While Donald Glover’s Saturday Night Live episode was airing on Saturday (May 5), his musical alter-ego, Childish Gambino, released a powerful new video titled “This Is America.”
Directed by frequent Atlanta director Hiro Murai, the visual tackles gun violence in America and shows a shirtless Gambino nonchalantly blowing a person’s head off during the first few seconds of the video.
One of the most jarring moments comes when a choir is seen joyfully singing, oblivious to what is about to happen to them. Gambino marches in, still dancing along to the music, grabs a machine gun and sprays them down with bullets. Meanwhile, the other dancers in the video continue going about their business with smiles on their faces like nothing happened.
Towards the end of the video, SZA makes a cameo appearance as Gambino starts sprinting from an angry mob that’s chasing him.
Twitter exploded with positive reactions to the visual, many saying Glover is what Kanye West wishes he could be. [apple_news_ad type=”any”]
Check those out below.
I understand the message all that . Kanye isn’t Childish gambino because if Kanye released this as a serious project it would be considered trash . I think the oppression of blacks people has been highlighted a million times by a million rappers .
I never really liked Childish gambino. This is the first time I seen his work and was impressed. This is Kendrick Lamar’s lane but well done
check out his royalty mixtape it slaps
Who has the drugs,whores,cars and money lane??
Kendrick’s lane? It looks more like Kendrick is attempting Gambino’s lane now. This is more conscious than anything on Black Panther by far.
Check out his royalty mix tape it slaps
A+
Def enjoyed the video and the message. But yes, Glover is mad talented. Overlooked and underrated. He’s a great
Why would anyone bring Kanye into the picture? This is far better than anything he has done since marrying Kim Kartrashian. Apparently also K Dot is the only rapper in his lane to make a conscious record. People are so damn dumb. Always trying to compare apples and oranges and then complain that their orange can’t be an apple and vice versa.
Agreed. In my opinion, this was a direct shot at Kendrick. This is better than anything Kendrick has made PERIOD in my opinion. The most important rap artist of our generation is not Kendrick Lamar, it is DONALD GLOVER.
Kendrick is #1 #2 and #3 Gambino who?
This must be said. Gambino is a hotter, more relevant artist than Kendrick Lamar. Not only is Atlanta the hip hop socially conscious show of the decade but he is making joints that are 1000% better than Kendrick. No The Weekend chorus to sell this one to the masses. Just some real music in the realm of Tribe and PE at their finest. All praise to Gambino.
Totally false. Kendrick Lamar lives and breathes for the people and has been for along time. A and send a message with his music he’s by far a better artist.
Sure, if you are talking about the arts as a whole. But if you are speaking only on music you are dead ass wrong. You must’ve missed the news about the musical Pulitzer Kenny just received.
If you turned this into a Kendrick vs Childish argument/debate then you CLEARLY missed the train, this is OUR culture there is no competition. Instead we should continue to celebrate artist like Kendrick and Gambino who continue to push OUR culture forward. WELL DONE BLACK MAN GET THIS MONEY!! #OURSTORY
Haha. No competition in the rap game? Go take your sausage fest train wannabe azz elsewhere. This is HipHopDx. We debate who is the greatest not unlike if this was on ESPN. You can debate who is better: Lebron or KD and still have respect for them both. Same as this. You can say I like Gambino more than Kendrick and still appreciate both artists and still support both their works. And hashtags are for Twitter you loser. That is all.
Love the video and song. The messages portrayed in it are so powerful and accurate in today’s world. I’ve been a fan or Gambino but people need to chill and stop calling musicians that make great videos and songs geniuses.
This is great but people need to stop with the fuckery. This does not void Kendrick being one of the greatest artist of our time. He is not going to replace Kendrick. Stop the nonsense and stop being so emotional.
Gambino is so average and so is that song… u guys ride his dick waaaaay too much!
Pretty sure you and your dick are average.
Kanye Sit Down!!
Kendrick is the better lyricist and is capable of making the best music atm but… childish gambino doesn’t need to make a pop album to make his money, he doesn’t need a single with rihanna, and he doesn’t need ninjas dancing around him at award shows.
No shit dummy, he’s a multi talented entertainer just as Jamie Foxx was before him. His money is spread out across many platforms. Taking a swipe at Kenny I’m an attempt to big up Gambino is ummm, Childish.
Thats lazy. Take rihana off that song and it still fits with the album theme, the beat is still crazy, and the song is still dope. Kendrick is not making pop. For you to say so tells me you’re not of the culture.
Meh I’m not really this video
J Cole better than Kendrick and Gambino but this is a great statement and song.
There will be people who see this and still think black people are being dramatic when another church gets shot up or a cop shoots one of us after they say get your license and registration.
Or culture is so screwed. The very same people giving this props (it is dope) are the very one’s he’s mockign!
He’s mocking the whole trap rap, ‘hit dem folk’, dab, mumble rap, shuck n jive generation. And those same people ‘Yo this is dope!’ Lmao
The same people calling this genius will go to a Uzi Vert video and call that genius too. There’s no standards in the culture. Everything is ‘dope’ now
With all due respect I disagree because Childish Gambino/ Donald Glover embraced the Migos at the award show and had them on his Atlanta show and they are considered mumble rappers.
Donald Glover is great as a multi-genre mind and for his visuals and comedic writing, but as a rapper he’s average. Again, that’s purely as a RAPPER. Funny to see epeople comparing him to Kendrick Lamar.
Something is like copied/inspierd by kendrick but if its a shot at him i cant see. IF it is then childish shows nooooobody have forgot about the control verse from kendrick in years come on let it go you some sentimental musicans hahah Good Song but kendrick is untouchable still
PAY ATTENTION MORONS – IF YOU’RE STILL CAPABLE OF THAT (AS THE VIDEO IS HINTING AT)….. YOU LOST, LOST SOULS….
He’s mad suspect…
Out of the whole video that’s what you got out of it? No wonder our country’s fucked we got morons like you living in it. And by the way you’re mad suspect for saying he’s mad suspect
The video was okay, nothing earth shuttering. I particularly liked the ending where he’s running
This guy excels in everything he does. It’s nice to have artists like Gambino who are able to quietly go about their business and let their work do the talking for them. I wouldn’t be able to live in a world only filled with loud-mouthed people who spew a whole lot of nonsense. This man brings the needed balance.
Decent article, though I disagree with your assertion that it tackle gun violence in America. I think it’s much more layered than that.
Reminds me of Goodie Mob they don’t dance no mo