As the name Childish Gambino crosses over the iTunes store or internet search, make sure to check it out because you have probably seen this guy before. The rapper Childish Gambino's real name is Donald Glover, who originally began on the show 30 Rock and then moved on to Community. While on Community, Donald Glover's popularity grew as he had several stand up comedy specials aired on Comedy Central and on DVD. During this entire process, he decided to give a shot at rapping - the result was amazing!!! His mixtapes/albums titled Culdesac and Camp were just two of the ones that became successful. Before the promotion and release of his most recent album titled Because the Internet, he released his mixtape titled Royalty. This mixtape was a huge step for Gambino with features like Bun B, Danny Brown, and Chance the Rapper. After that Gambino stated that he was working on another project, and finally revealed this short trailer from a freestyle titled "Yaphet Kotto."
From the release of the track, I was instantly excited and anxious for the album. Then the feature track titled "3005" was released and I knew that the album was gonna be good. Here is a track by track review of the album:
1. The Library (Intro)
One of the various short skits, that I feel weigh down the fluidity of the album.
2. The Crawl
Fro the beginning of the track, you instantly think that it is going to be a track similar to what was on Kanye West's Yeezus, and it is. However, I think this track lacks the emotion and excitement that Yeezus had. Either way this track is a great empowering song for women since it is Gambino's story of a women stating that she is waiting for him to crawl back to her. The song is one of the better story tale raps from beginning to end- one of my favorites
3. Worldstar
This is one of the most genius songs on the album, where Gambino uses the website worldstarhiphop.com and compares it with his inspirations to become a full blown "world star" himself. The idea is what has come to be expected from Gambino, but I feel that the interjecting comments through the continuity of the song out the window - along with the transition of the beat to a slow jazz type style. Cool idea for a song, but bad execution.
4. Dial Up
Another short skit
5. The Worst Guys Ft Chance the Rapper
Absolutely have loved everything that Gambino and Chance the Rapper have done together and this song is no exception. This is by far one of the most fulfilling songs of the album where the ambiguity of what the girl needs is left for the listener to decide after Chance the Rapper just started to sing those few words to himself. I was a little upset that CHance didn't have an actual verse on the track, but either way I liked this new collaboration between Chance the Rapper and Gambino
6. Shadows
Another great double entendre from Gambino. In this song, Gambino could be singing about an actual relationship where the women know exactly what they want in the relationship while men like Gambino are struggling with what they want in life and a relationship. On the other hand, the woman could the hip hop industry, and Gambino is not entirely sure what he wants from the industry and how he wants to go on with the relationship.
7. Telegraph ("Oakland" by Lloyd)
Even though in the past, Gambino made sure to state that he didn't want to be compared to Drake, yet songs like this bring him into the same field as Drake. There is a constant crooning for the hooks, followed by aggressive verses which continue throughout the song. In this song is another love story, where Gambino attempts to reconnect with an old relationship even though the woman has an entirely new lifestyle.
8. Sweatpants
Throughout this songs, I continuously get reminded of a Tinie Tempah song. In this song, Gambino goes with his eccentric viewpoints that make him popular - attacking the other rich "boy's" that are in the rap industry. Gambino uses this "boy" alter-ego to show how many rappers in the industry are completely fake and are just putting on a front to sell records and be popular.
9. 3005
In my opinion, this song is what makes Childish Gambino amazing. This track has everything - singing hook, great verses, and a ambiguous meaning for the listener to determine what they want. For example, at first listen most believe that it is a song where Gambino is showing his dedication to a girl but the recently released video shows that it is about something else entirely. The song is about how the inside of an individual is dieting with each day, yet the exterior and conscious don't change any emotions. Thus when Gambino is gone at the end, his body is gone and all that is left is the damaged should of Gambino. Very meaningful song that I believe keeps the album cohesive and together. Check out the video below.
10. Playing Around Before the Party Starts
Another skit
11. The Party
….And another skit
12. No Exit
Another dark track from this album which reminds me of something from Odd Future. I absolutely hate this track, but I understand this and what Gambino is getting into. Gambino is afraid of his insecurities and how much he over thinks things - these items he realizes pushes away girls from having a relationship and causes him to be alone like he is afraid of.
13. Death by Numbers
Yep, thats another one
14. Flight of the Navigator
This song outlines a death of someone close to him that greatly affected him. The track really speaks for itself and theres not much information that can be said about it. Very powerful song from the intro dialogue to the verses.
15. Zealots of Stockholm (Free Information)
Gambino continues his somewhat melancholy track with this one outlining the debate between life and death. In this track he discusses how most of us feel that we have more life to live and provide in our final moments. The song definitely makes you think about life, yet feels disconcerting at the same time. Don't really feel this song.
16. Urn
The last damn skit/interlude
17. Pink Toes Ft Jhene Aiko
This track is another great example of a story tale rap, where Gambino becomes a drug dealer and Jhene Aiko is his girlfriend. We see the progression of this drug dealer from the beginning to the end. In the end we see the drug dealer getting caught and assume the worst. Really cool approach to this kind of story - really like this song
18. Earth: The Oldest Computer (The Last Night) Ft Azelia Banks
This beat draws you in from the very beginning and I find myself going back and repeating it. Gambino's vocals at the beginning draw you in as he drops his first verse. Throughout the song Gambino details the ambiguity of death and how no one knows entirely when it will or can end. Additionally, I am not the biggest Azelia Banks fan, but I like her on this hook.
19. Life: The Biggest Troll (Andrew Auernheimer)
This song beautifully closes out the album, where Gambino uses a bunch of puns, wordplay, and lyrics to draw distinctions between hacker and troll Andrew Auernheimer. Although the track is clever, it drags on as the beat becomes repetitive and I find myself not listening to the whole song.
Final Verdict: After listening to Because the Internet do I still like Childish Gambino? Without a doubt. This album has a plethora of clever, intelligent, and perfect ideas from wordplay to hooks. However, I do feel that the heaviness of some of the issues on the album brings it down. People want to escape from the world when they listen to music, not become enveloped in the sense of their mortality. Maybe some do and that is fine, and if that's what Gambino was going for then he succeeded. In the end, that is not what I look for when listening to album so I give the album a grade of a C+. The reason that it is as high as I wrote it is because of the tracks like "3005" and "The Worst Guys" that become stuck in your head with each listen. If you want to download the album, the link is attached below!
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