Ever the wise-ass, Donald Glover, rap alias Childish Gambino, is much more than a rapper. Having started his career as a start-up comedian, and now accelerating it on the cast of NBC’s Community, Gambino exhibits a bit of his comical, theatrical, and musical talent on the mixtape. His work as a writer (30 Rock, Comedy Central Presents) has rendered him a clever lyricist, capable of producing such Wayne-esque rhymes as “I f**k a girl named Kira, nightly.” While the production quality and over-the-top delivery will prevent the listener from taking the tracks too seriously, Gambino’s rap ambition is admirable. He is above all an actor/comedian who has finally made enough money to pursue rap as a hobby, but not an additional source of income. The resulting work is eclectic (sampling Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear), lyrically satisfying, and at times reminiscent of FOTC’s Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenocerous.
Childish Gambino–My Girls (My Girls)
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