Donald Glover might be the most unlikely rap personality to be making waves in the 2011 hip-hop game. Initially, he was a comedian who also rapped. After he went to NYU, he wrote and appeared in several sketch comedy skits for a crew called Derrick Comedy (note this instant classic of theirs). Afterwards, he became a writer for The Daily Show, then 30 Rock, and then landed a full-time gig as Troy Barnes on the NBC show Community – solidifying his path as Donald Glover the actor. The problem is, the dude is so obscenely talented that he can’t stick to one career. It’s not in his DNA. As it so happens with creative personalities, Donald had a hobby of rapping, and that hobby developed into something more. Fastforward to the Wu-Tang online name generator crowning him Childish Gambino, and the rest is history. After Culdesac, his self-titled EP, and now his debut studio release Camp, it seems as if he’s transformed into a rapper, who happens to be an actor on the side.
“Freaks and Geeks” was my first initial peek into the world of Childish Gambino back in February (shout out to Arjun in the shout box). Thinking back, I remember being sucked in by the beat immediately, but then put off by Gambino’s unique, borderline whiny voice. It took me a couple of days to get past his pitch, which is a common complaint among new listeners. Once I got used to his voice, I could then focus on his lyricism and punchlines — and that’s when I realized that the dude was a force to be reckoned with.
Being a well-spoken comedian, it’s only natural that Donald Glover is a pop culture guru. The references and witticisms found throughout Camp are comparable to none. From the opening track, “Outside”, he immediately invites you back in time to when he used to sit on the couch and play with his Land Before Time toys from Pizza Hut. The album is littered with references to anything and everything (Tron, Toejam & Earl, Carlton, Fleshlights, Super Smash Brothers, Bernie Madoff, Horton Hears A Who) – there’s nothing off limits here.
While his creativity is second to none, Camp isn’t just a nonsensical, aimless project to see how many punchlines he can fit into one album. The true beauty of Donald Glover’s debut comes in his captivating story-telling abilities. All thirteen tracks transport you to different moments in Donald’s childhood, whether it be about growing up as a self-defined “black nerd” (aka “blerd”), weathering heartbreaking relationships, or slowly but surely discovering his sense of self. After one listen of Camp, you’ll feel like you’ve been riding the bus to school with him since third grade. I’m convinced Donald and I have been boys since pre-school.
As far as debut albums go, this is one of the more refreshing listens I’ve come across — and arguably is the most compelling and unexpected hip-hop debut of the past few years. I say this strictly based on the man’s ability to intertwine his unique rapping styles and unparalleled knowledge of Americana into little vignettes of his past. It’s been a while since I’ve been truly invested in listening to the stories told on a hip-hop album (or any album for that matter). Camp is almost like a musical book on tape, with Childish Gambino playing the role of our beloved protagonist. It’s no wonder that Glover is a man that can’t be confined by a career path.
Support Childish Gambino’s debut, and purchase Camp on iTunes.
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