By snoadmin
Rapper Childish Gambino was once considered a side-project for the already-successful writer, actor and comedian Donald Glover, best known as Troy on NBC’s “Community.” On Saturday night at his concert at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, he proved that he is taking this rapping thing very seriously.
Previously, all of Childish Gambino’s music was offered for free through his website, but this year, he releases his first studio album, “Camp,” in stores tomorrow. In order to promote the album, he and his band did a series of shows throughout the country, ending with one final show on Saturday. He and his band played almost the entire new album and some songs off his previous free releases.
One of the unique things about Childish Gambino’s show is the full live band that he uses. Ludwig Göransson, composer for “Community” and producer of the album plays guitar and keyboard for the band. Unlike other rap groups, Childish Gambino uses almost no samples. All the beats are produced live, which makes the show even more engaging.
At one point during the show he brought out an entire choir and performed the first track off of “Camp,” entitled “Outside.” The use of the choir in this song was reminiscent of Kanye West, and makes for a perfect intro for the album. He also performed a cover version of Kanye’s single “All of the Lights,” which was a highlight of the show.
Glover’s acting background is evident when watching him on stage. He uses fierce, expressive facial expressions while making eye contact with the audience. It is refreshing to see an artist who so obviously loves what he is doing. Donald Glover was doing fine as an actor and writer, but he also is committed and passionate about his music and it shows.
It was surprising how many people in the audience were singing along to his music, both old and new. “Camp” hasn’t been released yet, but it is available to stream for free on NPR.com. If the album is already this popular before it’s available in stores, it will be interesting to see how popular it is once it’s released.
The new album is fantastic and proves that Gambino is here to stay. Between lightning-fast puns and references, he weaves in stories about the trials and tribulations of fame and what it is like to live with his kind of success. Glover proves that you don’t have to follow the same format as everybody else in this industry, and that rap is a medium that is still open for creativity.
The album may not be a comedy act, but it is still bound to make you smile if you understand some of the genius lyrics in his songs. Listeners would benefit from having Urban Dictionary pulled up on their computer while listening to the album if they are hoping to understand everything. Brilliant tracks like “You See Me” demand to be listened to multiple times, especially when he starts spitting rhymes at machine-gun speed.
Donald Glover might have trouble balancing his acting career with his music career if this album takes off. Childish Gambino has earned the right to be taken seriously, and he shows no signs of stopping. “Camp” is available in stores and online tomorrow.
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