Childish Gambino is an artist who has certainly been polarizing for hip-hop fans. Overall, there are some fans who believe that he is one of the best artists out. Meanwhile, there are others who call him “corny” and have always thought that to be the case. His early output is certainly questionable, but over the years, he has delivered some big hits, and that is undeniable. One of those big hits is “This Is America.” The track dropped back in 2018 alongside a powerful music video that became the talk of the music world for months following its release.
On Saturday, the song celebrated its sixth anniversary. This was highlighted on Twitter, although, the reactions were anything but positive. At the time of the song’s release, Donald Trump was in office, and there was a strong artistic reaction against that, understandably so. However, even progressives and liberals feel as though the criticism levied in this song are a product of its time, and don’t hold up to scrutiny. This sentiment was made abundantly clear in the quote tweets of the post below. Although beware, you will see plenty of Conservatives voicing their disdain for hip-hop as a whole. A disdain that would still be there regardless of this song’s existence.
There was certainly some pushback to the retrospective analysis of this song. Many questioned where the hate was coming from. Others simply noted that Twitter loves to pretend it didn’t like something that was popular a few years ago. This is certainly true, and if you’ve ever been on Twitter, you know that most people are incredibly cynical over there. Regardless, “This Is America” has already made a significant impact on popular culture, and nothing can take that away from it.
Some Believe The Song Was Simply A Product Of Its Time
Let us know what you think about the retrospective analysis of this song, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that people are being way too harsh on this song? What do you think of “This Is America” all of these years later? Does it hold up? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
White people really would put this on aux in the car or a party and then stare at you waiting for your approval https://t.co/wjV8AagDtu
— the vibe formerly known as julian (@echompls) May 5, 2024
2018 was so awesome. I sincerely think everyone was way dumber then. people would hear a song that was like “war and conflict/businesses profit” and declare a new artistic epoch. if you didn’t think this video was important, people would kill your grandparents with explosives https://t.co/dLqEgQcLvn
— Lead Actor from Pixar’s Sodas (@ByYourLogic) May 5, 2024
the actual reason this feels outdated is that the pandemic basically killed off discussion about gun control in american political discourse https://t.co/AChBlxKVfp
All the qts are doing that obnoxious twitter thing where they pretend like they always hated a specific wildly Popular song or artist and never understood how people liked them https://t.co/XEl2CaD54k
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.
Childish Gambino/Donald Glover attends Rihanna’s 4th Annual Diamond Ball at Cipriani Wall Street on September 13, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
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.
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.
“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.
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 28: Recording artist Childish Gambino attends the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)
“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.
(@Captain_Fubar) May 6, 2024
