Donald Glover, better known by his rapper alias “Childish Gambino,” has released two teaser tracks from his third studio album Awaken, My Love!: “Me and Your Mama” and “Redbone.” This is Gambino’s first major release since his second album Because The Internet in 2013, which pushed Gambino to mainstream.
The single “Me and Your Mama” is a major shift from his best-known work on Because The Internet— the writer, comedian, and rapper structured the project around a satirical storyline with bouncing beats. The new release and upcoming album are soulful, melodic, jazz-influenced tracks without any rap.
Fans knew that this album was coming. In 2014, Gambino erased all of his posts across social media platforms, raising suspicion that another project was in the works. In 2016, a tweet linked to an app called “PHAROS Earth” was posted. This app counted down and, after it reached its end, it led to link to an exclusive event – three days of Gambino performing in Joshua Tree, California. Fans were treated to an ethereal campground free of social media and the first chance to hear songs from the upcoming album.
Gambino is not the first artist to go into hiding or genre-bend— Frank Ocean, The 1975, Radiohead, and more have all fallen off the radar short to long-term, wiping and deleting social media in order to start a new chapter in their careers. Kid Cudi jumped from hip-hop to alternative rock. Lady Gaga transitioned from pop to jazz and back to a pop/soft-rock combination. Based on what we know so far, Gambino is not doing anything that is conceptually revolutionary, but hopes are high because of the songs that have been released.
“Me and Your Mama” is more of an instrumental listening experience than the typical lyrical song. It combines a hazy, subtle sound with a middle segment of rock-inspired passion in which Gambino pleads for his lover to let him in.
“Redbone” is a funky and soulful track. Critics have compared it to a 70’s style tune that is, for lack of a better word, groovy. The song seems to tell multiple stories and messages of love, conflict and personal beliefs.
Time is running out for the new release. Gambino’s album Awaken, My Love! will arrive on December 2 and the world is counting down. This album has potential to be influential; not only as a game-changer in Gambino’s career, but also in the way that fans experience music. Gambino aims to create artistic pieces that send social messages. In a time when the country, and even the world feel divided, his music might be a step in bringing us together.
