Izzy Smith

Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, has released his final album under the name we know and love: “Bando Stone and The New World.” Before we get into that, let’s take a trip down memory lane for Donald Glover and his friend Childish Gambino. 

The beginning…

Born in 1983, Glover was born in Edwards, California. He did not begin his career in entertainment until 2006 at 23 years old. 

The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) hired Glover as a writer for the sitcom “30 Rock.” He did wonders for the notoriety of the show and ended his career with the show in 2009. Later, NBC then hired him to take part in the sitcom, “Community.” 

Glover played a high school burnout attending the community college named Troy Barnes. He brought comedy to the set while playing alongside Danny Pudi, who played Abed Nadir. The two characters were an eccentric duo that completely captured attention with their antics and dynamic. 

Between 2008 and 2011, Glover debuted Gambino by releasing four mixtapes. “Sick Boi” was his first look into the music industry. He used the tape to explore his feelings about societal pressures, mental health and even comedy. The style is different from the artist we see today, with lo-fi and indie influences. “Poindexter,” released in 2009, continued his introspection but played on what makes him different as an artist. He took a humorous route with his talks on racial identity and fame. The duality of Gambino’s sound and personality is highlighted in his polished beats and varied instrumental influences. The following year, “Culdesac” was released. This was a pivotal point in his career, showing a large change in lyrics and production. He continued his theme of introspection and reflection on the world around him. The popular song “Do Ya Like” is featured in this work. The three mixtapes listed above are no longer available on Spotify. 

The last mixtape, or extended play (EP), is titled “EP.” This EP is available on Spotify. Using hip-hop, indie and electronic elements, this five-track extended play gives us a peek into the artist we see now.  His ability to use wordplay as an active element in his songs is showcased here really well, all while tackling those same themes of intimidation and fame. The hit “Freaks and Geeks” was popular due to its aggressive delivery contrasting with the light and airy feel of the music. It is hard to consider Gambino anything but a mastermind after listening to just these four works. 

Moving up…

The same year as “EP,” he released his first studio album, “Camp.” The introduction of this album into mainstream hip-hop widened his fanbase and opened audiences to his style, the first of its kind. This is a concept album that draws heavily from personal experiences, especially his feelings of alienation and struggles with identity, which he compares to a summer camp setting—a place of awkward self-discovery and social challenges. “EP” includes his feelings about being black and growing up in predominantly white areas. Musically, this album is a compilation of different genres representing his want to fit in and his need to stand out. 

He released the mixtape “Royalty” in 2012. This represents a shift towards a more braggadocious and assertive style, reflecting Gambino’s growing confidence and maturity as an artist. The mixtape explores themes of success, ambition, and the complexities of fame, while also addressing issues like race and identity. The project captures a celebratory tone, emphasizing Gambino’s place in the music industry and his connections with other artists. It moves away from the more vulnerable and narrative-driven style of “Camp,” instead focusing on establishing his credibility as a rapper. Musically, this is feature-heavy and has heavy beats. 

In 2013, Gambino released his second studio album “Because the Internet.” This album was popular due to its bold concept. It is told through the character “The Boy,” a character who struggles with the superficial concept of online interactions. He talks about how the internet has changed communications, blurring the lines between reality and performance. Along with this album, Gambino released a 72-page screenplay as well as a short film titled “Clapping for the Wrong Reasons” to accompany these themes. Both of these multimedia elements helped to deepen the characters’ stories and the storyline as a whole. The eccentric style of music and synth elements, coupled with Gambino’s lyrical style range from introspective and poetic to sharp and confrontational which often reflects the fragmented and fast-paced nature of internet communication, effectively labeled this work as a masterpiece. 

From 2014 to 2016, Glover’s acting success began to rise. He created, wrote, produced and starred in an FX series, “Atlanta.” The show premiered in 2016, receiving critical acclaim and multiple awards, including a Golden Globe. He also appeared in two movies, “The Martian” and “Magic Mike XXL.” Between these years, Gambino also released several singles and another EP titled “Kuai,” featuring hits like “Sober” and “The Palisades.”

In 2016, Gambino released his third studio album, “Awaken, My Love!,” which features the hit “Redbone.” This was a breakaway from his previous rap style, coming into a blend of funk and soul that derives from the 1970s funk, soul and psychedelic rock. This creates a nostalgic, yet new, feel that he had not done before. The concept is seen as a commentary on relationships and love, a change from his earlier themes. This shows us that Gambino is not a one-trick pony. The album was fifth on Billboard’s Top 100 at debut and won a Grammy award. 

Beginning of the end…

Glover featured in several hit films following the album. He starred in “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and “Spiderman: Homecoming.” He also continued his work on FX’s “Atlanta.” Glover won an Emmy for  Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

2018 brought the hit single “This Is America,” which won four Grammy awards. This song rocked the boat a bit. It is a harsh critique of American society and a commentary on the violence that takes place in the country. It fits this theme by sporting high and cheery beats that jar the listener, with sharp cuts that take the form of gunshot sounds. It features elements from gospel and African rhythms. The sudden shifts feature trap-like, bass-heavy beats to explore the complexity of the concept. The layered choir vocals contrast the lyrics and assist in the song’s complexity. The music video played a large part in the reception of the song. It shows Gambino as the main character, dancing in an erratic style, and then committing acts of violence. At one point in the video, the character shoots a choir, referencing the Charleston church shooting, which further supports the theme of the song. 

In 2020, Gambino surprised his fans by dropping “3.15.20,” an album that is unconventional in many ways. It was an all-new sound that was only shown to the world for 12 hours. The release was on his website, donaldgloverpresents.com on Mar. 15, 2020. The album played on a continuous loop until its removal. The songs talked about themes of love, community and self-fulfillment. This album showcases Gambino’s commitment to moving forward as an artist through his sound. 

Glover also did some voice acting in Disney’s live-action “The Lion King,” voicing Simba. He then participated in the reboot of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Amazon produced a TV series following the secret organization of the Smiths, and Glover played across from Maya Erskine as the main characters. Glover has also announced the fourth and final season of  “Atlanta.” Along with the end of Atlanta, in 2023, Glover wrote and produced the TV series “Swarm.”

In 2024, Gambino re-released “3.15.20” under a new name – “Atavista.” The tracks which previously did not have names, just times, all now have names. “Psycilobae” and “To be Hunted” are two of the tracks listed on the album. Released in May of this year, the album has upwards of 10 million plays. 

After the re-release, Gambino released two singles, “Lithonia” and “In The Night” featuring Jorja Smith and Amaarae, as teasers for his newest, and final, album “Bando Stone and The New World.” “Lithonia” sets the stage for the album, serving as the introduction paragraph and characters. The concept is Bando Stone, portrayed both physically and symbolically by Glover, stumbling into a post-apocalyptic world and meeting up with a woman and her son to fight monsters and escape this place. 

The end… 

Gambino is currently on his final tour under the moniker, “The New World Tour,” supporting the likeness of the album’s name. The star said in an interview in 2015 that he feels Childish Gambino is a chapter in his life that should close: “I like endings,” said Gambino. 

The seven-month-long tour will conclude on Feb. 11, 2025, sufficiently ending Glover’s chapter as the beloved Childish Gambino. Fans all say goodbye to the artist that grew and changed with us. I don’t think the world will ever see such a multi-faceted artist again. 

From all the fans across the world, Childish Gambino, we bid you farewell.