highlights different facets of his talent. This ranges from his innovative production choices to his thought-provoking lyrics. This exploration celebrates Gambino’s musical achievements and offers insight into the artistic vision that continues to shape his influential career.

1. “This Is America” (2018)

Released in 2018, “This Is America” became an immediate cultural phenomenon. The song addresses themes of gun violence, racism, and the African American experience in the United States. It was all encapsulated within a haunting and powerful musical arrangement. Produced by Ludwig Göransson, the track incorporates elements of trap music with traditional African rhythms. It further creates a dynamic and unsettling soundscape that complements its stark message.

The music video, directed by Hiro Murai, amplifies the song’s impact. It featured shocking visuals and symbolic imagery. Gambino’s performance, juxtaposed with scenes of chaos and violence, underscores the song’s critique of American society. “This Is America” not only garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Grammy for Record of the Year but also sparked widespread discussion and analysis.

2. “Redbone” (2016)

“Redbone,” a standout track from Childish Gambino’s 2016 album Awaken, My Love!, showcases his versatility and willingness to experiment with different musical styles. Departing from his earlier rap-centric works, this song embraces a retro funk and soul sound. It was also heavily influenced by the psychedelic funk of the 1970s. The track’s lush instrumentation, featuring prominent bass lines and atmospheric keyboards, creates a warm, immersive listening experience.

Gambino’s vocal performance on “Redbone” is equally striking. Using a high-pitched, almost falsetto voice, he delivers a haunting and emotive melody that perfectly complements the song’s lyrical themes of infidelity and paranoia. With its memorable refrain “Stay woke,” the chorus has resonated widely, becoming a cultural catchphrase. “Redbone” received critical acclaim, earning a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Performance and cementing Gambino’s status as a multifaceted artist capable of transcending genre boundaries.

3. “3005” (2013)

“3005” is from Childish Gambino’s 2013 album Because the Internet. It also stands out as one of his most commercially successful tracks. The song features a polished production style, combining pop and hip-hop elements. Its upbeat tempo and contagious melody mask the underlying themes of loneliness and existential angst. This further created a juxtaposition that adds depth to the track.

In “3005,” Gambino explores his fears about the future and the uncertainties of life, wrapped in a facade of romantic commitment. The accompanying music video, featuring a carousel ride with a teddy bear, further emphasizes the song’s blend of whimsy and melancholy. “3005” is a testament to Gambino’s ability to craft sonically appealing and emotionally resonant songs, highlighting his growth as an artist.

4. “Sober” (2014)

“Sober,” featured on Childish Gambino’s 2014 Kauai EP, also demonstrates his ability to integrate reflective lyrics with melodies. The song’s production, illustrated by its smooth synths and laid-back groove, creates an atmospheric backdrop for Gambino’s vocal performance. In “Sober,” he explores themes of unrequited love and personal struggle, presenting a vulnerable side that contrasts with the upbeat instrumental.

Moreover, the music video for “Sober” enhances the track’s impact. In the video, he performs an elaborate dance routine in a diner, trying to win over a disinterested love interest. This blend of humor and pathos highlights his multifaceted artistry. “Sober” stands out for its catchy sound and emotional depth, further firming Gambino’s reputation as a versatile and innovative musician.

5. “Heartbeat” (2011)

“Heartbeat,” from Childish Gambino’s 2011 album Camp, captures the intensity and emotion that marked his early work. The song features a driving electronic beat and pulsating synths, creating a sense of urgency that mirrors the turmoil in the lyrics. Gambino’s vocal delivery oscillates between rapped verses and a passionately sung chorus, showcasing his versatility as a rapper and singer.

Lyrically, “Heartbeat” delves into themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of romantic relationships. Gambino’s often confessional lyrics also reveal his struggles with vulnerability and trust. The song’s powerful production established “Heartbeat” as a standout track in his discography. It is a poignant example of his ability to fuse personal storytelling with compelling musical arrangements.

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Childish Gambino Announces “Bando Stone & The New World” Release Date, Fans React To “Lithonia”

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Childish Gambino has fans feeling as free as he seems on his brand-new single “Lithonia”. The veteran multi-talent just released the lead-off track for Bando Stone & The New World moments ago and it is already receiving heaps of praise. Honestly, it is well deserved, as the song beautifully produced and evokes a lot of emotion. Massive credit goes to Gambino, but also the additional producers who were brought on. They include Ludwig Göransson, Max Martin, and Michael Uzowuru, and the instrumentation perfectly matches the tone of the song. From the grand organ in the beginning to the rockin’ guitar licks, it embodies the feeling you get when you release all the stress off your mind.

It seems like that will be a heavy focus thematically speaking for Gambino on his presumed final album. Donald Glover has stated already that this is essentially the sendoff for his onstage moniker. Additionally, Bando Stone & The New World is going to be the accompanying soundtrack for his film of the same name. He is going to be wearing a lot of different hats, as he is directing, acting, and of course composing. While we now know the release date for the project, July 19, we are all still in the dark about when the movie will land in theaters. Gambino did premiere the trailer just yesterday and it will be about a former musician stranded on an island in an apocalyptic world.

Read More: Eminem Fans Praise His New Single “Tobey” With Big Sean & BabyTron & Their Fiery Bars

Childish Gambino Has Fans Feeling Something With “Lithonia”

While a lot of people are looking forward to the motion picture, fans are loving what Gambino did on “Lithonia”. The raw emotion on the single is what the internet is loving about it with one person writing, “Finally, music has the IT back. The FEELING is back. We been missin it.” Another adds, “this made me wanna go do something with my life”. With the album coming in just a couple of weeks, the days are going to fly by now as we now know that this is it for Childish Gambino. But we cannot wait to see what kind of note he leaves off on when the time comes.

What are your thoughts on the release date for Bando Stone & The New World? Do you think Childish Gambino has a hit with “Lithonia”, why or why not? Will his final album be his best work yet? How do you feel about that decision? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Childish Gambino. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.

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Childish Gambino Rocks Out On ‘Lithonia’ From His New Movie ‘Bando Stone & The New World’

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Donald Glover is one step closer to unifying with his musical alter ego Childish Gambino with the release of “Lithonia,” the first single from the soundtrack of Glover’s upcoming post-apocalypse comedy, Bando Stone & The New World.

After the song’s existence was inadvertently revealed by an overly enthusiastic fan, Gambino officially released it with no further hiccups. The track opens with a somber organ, suggesting something in the vein of his moodier psych-funk tracks from Awaken, My Love! — but then, it becomes a full-on, operatic rock anthem. It looks like Glover’s next musical evolution may end up being closer to Queen than Parliament. No, I’m not retracting that incredible wordplay.

Bando Stone & The New World appears from its trailer to be a bit of a comedic take on monster horror like A Quiet Place, with the titular singer emerging from his self-imposed isolation to discover an abandoned world that is now populated mostly by aggressive creatures. He quickly learns that he has none of the survival skills necessary to last more than a day in this new world; fortunately, he learns this from a competent survivor, who teams up with him despite his uselessness. Fans have already begun trying to decode the meaning of “Lithonia” and how it relates to this character, drawing parallels between “Bando Stone”‘s obviously fabricated moniker and the “Cody LaRae” whose name is repeated throughout the “Lithonia” chorus.

You can listen to the track above.

Will Smith Is A Huge Fan Of Donald Glover’s BET Awards Joke About Him And Sam Smith, His Reaction Shows

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Donald Glover Childish Gambino 2024 BET Awards
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In case you missed it, Donald Glover made waves at the 2024 BET Awards this weekend when he took the stage to lament his lack of historical success at the awards. He joked, “It doesn’t really make sense: I have more Grammys than Will Smith, which makes no sense, but I have the same amount of BET Awards as Sam Smith. Does that make sense to you guys? Me and Sam Smith are neck-in-neck at the Black Entertainment Television…”

Will Smith, it turns out, is a fan of the bit.

On Instagram yesterday (July 1), Smith shared a video of himself in what looks like a hair and makeup room, watching the aforementioned part of Glover’s speech on a TV. He laughed after he was mentioned, then let out a bigger laugh at the Sam Smith punchline.

Glover was up for Best Actor at this weekend’s show, ultimately coming up short as the honor went to Denzel Washington. Glover was also part of the massive Usher tribute performance, opening the multi-artist medley by singing Usher’s “U Don’t Have To Call.”

Will Smith didn’t have any nominations, but he was on hand to give a performance of a very Kanye West-like new song.

Donald Glover And Tyler, The Creator Are Making Exceptional Black Art (Regardless Of What The BET Awards Say)

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During last night’s BET Awards ceremony, Donald Glover — who was there to present the award for Album Of The Year — took a bit of a digression during his time onstage to call out the show for never nominating him. Indeed, it’s one of the first times the network has even acknowledged Glover’s existence, and the fact he was also allowed to plug his quirky new film Bando Stone And The New World is probably a testament to the concessions BET’s programmers had to make to soothe his bruised ego over the years of neglect.

“This isn’t personal, but I just feel like I should have more BET awards,” Glover said. “I’m serious. It’s the Black Entertainment Television Awards. How much more entertaining do I have to do? Because it’s just the math of the fact. It doesn’t really make sense. I have more Grammys than Will Smith, which makes no sense, but I have the same amount of BET awards as Sam Smith.” Smith and Glover both have one BET Award each; Glover won Best Music Video in 2019 for “This is America”, while Smith won the 2015 award for Best New Artist. I don’t know if you noticed, but Sam Smith… also isn’t Black.

Glover joked that he’d be willing to remake BET Saturday afternoon mainstay Baby Boy if it would get him more recognition from the network. “I’ll have Jonathan Majors put me in a headlock, shave my head, I’ll do it,” he said, referring to a scene in which Ving Rhames puts Tyrese Gibson in a headlock during a heated domestic dispute in the film.

Social media users on Twitter noted that Glover has kind of a point — he should not have the same number of BET Awards nominations as Sam Smith, regardless of whether he and Will Smith have the same amount of Grammys — and drew parallels to another recent addition to the BET canon, Tyler The Creator. The Hawthorne, California native also went unacknowledged by the network until 2021, when he was honored with a (the admittedly vaguely titled) Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award. During an interview about the award, he, too, acknowledged that he felt he “wasn’t accepted by that audience,” but that he held a deep reverence for the network growing up.

“I was so hype to perform at the BET Awards,” Tyler admitted. “I just never felt like my style of music would ever have been, not even appreciated, but allowed on there. And because of that, I would mock it. It was like a defense mechanism because I felt like I wasn’t accepted by that audience. But when they asked me this year, man, I was enthralled. I was so happy.” At first glance, it does appear that artists like Glover and Tyler contrast starkly from the usual BET fare. When they were both in the target demographic for BET’s old video countdown show, 106 & Park, they likely didn’t see themselves reflected in the usual rotation of artists like Soulja Boy, 50 Cent, or Hurricane Chris.

But over the years, they’ve each garnered mainstream acclaim for their creative works, which have always celebrated their Blackness and drawn extensively from deep cultural roots — even if they didn’t reflect the stereotypical looks and concerns promoted by not just BET, but mainstream depictions of Blackness in media in general.

Glover’s groundbreaking work in music and television includes the funk-soul revival album Awaken, My Love! and his paradigm-shifting dramedy Atlanta, which often addressed ongoing current events and made references to Black lifestyle deep cuts like the “haunted” Lake Rainier in his native Georgia. Meanwhile, Tyler’s multihyphenate takeover of hip-hop, fashion, and animation with albums like Igor, shows like The Jellies!, and his history-making collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Louis Vuitton, centered Blackness and posited a broader spectrum of possibilities for it. You can’t tell me you couldn’t see Carlton Banks decked out in Tyler’s preppy Louis pieces. There are all kinds of alternative expressions of Blackness, and neither artist allowed the fact they didn’t see those expressions on TV stop them from expressing themselves in full.

While it’s clear that BET’s definition of notable Black art is expanding — a net good for a network whose narrow typecasting of Black art has been criticized in the past — neither Glover nor Tyler should ever have fretted. They’ve been two of the most important Black artists of their generation all along. From the beginning, both artists have presented a dazzling, wide-ranging perspective of what Black art can be. Beyond BET, we would all benefit from recognizing those talents — and the talents of others who go against the grain — and letting Black art be more than what we’ve already seen.

Childish Gambino, Keke Palmer, Coco Jones, And More Paid Homage To Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Usher At The 2024 BET Awards

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It was a big year for Usher, who completed his Vegas residency, then released his new album Coming Home just as he performed in the Super Bowl Halftime Show. It was as good a year as any to give him the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by none other than legendary producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

With his new multimedia project Bando Stone And The New World on the way, and his album Atavista already out, Donald Glover — aka Childish Gambino — was the first to hit the stage at the 2024 BET Awards to pay homage to Usher with a fluttering falsetto performance of Usher’s 8701 hit, “U Don’t Have To Call,” with Keke Palmer. Palmer picked up the torch to perform his breakout “You Make Me Wanna,” then his “Good Good” collaborator Summer Walker hit the stage to perform their collab.

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Coco Jones was the next star to emerge — from the crowd, no less — to sing “There Goes My Baby” with some audience participation that would make Usher himself proud. “Confessions Pt.2” was performed by Marsha Ambrosius — and yes, she did hit that run — as she was encircled by laser beams. Chlöe popped out next to perform “Good Kisser” in a glittering bodysuit, followed by Tinashe, who performed Usher’s first No. 1, “Nice & Slow.”

Next up was Teyana Taylor and Victoria Monét, who performed a sexy duet dance routine to “Bad Girl.” Latto then joined a fleet of dancers to remake the “Yeah!” video onstage, with her performing Ludacris’ iconic verse ahead of the finale, during which all the other women returned to the stage.

You can watch the performance above and find the full list of 2024 BET Awards nominees and winners here.

Donald Glover Isn’t Cut Out For A Post-Apocalyptic World In The First ‘Bando Stone And The New World’ Trailer

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Last night (June 27), Donald Glover (AKA Childish Gambino) took to Instagram to surprise his fans: He shared a photo of two tickets to an IMAX screening of A Quiet Place: Day One and wrote, “Bando Stone trailer is coming tonight @imax.” Sure enough, a trailer for Glover’s Bando Stone And The New World movie aired in IMAX theaters last night.

It hasn’t been officially shared online yet, but fan-shot recordings have made the rounds online. The two-minute video starts with Bando Stone (Glover’s character) wandering around an empty post office before heading to an also-empty convenience store. There, he encounters a character played by Jessica Allain, who holds a gun in his face. Stone reveals he’s a famous singer, and later, he joins Allain’s character and a young girl (perhaps Allain’s daughter or sister). From there, the three try to survive in a post-apocalyptic world full of dangerous giant creatures.

In April, Glover shed some light on his upcoming plans. One of them is a soundtrack album for the Bando Stone movie, which he dubbed the “final” Childish Gambino album. He also announced Atavista, an album that has since been released.

Check out the Bando Stone And The New World trailer above.

Donald Glover Is ‘Pissed’ That Audiomack Leaked An Upcoming Childish Gambino Single’s Release Date

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In April, Donald Glover confirmed he planned to release “the final Childish Gambino album” after Atavista, which arrived on May 13. The final album is believed to be called Bando Stone And The New World, and it’s supposed to release sometime this summer.

“‘Lithonia’ coming out July 2,” he said of an upcoming single during an Instagram Live session on Wednesday, June 26, as per Billboard. “That got leaked — kinda pissed me off to be honest. That’s another reason why y’all don’t get good sh*t. For what? It’s not valuable enough. It’s just a single. And I know who did it. Audiomack, f*cking no soup for you. You’re not getting the album now. That’s what time I’m on.”

An unnamed Audiomack representative provided a statement to Billboard, which reads, “This morning, we learned that an Audiomack user correctly guessed the URL for Childish Gambino’s already-announced new single, revealing a July 2 release date. The music itself was never playable. We already have a fix in place, which we are rolling out now.”

A YouTube user named Childish Brandino captured the entire five-minute Live. Despite his negative emotions toward Audiomack, Glover was mostly in a good mood, saying, “The problem is we’re not having enough fun. OK, so, this rollout that’s coming, it’s like, mostly about fun. I’m trying to have fun because I feel like there’s just people not having enough fun.”

Childish Gambino Announces Release Date For New Single “Lithonia”

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Donald Glover is one of the busiest men in Hollywood. He’s an actor, writer, producer, director, and he’s returning to music after four years off. Glover announced that his upcoming album will be his last under the Childish Gambino moniker that made him famous. As a swan song, expectations couldn’t be higher. The details surrounding the album have been scarce, but Gambino is finally getting the ball rolling. Not only did he announce a new single, but he gave a release date that’s right around the corner.

Childish Gambino teased the album via billboard on June 24. These billboards featured the rapper’s name along with the phrase “Bando is coming.” The phrase is in reference to the album’s title, Bando Stone in the New World. Shortly after these billboards surfaced, however, Gambino took things a step further by announcing the lead single. The song will be called “Lithonia” with a subtitle in parenthesis that reads: “Nobody Gives a F*ck.” It will be released on July 2, which is exactly seven days removed from the day it was announced.

Read More: Childish Gambino Teases New Song With Producer Ludwig Goransson

Childish Gambino’s New Single Will Drop On July 2

Childish Gambino’s decision to release a single on a Tuesday is unique, to say the least. Most singles come out on Fridays, especially singles from crossover stars with number one hits under their belt. It’s clear from the promotion, however, that Gambino has a specific vision in mind for Bando Stone. He made reference to this vision during an E! News interview in 2023. Despite starring in two different TV shows, Gambino was compelled to create music after taking such a long hiatus.

“I’m making music right now, I love it,” he told the outlet. “I’m actually working, I’m in the studio. I’ve been bringing people in, like secret people, working on little things. But I just been, you know, making it for fun right now. But soon something will happen, I promise. Something will happen.” Bando Stone in the New World is billed as a “soundtrack,” which is something Childish Gambino has flirted with in the past. The 2013 album Because the Internet was packaged with a screenplay in which scenes were meant to be listened to with specific songs from the album. We’re eager to see how “Lithonia” fits into the concept.

Read More: Childish Gambino Hilariously Shuts Down TikTok Critic With New Song Preview

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Zack Fox Shares Teaser Trailer For Childish Gambino-Assisted Anime “YOPPAMAN”

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Zack Fox is already a comedian, rapper, writer, and general internet personality at large. But he’s expanding the range of his creative output even further in the world of anime. That’s coming with a new project called YOPPAMAN which just got its first trailer earlier this week. Fox shared a full three minutes of the project to YouTube with a description that explained how it came to be. “Our question was simple: What if the employees at a dilapidated 24 hour diner (a la Waffle House) beat so many peoples’ asses that they got enlisted to protect earth in shiny bodysuits” the description reads.

In the second paragraph, he reveals a surprise collaborator. Fox is no stranger to working with big names as he’s crossed over with the likes of Thundercat and Flying Lotus in the past. But this time it was Childish Gambino and his GILGA outfit that helped Fox achieve his anime vision. “In 2023 we introduced Donald Glover to the idea and he was hype to help us build it and it’s been a blessing having him and the folks at GILGA share their platform and resources with us. As a gift to y’all we funded a lil short with our own bread so we can show you a piece of our universe instead of trying to tell you. Hope y’all enjoy it. Tell your friends about YOPPAMAN,” the description concludes. Check out the trailer they shared below.

Read More: Zack Fox Returns With Soulful “Wood Tip” EP

Zack Fox Unveils New Anime Series

Earlier this year, Donald Glover announced the “final” two Childish Gambino projects. The first was called Atavista, which was simply a finished version of the project he released in 2020 3.15.2020. He also confirmed that another new album called Bando Stone and The New World will drop later this summer.

What do you think of Zack Fox collaborating with Donald Glover on an upcoming anime comedy series? Are you looking forward the to alleged final Childish Gambino album coming later this year? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Zack Fox Comes Through With Bouncy New Single “dummy”

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