Lately it's felt like Donald Glover is everywhere. He writes and stars in Emmy-winning television series, FX's "Atlanta"; he performed (and won) at the 2018 Grammy Awards as his hip-hop alter ego, Childish Gambino; and he hosted "Saturday Night Live" on NBC, acting in sketches and serving as the show's musical guest. Most recently, the video for his latest single, "This Is America," which serves up commentary on everything from gun violence to racial politics, has garnered 185 million YouTube views since it's May 5 debut. Now, Glover, 34, is adding an iconic movie role to his ever-expanding resumè. In Walt Disney's "Solo: A Star Wars Story," Glover stars as a younger version of Lando Calrissian, the intergalactic smuggler and gambler character made famous by actor Billy Dee Williams in the original "Star Wars" trilogy. The movie, in theaters Friday, is expected to have a shot at setting a new box-office record for a Memorial Day weekend opening. But when Glover got his start in … [Read more...] about How ‘Solo’ star Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) went from YouTube to ‘30 Rock’ to ‘Star Wars’
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What It Means When Childish Gambino Says ‘This Is America’
Until last Saturday night, the last we had heard out of Childish Gambino was another man’s funk. For all its considerable energy and for all of the critical acclaim it received, the artist’s previous release, “Awaken, My Love! was a throwback album content to bask in the auras of George Clinton’s Parliament Funkadelic instead of blazing an aesthetic trail of its own. The album’s performance reinforced the existing view of Donald Glover as a talent whose prodigious nature precluded any kind of fixed commitment. When you can do anything well, why do anything for long? The charm of such an approach — an endless series of apprenticeships, no mastery in sight — was evident. Following Glover’s career, you were always on your toes: anything could come next. This sense of anticipation would only grow once Glover began his work on Atlanta. As a showrunner, writer, and actor, he promoted a worldview where unpredictability took precedence over … [Read more...] about What It Means When Childish Gambino Says ‘This Is America’
Will Gompertz reviews Childish Gambino’s This is America video ★★★★☆
In his opening monologue as host of last week's Saturday Night Live Donald Glover described himself as "an actor, a writer, and a singer". And so he is. But he forgot to mention the fourth string to his gleaming bow of talents, the one that makes him more than just an entertainer.Donald Glover - or Childish Gambino as he calls himself when performing as a pop-rap-trap musician - is an artist. That is, a fine artist, as in a person whose work might be exhibited in an art gallery or bought by a museum.In fact, if the curators at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, or indeed the Metropolitan Museum up the road, are at all switched on, they should already be in discussions with him about acquiring the master video of This Is America for their institution's collection. Why? Because it is a powerful and poignant allegorical portrait of 21st Century America, which warrants a place among the canonical depictions of the USA from Grant Wood's American Gothic to Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, from … [Read more...] about Will Gompertz reviews Childish Gambino’s This is America video ★★★★☆
Childish Gambino’s This Is America makes Grammys history
Childish Gambino has made Grammy Awards history by winning both song and record of the year for This Is America.It's the first time a rap song has won both categories - although Gambino did not attend or perform at the event.He was the first artist to be absent from collecting one of the "big four" Grammys since Amy Winehouse in 2008.Gambino - aka actor Donald Glover - beat competition from Drake, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in both categories.Kendrick Lamar and SZA's All The Stars, Brandi Carlile's The Joke and The Middle by Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey were also up for both awards.This Is America, which was accompanied by a symbolic music video, sparked debate when it was released in May.It looked at the representation of black people in America and the prejudices they faced. Women win big at the Grammy Awards Grammy highlights: Duets and Dolly's delights In pictures: Grammy winners and performances While record of the year recognises everyone involved in a song, including the … [Read more...] about Childish Gambino’s This Is America makes Grammys history
Upcoming concerts in Phoenix: Fall brings Travis Scott, Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino and Travis Scott are the season's last two big arena shows as we head into winter. Here's a look at those and other concerts swinging through the Valley's biggest rooms, from rock and pop to hip-hop, R&B and country. 12/12: The Robert Cray Band It’s been 32 years since “Strong Persuader” took this soulful blues guitarist to the mainstream, largely on the strength of “Smoking Gun,” a breakthrough single that remains his biggest hit. It’s doubtful Cray, now 64, will ever top the double-platinum benchmark set by “Strong Persuader.” But the album this tour is supporting, “Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm,” proves that Cray still has a lot to offer as a mainstream blues ambassador. Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. $38.50-$48.50. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com. 12/12: Middle Kids They're touring the States in support of "Lost Friends," a full-length debut … [Read more...] about Upcoming concerts in Phoenix: Fall brings Travis Scott, Childish Gambino