During his “It’s All A Blur” Tour, Drake took a direct swipe at fellow artist Childish Gambino, serving as a clap back to Gambino’s previous admission that his Grammy Award-winning song, “This Is America,” was originally a diss track aimed at the Toronto rapper. The shade occurred during Drake’s performance of his hit song “Headlines,” […]
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The year 2018 marked a turning point in Donald Glover’s career. A few years removed from Awaken! My Love, he was already into the second season of Atlanta and signed a deal with RCA Records months earlier. Even though the FX show appeared to be his main priority, he simultaneously emerged with a definitive song of the 2010s, “This Is America.”
Five years later, we learned that Donald Glover didn’t initially intend for “This Is America” to carry such a strong socio-political significance. It actually began as a diss song towards fellow actor-turned-rapper Drake. “To be completely honest, ‘This is America’ — that was all we had was that line,” the multi-hyphenate told GQ earlier this year. “It started as a Drake diss, to be honest, as like, a funny way of doing it. But then I was like, this sh*t sounds kind of hard, though. So I was like, let me play with it.”
We’ve certainly seen the Canadian rapper trade bars with formidable MCs (i.e., Meek Mill and Pusha T). It would’ve been predictable if Drake aired his grievances towards the Atlanta artist through a series of subliminal jabs. Instead, the stage design for his It’s All a Blur Tour included a scrolling text across the side of the stage. “The overrated and over-awarded hit song ‘This Is America’ was originally a Drake diss record,” it read.
In the wake of Drake’s response to Donald Glover, we’re looking back at the release of “This Is America” and its impact on its SNL debut in 2018.
Read More: Marlon Wayans Says He’s “Proud” Of Donald Glover For His “This Is America” Video
As an MC, Childish Gambino proved to be a king of nerdcore since he emerged. Although his pre-Culdesac outings bore similarities to some of Drake’s earlier output, his ability to be humorous, self-aware, and lighthearted set the tone for his career. However, Childish Gambino felt like a nomad in Atlanta’s music scene at a time when artists like Young Thug and Future had already redefined the sound of trap music and began influencing another generation of artists, such as 21 Savage and Lil Baby.
“This Is America” found Donald Glover successfully merging together sounds and textures that would otherwise feel out of place. The gospel influence extended to the choir’s inclusion, while the riveting 808s and warblings synths furthered the urgency of the lyrics. With assistance from artists like BlocBoy JB, Young Thug, Quavo, 21 Savage, and Slim Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd, Donald Glover came through with a bursting banger that defined the year.
Across the song, Glover details the concerns and anxieties that many Black Americans shared during the Trump era, from systemic racism to rampant gun violence and mass shootings – all of which remain unaddressed on a federal level. An infectious anthem that maintained a steady presence on radio, the politically-charged sentiment behind the song proved to be a pivotal moment in pop culture and a defining record in Glover’s catalog.
Read More: The Chaos Of Childish Gambino’s “This Is America”
Perhaps, a significant amount of dialogue surrounding the 2018 single had little to do with the actual song itself rather than the Hiro Murai-directed music video. Murai and Glover executed a vision that perfectly encapsulated the chaotic soundscape it accompanies. The moment the video opens, we see actor Calvin The Second (who many confused with Tracy Martin, the father of Trayvon Martin) strum on a guitar before panning to Gambino. By this time, he already began executing his flawlessly choreographed number before pulling out a gun and shooting Calvin in the head in an eerie Jim Crow pose. Calvin lays on the floor dead while a child hands Glover a handkerchief that he uses to wipe the gun and proceeds with his number.
Later in the video, Glover uses an automatic firearm to gun down a church choir, referencing the 2015 Charleston church shooting that killed nine Black churchgoers. There’s plenty to unpack at that moment in particular, but perhaps, the most significant is the intersection between systemic racism and gun violence in the country. But in the midst of it all the chaos, he continues to dance, pulling inspiration from the South African gwara gwara to BlocBoy JB’s “Shoot” and the Stanky Leg.
Five years after the song dropped, this scene speaks volumes about how we consume media. The same platforms where dance challenges are pervasive are where we often consume news. The same timelines that propel TikTok trends to the top of the Billboard charts also where videos exposing police brutality often pick up traction.
Read More: Alex Tumay Is Responsible For Iconic Ad-Libs In Childish Gambino’s “This Is America”
“This Is America” was an immediate critical darling, becoming a decorated anthem in Glover’s catalog. The 3x Platinum-certified hit, which also became the 31st song in history to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100, made Donald Glover one of the most exciting nominees at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. That evening, he went 4 for 4 in each category that he was nominated in, including Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Music Video, Record Of The Year, and Song Of The Year. It marked the first time a rap song ever won in the latter two categories.
Read More: Childish Gambino’s Manager Denies “This Is America” Rip-Off Rumors
“This Is America” certainly didn’t go without criticism. Whether you feel like it’s aged poorly since its release or you share Drake’s sentiment towards the song, it’s hard to deny its place in the pop culture pantheon. However, it also showcased a more raw side of Donald Glover that we’ve yet to see in the past. Unfortunately, it might be a while until he delivers new music, but the conversations surrounding “This Is America” have not faded away.
The post Donald Glover: The Cultural Impact Of “This Is America” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.
It has often been said that rap is wrestling — meaning that a lot of the supposed “beef” that goes on within the genre is just performers doing a job, rather than holding legit animosity toward each other. If that’s the case, then the only way to buy into the brewing feud between Childish Gambino and Drake is to go full-blown mark, because both are surely in on the joke.
A few months ago, Gambino — aka multitalented actor/director/producer/writer Donald Glover — admitted his 2018 megahit “This Is America” started out as a Drake diss, so at last night’s It’s All A Blur Tour opener, Drake himself chimed in to strike back, calling the song “overrated” with his stage design. A text scroll above and on the sides of the stage declared: “The overrated and over-awarded hit song ‘This Is America’ was originally a Drake diss record.” Considering that many of the other quotes scrolling during his performance of “Headlines” were culled from negative press coverage Drake’s received over the years, it seems likely this is also a blog headline, but Google hasn’t turned anything up as yet.
Drake called This Is America “overrated and over awarded” at the first show of his tour after Childish Gambino said it was originally a Drake diss
pic.twitter.com/A6UPfLQkhW
— SK
(@raptalksk) July 6, 2023
Obviously, Drake and Donald have both had a lot of fun messing with media who run stories like this, so it seems fair to say all this is probably a bit of kayfabe to keep the fans entertained. However, depending on how sensitive Glover is to criticisms of “This Is America” — and there have been plenty since it dropped in May 2018 — Drake and ‘Bino could mess around and work themselves into a shoot, and I don’t know who actually wants to see that. You can find more about the Drake tour, including the setlist, here.
Donald Glover will officially be joining the cast for the upcoming Community spin-off film. Star Joel McHale made the announcement while appearing on Kelly Ripa’s Let’s Talk Off Camera podcast, according to EW. Other cast members include Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Ken Jeong, and Jim Rash.
“The fact that Donald’s gonna do it, that was the big piece,” McHale told Ripa. “But I think everyone’s coming back. I mean, so far we’re pretty good. And I think that will happen. If not then, you know, Donald will be there. See, it’ll just be Donald. It’ll just be an episode of Atlanta.”
Read More: Donald Glover Goes Back To Roots For “Community” Table Read
McHale then clarified that Chevy Chase won’t be returning. “Yeah, I don’t think so,” McHale said, before joking, “There wasn’t any issues at all when we were making the show.” When the cast reunited for a virtual table read back in 2020, Pedro Pascal read for a guest-starring role originally played by Walton Goggins. McHale noted that they’d love to have either return for the film. “Hopefully Walton and Pedro would come back on, but Pedro seems to be the most famous person now on the planet, so I don’t know,” he said.
He added that he expects the movie to begin filming next summer. Despite McHale’s comments, Peacock still hasn’t announced Glover’s involvement in the film. While cast members expressed hope about him being able to join in the past, he wasn’t included in the official cast when Peacock announced the movie, last year.
Be on the lookout for an official announcement of Glover joining the cast from Peacock. Until then, expect filming on the Community film to begin, next summer.
Read More: Donald Glover’s Best Roles, Ranked
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The 2023 BET Awards will be held on June 25, and the ceremony is set to take place in Los Angeles, California. Nominations have been announced, and the Best Actor Award is up for grabs by many notable names. Seven incredible actors are nominated, and it’s anyone’s guess who will take home the coveted trophy. The award covers both television and film work, making for an even tighter competition.
Will Smith is the current holder, winning for his performance in the biopic King Richard. Michael B. Jordan and Denzel Washington are the actors with the most wins in this category, with three each. Jordan has the chance to break this tie, as he’s up for his sixth nomination for his work in Creed III. Actors Amin Joseph and Lil Meech have each received the first nods in the category, joining the other nominees. The award covers one or multiple acting performances during the eligibility period, so while some actors may be nominated for one role, others may score nods for multiple performances. Here are the nominees for the BET Award for Best Actor.
Since the premiere of Snowfall in 2017, Amin Joseph has been praised for his role as Jerome Saint, the uncle of main character Franklin Saint. After his work on the series for six seasons, Joseph has finally received his first Best Actor nomination at the 2023 BET Awards. His nod is well deserved; his work in the sixth and final season was met with particular acclaim.
Brian Tyree Henry’s nomination in this category is thanks to not one but three of his impeccable performances in 2022. The actor received rave reviews for his acting in the final season of Atlanta. His role as “Paper Boi” has garnered acclaim since the show’s premiere in 2016. Furthermore, Henry was lauded for his hilarious performance in the action comedy thriller Bullet Train where he starred as Lemon, a British assassin. Finally, his work in the drama Causeway also received highly positive reviews, making him a trifecta nominee.
Damson Idris has starred as young drug lord Franklin Saint for an outstanding six seasons on the crime drama, Snowfall. He and the show have both been well-received by fans and critics alike. Idris has also now earned three Best Actor nominations for his work on the show. The 2023 BET Awards will mark the third year in a row that Idris has been up for the coveted trophy. Additionally, he is up for the award alongside his co-star Amin Joseph, who stars as his uncle, Jerome Saint.
Thanks to his team-up with Jordan Peele once again in Nope, Daniel Kaluuya has earned another nod at the BET Awards for Best Actor. This marks his third nomination in the category. In 2018, he was nominated for his work in Black Panther and Get Out, while he scored another nomination for starring as real-life Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in the biographical drama Judas and the Black Messiah. Kaluuya, alongside his co-star Keke Palmer received great praise for their work in Nope. The pair, who played siblings, offered contrasting performances while still captivating viewers in their own way.
Demetrius Flenory Jr. is popularly referred to by his rap moniker Lil Meech. Since 2021, he has starred in the biographical crime drama BMF, or Black Mafia Family. The series is also executive produced by 50 Cent. In BMF, Lil Meech stars as his own real-life father, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory. Lil Meech has thanked his father and 50 Cent for the opportunity to take on the role. The actor and rapper has also shared that his Big Meech has seen and appreciates his work on the show.
With his work on the final season of Atlanta, Donald Glover has scored his third Best Actor nomination. The actor received back-to-back nods in 2017 and 2018 for his role as Earnest Marks in the comedy-drama. Throughout the series’ four-season run, Glover has won numerous awards as the lead actor and creator of the show. He has also won a BET for his work as Childish Gambino, taking home the Video of the Year Award for his groundbreaking single “This Is America.”
Michael B. Jordan has now been nominated six times in the Best Actor category. He’s also tied with Denzel Washington as the actor with the most wins, with three each. Jordan’s nod this year comes from his career-defining turn in Creed III, which also served as his directorial debut. The film received positive reviews for its direction, storyline, and acting. His previous wins were for his roles in both Creed and Creed II, as well as his performance in Just Mercy. Creed III has also been nominated for Best Movie at the 2023 BET Awards, so Jordan is up for another potential win in another category.
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Donald Glover – also known as Childish Gambino – has gone through several transformations throughout his career, the latest of which has seen him leaning more into making TV than music. He previously found success with FX’s Atlanta, and more recently, he shared Swarm on Amazon Prime, which earned him some apparent shade from Beyoncé on her RENAISSANCE World Tour. Along with the series, the multihyphenate shared an accompanying EP that found him returning to the studio to get off a few bars.
Besides that, he also appears on Summer Walker’s long-awaited CLEAR 2: Soft Life EP, earning both artists immense praise. As HipHopDX reports, that’s not all Gambino has had up his sleeve as of late. For his first performance since 2019’s Austin City Limits Festival, the 39-year-old took to the stage at his manager, Chad Taylor’s wedding. The song requested for the happy couple’s first dance was “24.19” from Glover’s 3.15.20 album, which he delivered with plenty of gusto.
Read More: Summer Walker Drops Dreamy “Clear 2: Soft Life” EP Featuring Childish Gambino, J. Cole
Considering they’ve worked together since the early 2010s, with Taylor starting out as his tour manager and eventually levelling up to the close bond they have now, it makes sense that ‘bino would be willing to come out of retirement for the occasion. It remains unclear what the “Heartbeat” hitmaker has planned for the future of his music career, but after seeing how captivated he left audiences with Swarm, many likely wouldn’t be upset to see him continue down the path he’s on.
Interestingly, Glover isn’t the only recording artist to change directions in favour of Hollywood this year. The Weeknd – who now prefers to go by Abel Tesfaye is also making similar moves with HBO’s The Idol and an upcoming film he recently wrapped filming on. Unfortunately, the former received mostly negative reviews upon its debut at Cannes this week. Would you hire Childish Gambino to perform at your wedding? Let us know in the comments, and tap back in with HNHH later for more pop culture/hip-hop news updates.
Read More: Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” Started As A Drake Diss
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Since turning his talents from making music back to television, Donald Glover has found plenty of success with shows like Atlanta and Swarm. The latter is the multi-talent’s most recent project, and it arrived on Amazon Prime Video a few months back. Starring Dominique Fishback and Chlöe Bailey, the short series tells the story of a young woman whose obsession with her favourite pop star takes her to some deadly places. After the show premiered, many couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the idolized vocalist on-screen, Nijah, and real-life superstar, Beyoncé.
The mother of three hasn’t publicly commented on Swarm – until last night’s debut RENAISSANCE World Tour performance, that is. At one point during her captivating set, Queen B adorned a bee costume. It in itself appears to be a nod to the fanbase in Glover’s show, seemingly referencing her actual audience, known as the BeyHive. When she sang into the microphone, “Swarm on these hands, n*gga,” however, Beyoncé made it pretty clear that she doesn’t have a positive opinion of the six-episode series.
Read More: Childish Gambino Drops “Swarm” EP With KIRBY To Accompany New Amazon Prime Video Series
Beyoncé acknowledges Swarm?
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) May 10, 2023
Regardless of what the B-Day songstress has to say about Swarm, critics on Rotten Tomatoes awarded it an impressive 86%. As for at-home audiences, they seem to fall closer to Beyoncé’s side of the fence, ranking it at just 72%. While it’s certainly been criticized (namely for Glover’s admitted failure to prepare his lead actress for her role), it also captivated viewers thanks to salacious moments such as Damson Idris’ sex scene with Bailey, as well as a noteworthy nude shot of Rory Culkin.
As for the 41-year-old’s opening night, things seemed to go off without a hitch. Her seemingly shading Childish Gambino was arguably one of the evening’s wildest moments, though she also borrowed some of Lil Uzi Vert’s dance moves, and called out those who have been begging her to drop visuals to accompany her latest LP, which arrived last summer. While she prepares to take the stage in Europe once again, Twitter has been lighting up with reactions to the rumoured beef between Bey and her co-star from The Lion King.
Read More: Blue Ivy & Jay-Z Support Beyoncé’s “RENAISSANCE” World Tour Debut In Sweden
“To everyone that said, ‘Beyoncé loved ‘Swarm,’” one Twitter user wrote while retweeting a clip of Beyoncé at last night’s concert. Elsewhere, another asked if the “Telephone” hitmaker might have been upset over her mentee, Chlöe’s appearance in the hit series. Keep scrolling to read more social media reactions, and tap back in with HNHH later for more updates from the RENAISSANCE World Tour.
To everyone that said “Beyoncé loved swarm” like no she did not
https://t.co/c7AiSpMfEj
— shat ahp im manifesting (@kykymbjoonie) May 10, 2023
I guess it’s safe to say Beyonce didn’t care for SWARM
— D
(@TheDosageBrand) May 10, 2023
Beyoncé said, “swarm on these hands n***a!”
Virgo. Virgo. Virgo.
— J Café (@itsjcafe) May 11, 2023
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Donald Glover’s hit TV series Atlanta has won its second Peabody Award. The feat of winning a second of these awards is one few series have managed to accomplish. The award was given to the show on May 9, and other winners included Abbott Elementary, Better Call Saul, and We Need to Talk About Cosby. The comedy/drama also won two Primetime Emmys in 2017. The Emmys were awarded to Glover for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series and for outstanding directing in a comedy series. The fourth and final season of the series premiered in September of last year with the series finale airing in November 2022.
The Series, starring Glover, sees two young men navigating their way through the Atlanta rap scene. Also starring Brian Tyree Henry, LaKeith Stanfield, and Zazie Beetz, season three of the show received backlash from viewers and critics. Glover shared with GQ that his unique approach to the season was something he, “needed to see for [himself].” He adds, “We deserve quality. We deserve something that isn’t easy for everyone to digest all the time.” The actor and musician doubles down on the creative direction of the show, saying “people never give [him] the benefit of the doubt.” “This season is good,” Glover assures GQ, telling them that he “wasn’t ever worried about that.”
Glover himself has also won several awards for his work as Childish Gambino. He won five Grammy Awards, four of which in 2019 and one in 2018. Awards included Best Music Video, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and more. The artist’s work on Atlanta won him two Golden Globe Awards in 2017 for Best Actor and Best Television Series. He was also nominated for two additional Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a Television Series for Atlanta.
Atlanta has seen several celebrity appearances, including cameo roles by Katt Williams, Liam Neeson, and more. The show, highly praised for its music, features various genres of rap and R&B. The series showcases the work of artists like Jeremih, Kodak Black, Migos, and more.
There are a few Hollywood personalities who can match the talent of Donald Glover. The California native has proven to perform at the highest level on any stage. Glover has built a name for himself in entertainment for his musical, comedy, and acting talents. Yet, his most critically acclaimed role is as a creator of hit shows like Atlanta and the critically acclaimed new Prime Video series Swarm.
Additionally, Glover has production and writing credits on hit TV series like 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live and films like Guava Island. He has starred and featured in successful and critically acclaimed movies and TV shows since his career beginnings in 2006. Here are some of his most acclaimed roles.
Glover was involved in a Disney franchise. He lent his voice to the character of Simba in the 2019 Jon Favreau-directed live animation film, The Lion King. Favreau was tasked to remake a live adaptation of the 1994 animated film of the same name. It follows the life of Simba, a young lion trying to figure out his life in the African savannah. Scar, Simba’s uncle, falsely accuses him of killing his father, Mufasa. Scar takes over as king of the Pride Lands after Simba runs away to exile.
Simba is eventually found by her childhood friend and his future queen, Nala. Beyonce Knowles-Carter voices Nala’s character. She convinces him to return to the Pride Lands to challenge his uncle as the rightful successor to his father. The movie later reveals that Scar was the one who killed Mufasa. The movie grossed over $1.6 billion at the box office, making it one of the most successful films of all time.
Donald Glover stars in the Guava Island musical film alongside fellow musician, Rihanna. He plays the character of Deni Maroon, a Cuban musician determined to throw a festival for his island community. Kofi Novia, played by Rihanna, is his love interest. Red (Nonso Anozie) is the antagonist. He tries to stop Deni from creating a local music festival. However, it all turns out well in the end, as Deni successfully hosts and plays in the festival.
The film features songs like “Summertime Magic,” “This Is America,” and “Feels Like Summer.” Glover produced the records and performed them in the musical. Hiro Murai, Glover’s long-time music director, directed the film. The screenplay was co-written by Glover and his brother Stephen Glover. The film currently has a 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Donald Glover’s inclusion in the popular franchise is a testament to his star power in Hollywood. The film tells the story of Han Solo, played by Alden Ehrenreich. Glover plays Lando Calrissian, a smuggler, gambler, and self-proclaimed sportsman on the rise in the galaxy’s underworld. Billy Dee Williams portrayed the character in previous Star Wars films.
The two actors met before shooting began, and Glover mentioned in the aforementioned GQ interview that Billy gave him advice on how to play the character of Lando best. The film debuted in May 2018. Glover’s portrayal of Lando was praised by critics despite underwhelming box office sales.
Glover made a memorable cameo in the Marvel franchise that premiered in 2017. He plays Aaron Davis in the film. Spider-man confronts Davis, an illegal weapons criminal, in one of the scenes. Davis is alluded to be Miles Morales’ uncle. Miles is a character that Marvel has hinted to take up the mantel of Spider-man after Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland). The character of Miles Morales is also voiced by Glover in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series on the Disney XD channel.
Donald Glover created and starred in the comedy-drama Atlanta. The plot follows the lives of Earnest Marks and Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles, played by Brian Tyree Henry. Paper Boi is a budding hip-hop artist, and Earn is his manager. The two are trying to navigate the ‘otherworldly’ portrayed Atlanta hip-hop scene.
Atlanta has a predominantly Black cast and a Black-only production crew. The show has a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Guardian ranked Atlanta at number 10 on its 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century list. The film has also won numerous awards, including a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Glover for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He also won Best Actor in a Television Series at the Golden Globe Awards for the role.
Donald Glover goes by the stage name Childish Gambino when pursuing his musical exploits. He has released four albums, including the Grammy-nominated, Awaken My Love. “Red Bone,” one of the lead singles off the album, won a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance. However, his most popular song is the Billboard No. 1 record, “This Is America.”
After its release, the four-minute visual was the most talked about topic in the entertainment industry. It featured a graphic portrayal of themes like gun violence, civil unrest, and the dark side of social media. The music video won the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage Award for Best Cinematography in a Music Video. It additionally won a Grammy for Best Music Video in 2019.
Donald Plays Troy Barnes in the NBC sitcom Community. The show aired from 2009 to 2014. Troy is a former high school star quarterback who lost his scholarship to a top-tier university when he separated both shoulders doing a keg flip. During the show, we discover that he actually did this on purpose to escape the pressures of his popularity. Troy initially portrays the stereotypical behaviors of a football player in the series. But, he eventually becomes comfortable with his nerdy and carefree side after becoming best friends with Abed, a character played by Danny Pudi.
The show has six seasons, with Donald Glover playing the character of Troy in the first five. Community was the most nominated TV show in the 2012 Critic’s Choice Television Awards and won Best Comedy Series. During a GQ interview, Donald confirmed that they are currently working on a movie version of Community.
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