Glover, Jr was born at Edwards Air Force Base, California and raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. His mother, Beverly (Smith, is a retired daycare provider, and his father, Donald, Sr, is a retired postal worker. His parents also served as DeKalb County foster parents for 14 years. He was raised a Jehovah's Witness. He was voted "Most Likely to Write for The Simpsons" in his High School yearbook. Glover, Jr graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in dramatic writing in 2006.
From 2006 to 2009, Glover, Jr was a writer for the NBC series 30 Rock where he also had occasional cameo appearances. He was presented the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Comedy Series at the February 2009 ceremony for his work on the third season. Glover, Jr's stage name, Childish Gambino, came from the Wu-Tang Clan's name generator. On June 5, 2008, he released an independent album, titled Sick Boi. Glover, Jr would then become a member of the sketch comedy group Derrick Comedy, along with Dominic Dierkes, Meggie McFadden, DC Pierson, and Dan Eckman. The group wrote and starred in a feature-length film, Mystery Team, released in theaters in 2009.
On September 17, 2009, Childish Gambino released the independent album Poindexter. A pair of mixtapes, titled I Am Just a Rapper and I Am Just A Rapper 2 were released, in close succession in 2010. Robert Scahill added his producing expertise helping with the majority of the tracks. The track listings for those mixtapes consist of the name of the song "he" raps, followed by the song he raps over. His second album, Culdesac, was set to be released on July 2, 2010, but a couple of last minute additions caused the album to be delayed for a day. The album was made available on July 3. Glover, Jr has stated in interviews that on Sick Boi and Poindexter he felt he had to hide behind gimmicks, such as pink hoodies, but with his subsequent projects, he has touched on more personal subject matter, including family, schoolyard bullying, troubled romantic relationships, suicidal thoughts and alcoholism. He has disowned his 2005 album, The Younger I Get, as the too-raw ramblings of what he calls a "decrepit."
Glover, Jr's stand-up special aired on Comedy Central on March 19, 2010. In May 2010, a fan suggested Glover, Jr for the role of Peter Parker in the then-upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man film, encouraging his supporters to retweet the hashtag "#donald4spiderman". The campaign, originally started to see how far social networking could carry a message, quickly gained a large following. The call for Glover to be allowed to audition for the role was supported by Spider-Man creator Stan Lee. Glover, Jr was not awarded an audition and the role instead went to Andrew Garfield. He would later reveal that he was never contacted by anyone from Sony Pictures for the role. Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis, who announced an African-American version of Spider-Man a year later, said he had conceived of the character before Glover, Jr's campaign went viral. Bendis gave credit to Glover for influencing the new hero's looks for Spider-man after seeing him dressed as Spider-Man on Community (a nod to the campaign), Bendis said, "I saw him in the costume and thought, 'I would like to read that book.'" Glover, Jr would later voice this incarnation of Spider-Man on the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series.
Glover, Jr received the Rising Comedy Star award at the Just for Laughs festival in July 2010. Glover, Jr was featured in Gap's 2010 Holiday ad campaign. He DJs and produces electronic music under the moniker "mcDJ" (pronounced "M-C-D-J"). His music is often made available for free download via his website.
On December 1, 2010, Glover, Jr released the first track off of his EP titled "Be Alone". He released the next track, "Freaks and Geeks", as well as a five-song track list, on February 11, 2011. On February 25, Glover, Jr released the dates for the IAMDONALD tour and also his very first music video for "Freaks and Geeks". The music video was shot by Dan Eckman, the director of the Derrick Comedy troupe. This song was later used in an Adidas commercial featuring Dwight Howard. On March 8, 2011 Glover, Jr released the EP via his official website.
On March 16, 2011, Glover, Jr hosted the mtvU Woodie Awards held live at South By Southwest. On March 24, 2011, Glover, Jr taped his one-hour comedy special Weirdo for Comedy Central; it aired on November 19.
Glover, Jr appeared at the 2011 Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 9 in the 'This Tent' as Childish Gambino and June 11 at 'The Comedy Theater' with Bill Bailey performing stand up. Comedy Central streamed the comedy live on their website.
On May 4, 2011, in an interview with TheHipHopUpdate, Gambino revealed that he was working on an LP, to be released in September. On July 25, 2011, Glover, Jr announced that his new album would be titled Camp. On October 8, during his Orlando, Florida concert, he announced Camp would be released on November 15, 2011. Glover, Jr worked with friend and film composer Ludwig Göransson on the debut album. On August 20, 2011, at the Los Angeles Rock The Bells concert, he gave an interview to AllHipHop.com, and he announced to the crowd that he had signed with Glassnote Records. On September 20, his first official single, "Bonfire", was released.
The IAMDONALD tour made 24 stops in 34 days, beginning with Ames, Iowa, on April 16, and finishing with Minneapolis on May 19. In between, this included stops at music venues in Las Vegas, Houston, Washington, and Atlanta. The tour was a one-man live show that consisted of rap, comedy, and video segments.
The Sign-Up Tour was Glover, Jr's next pre-album tour. He visited 11 cities over the course of 38 days in October and November 2011. Chidlish G made a website for the tour called Camp Gambino on November 19, four days after his album released. The tour featured special guest Danny Brown and made 20 stops during the course of 32 days along a dates in California in December. On March 14, 2012, several dates on the CAMP tour were postponed due to a fractured foot Childish suffered on March 10, while performing in Tampa, Florida. The tour began in Austin, Texas on April 5 and ended August 10 in Hollywood, California.
On January 11, 2012, Childish Gambino announced on his website that a new mixtape would be coming out soon. On April 2, he released a new song, "Eat Your Vegetables", through his website. On May 14, Funkmaster Flex premiered "Unnecessary," featuring Schoolboy Q. On May 16, Gambino released "We Ain't Them" through his website, produced by himself and frequent collaborator Ludwig. On May 22, Glover, Jr appeared on Das Racist's radio show "Chillin' Island" where he premiered a new song, "Tell Me," which featured Himanshu Suri, aka Heems from Das Racist. On May 26, Glover released "Black Faces", featuring Nipsey Hussle and produced by Boi-1da. On May 30, he released a third track, "Silk Pillow," featuring Beck and produced by both Glover, Jr and Beck. On June 25, he revealed that the mixtape was to be released on July 4, 2012. On June 26, Glover, Jr premiered another new track, on Sway in the Morning (on Shade 45), entitled "One Up," featuring his brother, Steve G. Lover. That same day, he stated that the mixtape would be titled Royalty despite previous statements that it would not be called that. On July 4, 2012, he released Royalty for free via digital download. On July 7, 2012, Gambino released the track, "Body," featuring Prodigy, which did not make the cut for the mixtape. On July 24, 2012, he released the music video for "Fire Fly" through his VEVO account on YouTube.
On August 21, 2012, BBC Radio 1 premiered Leona Lewis' new song, "Trouble" off her upcoming album Glassheart, which features Childish Gambino. The song was available for purchase via iTunes on October 7, and peaked at #7 on the UK Singles Chart the following week, making it his first UK top 10 single. On November 4, 2012 Ludwig Göransson said in an interview with Portable that he and Gambino were in his studio coming up with new ideas for the next album which was to be "bigger" and "with more people involved."
In 2013, Glover, Jr signed on to create a music-themed show for FX titled Atlanta in which he will star, write, and executive produce. Consequently, he decided to reduce his work for NBC, and only appears in the first five episodes of Community's 13-episode fifth season. Although many TV stations were interested in picking up his half-hour comedy, he ultimately picked FX due to their willingness to work around his touring schedule.
On October 6, 2013, he announced on Twitter that his second studio album was completed. He further announced this at Homecoming Week at Penn State University, stating “I got a new album coming out soon, so this is the last time we’re gonna play a lot of this shit.” On October 8, 2013, he announced its title as Because the Internet and revealed that it would be released in December 2013. On October 21, 2013, Glover, Jr released the first single "3005", and announced a release date for the album as December 10, 2013. On February 15, 2014, the rapper launched his Deep Web Tour in the UK. On February 27, Childish Gambino was scheduled to begin the United States portion of his tour with a gig at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California. On June 6, 2014, RIAA certified Heartbeat Gold - making it Glover's first certification, and then on July 18, 2014, RIAA also certified 3005 Gold, making it Glover's second certification.
On October 2, 2014, he released a new mixtape titled STN MTN, and the next day he released an EP titled Kauai. The mixtape and the EP follow the story that was last told in Because The Internet and are meant to be a joint project instead of separate projects.
On October 10, 2014, Ubisoft revealed that they had collaborated with Glover, Jr to incorporate his song, "Crawl" into Far Cry 4.
On December 5, 2014 Glover, Jr was nominated for two Grammy Awards. He was a contender for Best Rap Album for Because The Internet (Glassnote Records) and Best Rap Performance for his single, “3005.”
On March 21, 2015 Glover, Jr won an mtvU Woodies Award for Best Video Woodie for the song "Sober" from the Kauai EP.
As of February 2016, Because the Internet has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping over 500,000 copies.
Glover's third album, Awaken, My Love!, spawned the single "Redbone", which peaked at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually earned him his first Grammy Award. In 2018, Glover released "This Is America", which debuted at number-one on the Hot 100, and won four Grammy Awards, including for Song and Record of the Year.[13] Glover's fourth album, 3.15.20, was released in 2020.[14]
Bitch Look at Me Now
Childish Gambino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick boy make moves like a chess piece
And that move real quick like Nestle
Let me make it clear for a second like Pepsi
I was never worried 'bout my wallet being empty
Cause when it was empty, I was still happy
Walkin' with my Walkman, freestyle rappin'
High school bullies like what the fuck happened
And this is me relaxing, rappin' is my hobby
I did this in my bedroom where I separate my laundry
Watchin' old episodes of Shining Time Station
You are now listening to my mouth on vacation (ation)
Why you doing this, what's your motivation?
I am just a rapper, I don't need the paper
No Will Smith went off without a hitch man
C-H-I-L-D is the ISH man
Do sixteen bars no wristband
I'll always be childish, call me Maggie Simpson
Run the track like my tongue's an Olympian
I've always been this good, you just weren't listenin'
I'mma try to make my street cred stack up
I mean I'm rapping over Grizzly Bear, what the fuck?
Gather swagger up, before I take it all
You started rapping when you wasn't good at basketball
I started rapping cause I fucking need some Adderall
I can't do one thing, I'm just too good
I can't do one thing, I am Tiger Woods
I make your iPod hotter than a lighter would
Picture me in sixth grade, overweight, overbite
Got my fake Adidas on, whiting out the fourth stripe
Kid named Vincent got it out for me, I hate that guy
Frodo from Chicago, really small and shy
You better recognize, cause I know better now
Cause I was always sick, my life's a hospital
And that's some funny shit, that turd is Apatow
That female dog is blind, well bitch look at me now!
I'm wearing tight jeans and nobody's laughing
More pussy than recycled sanitary napkins
Bitch sitting shotgun in my Tracy Chapman
I did exactly what you niggas said would never happen
I'm doing me so big I can hardly walk
These rappers need ER like they're Charlie Park
Stay hard like my suit made by Tony Stark
This kind of music make your balls drop, Dick Clark
Yes I'm grown and sexy and I'm worth the wait
Girls act like I'm the only dude on earth to date
Put these words on your head and let them percolate
We need to separate, nigga church and state
I used to have to pay for gas in my momma's Saturn
And now I'm paying for a mortgage as a working actor
If living my life is what you say you're chasing after
Nigga stop talking shit and just be a rapper (Be a rapper)
The lyrics of Bitch Look at Me Now by Childish Gambino reveal the artist's journey to becoming a rapper. Gambino starts the song by stating that he does not talk, he just raps, which underlines his focus and seriousness about rap music. He describes himself as a sick boy who makes moves like a chess piece and moves quickly like Nestle, emphasizing his confidence and agility. Gambino goes further to state he was never worried about his wallet being empty because he was happy even when he had nothing. He reminisces about the days he used to freestyle while walking with his Walkman and getting bullied in high school.
Gambino then delves into his motivation for rapping, stating that he does it for fun, and he does not need the money or fame. He continues to talk about his childhood struggles, including his battle with obesity and ADHD, but emphasizes that he was always good at rapping, and people just weren't listening. He also talks about how he used to get picked on in school by a kid named Vincent, who had it out for him. Gambino then claims he's doing so well now that he's even making people wear tight jeans and is wearing a suit made by Tony Stark, drawing a comparison with the fictional character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Line by Line Meaning
I do not talk, I am just a rapper
I let my music do the talking, I am an artist above all else
Sick boy make moves like a chess piece
I am strategic in my actions, like a player in a game of chess
And that move real quick like Nestle
My moves are nimble and precise, like the speed at which Nestle operates
Let me make it clear for a second like Pepsi
My message is straightforward and easily understood, like the clarity of Pepsi's branding
I was never worried 'bout my wallet being empty
I don't focus on financial gain, my passion for my craft is enough to keep me content
Cause when it was empty, I was still happy
I am not materialistic, and therefore even when I had little money, I was still content
Walkin' with my Walkman, freestyle rappin'
I have been practicing my craft since a young age, creating and performing on the go
High school bullies like what the fuck happened
My success as an artist has surprised those who once tried to bully me
Nigga off the hook like I fuckin' shot the captain
I am free to pursue my passions without fear of punishment or judgment
And this is me relaxing, rappin' is my hobby
Rapping is therapeutic and enjoyable for me, it allows me to unwind and express myself
I did this in my bedroom where I separate my laundry
I create my art in a space that is personal and comfortable to me
Watchin' old episodes of Shining Time Station
I draw inspiration from my childhood and past experiences, even from nostalgic media
You are now listening to my mouth on vacation (ation)
Listening to my music is a break from reality, a chance to tune out and appreciate my art
Why you doing this, what's your motivation?
I create music because it fulfills me, not for personal gain or approval
I am just a rapper, I don't need the paper
Success and wealth are not my driving forces, I am simply an artist
No Will Smith went off without a hitch man
I am not trying to emulate other successful artists, I am forging my own path
C-H-I-L-D is the ISH man
My name is synonymous with quality and success, I am the real deal
Do sixteen bars no wristband
My talent speaks for itself, I don't need gimmicks or accessories to make an impact
I'll always be childish, call me Maggie Simpson
My youthful spirit and creativity will always be a part of who I am
Run the track like my tongue's an Olympian
My rapping is athletic and explosive, like a champion runner
I've always been this good, you just weren't listenin'
My talent has always been present, it just took time for others to recognize it
I'mma try to make my street cred stack up
I am working hard to earn the respect of my peers and fans
I mean I'm rapping over Grizzly Bear, what the fuck?
I am pushing boundaries and experimenting with my sound, taking risks in my artistry
Gather swagger up, before I take it all
My confidence and talent are undeniable, and I won't let anyone stand in my way
You started rapping when you wasn't good at basketball
I have been honing my skills in music for much longer than many of my peers who only started when they gave up on other pursuits
I started rapping cause I fucking need some Adderall
I create music not out of necessity, but rather as a form of creative expression and personal fulfillment
I can't do one thing, I'm just too good
My talent and versatility are unmatched, I excel in multiple facets of my craft
I am Tiger Woods
I am a trailblazer and a master of my craft, like the golfer Tiger Woods
I make your iPod hotter than a lighter would
My music is captivating and addictive, it ignites passion in those who listen
Picture me in sixth grade, overweight, overbite
I came from humble beginnings, with physical insecurities and personal struggles
Got my fake Adidas on, whiting out the fourth stripe
I didn't have much growing up, and often had to make do with knockoff brands or incomplete products
Kid named Vincent got it out for me, I hate that guy
I faced bullying and mistreatment from others, which only fueled my drive to succeed
Frodo from Chicago, really small and shy
I was once introverted and timid, but found my voice and confidence through my music
You better recognize, cause I know better now
My success and talent are now undeniable to those who once doubted me
Cause I was always sick, my life's a hospital
I have faced personal struggles and hardships, which have shaped and informed my music
And that's some funny shit, that turd is Apatow
I find humor in my struggles and use it as a source of inspiration, like filmmaker Judd Apatow
That female dog is blind, well bitch look at me now!
Those who once mistreated or underestimated me are now forced to recognize and respect my talent and success
I'm wearing tight jeans and nobody's laughing
I am confident in my personal style and don't care about others' opinions or criticism
More pussy than recycled sanitary napkins
My sexual prowess and appeal are undeniable and enviable
Bitch sitting shotgun in my Tracy Chapman
I am sharing my success and experiences with those closest to me, including a romantic partner
I did exactly what you niggas said would never happen
I overcame doubt and obstacles to achieve my dreams and prove my critics wrong
I'm doing me so big I can hardly walk
My success and confidence are uncontainable, I am living life on my own terms
These rappers need ER like they're Charlie Park
My competition is not up to my level, and often needs emergency help to recover
Stay hard like my suit made by Tony Stark
My resilience and drive are unbreakable, like the adamantium suit worn by Iron Man
This kind of music make your balls drop, Dick Clark
My music is powerful and unforgettable, and has an impact on even the most seasoned and experienced fans
Yes I'm grown and sexy and I'm worth the wait
My talent and success have matured and evolved over time, and I am now respected and admired by fans of all ages
Girls act like I'm the only dude on earth to date
My success and charm have made me highly desirable to romantic partners and fans alike
Put these words on your head and let them percolate
My lyrics are thought-provoking and powerful, and should be taken seriously and pondered
We need to separate, nigga church and state
The intersection of politics and religion is fraught with tension and conflict, and should be separated to preserve harmony
I used to have to pay for gas in my momma's Saturn
I have worked hard and come a long way from my humble beginnings, having to pay for my own gasoline in a family car
And now I'm paying for a mortgage as a working actor
I have achieved great success and financial stability, becoming a homeowner through my hard work as an actor
If living my life is what you say you're chasing after
Many people aspire to live a life like mine, filled with passion, creativity and success
Nigga stop talking shit and just be a rapper (Be a rapper)
Instead of criticizing and underestimating my talent, others should focus on their own craft and pursuing their goals
Contributed by Aiden S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RedemptioN
22 years old now...time flies, but I always find myself coming back. What a song
tones malone's
Felt this right down to the age. Time flies way too fast, feels like yesterday we were freshman year with the world ahead of us and all of the revolutionary art to show for it 💕✨
Jamie D
20 years old here, I can't remember when i found this.. but every time i listen to it, i'm taken back.
M. TTT.
yea now we're all fucked
Hunter DuChene
I'm 27 and listened to this mixtape and his other one all the time in college 8 or 9 years ago. CG got me through a lot of shit back then!
jonathan warda
24 years old, first heard this on my school bus going home. Still come back to it
J Puma
The fact that gen Z love this makes me so happy. I’m 30, and when this came out I was in college putting on shows and playing music with friends. Between this and the first sorry 4 the wait we found so much good music that summer, just smoking weed and talking about life. I was getting an English degree , my buddy I grew up with was at the same school for exercise sci. He’s out in BC now , managing some company’s warehouse. I’m out on the other side of the country as a writer.
Life is weird. Hold onto every moment while you can , trust. It’s all magic.
And MAN I am happy these songs are still living on, a generation later…
minttealover
the feeling you get from Gambinos old music is unmatched
MUM ZAUZ
Listening to this song feels like a coming-of-age film.
what did you expect you idiot
woah a comment from seven hours ago