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]
Both Hands
Childish Gambino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They can talk that shit when the chips are up.
But the chips are down, cause i put them there,
And i got a Hot Chip like the indie band.
This is Christmas man and my flow is Miami,
And the only goal that i have is my Emmy bitch
Yes and a nigga stay down like i'm into this
These niggas never did shit different, i was tired of it.
Hip-hop is dead and everybody is the same now.
I am not the same, how could i ever be?
I am so fly and on fire like a phoenix wing,
I go light speed, you go slow pace.
And i go hard like G-O in bold face.
Used to do me cause i had to, now a nigga like to
Cause i get cheese like the mice do.
I am a work of art, crush niggas like i'm crushing on Annie Clark
They stop sleeping on me
Good morning, like Alonzo,
Go ahead and cut that shit out like a tonsil.
Yes i stay weird and fuck chicks like i'm gonzo.
Sleeping on a cow pie, tired of the bullshit,
Dick is her baby, why does she abuse it?
Eight shots and a beer and i'm passing out,
Glasses, leather jacket, i'ma ask you out.
Spend the night if you got your own toothbrush,
I really think i like you, but not too much
I got big plans, yeah i feel myself hard like both hands,
Yeah I feel myself hard like both hands.
(Throw the phone out the window)
(If you want the neighbours woke)
(You'll have to shout out loud)
(And set the bed alight and slow)
(If you want the neighbours woke)
(You'll have to shout even louder)
This is all fun yeah, my work is vacation.
Me and six shots, that's a bad combination.
I don't need your money, this is free download it,
Play it at a party, watch it pop like a soda.
Thick indie black girl, double stuffed Oreo.
Make a shit rapper pissed off like a urinal.
You can not see me, i can change your perspective.
Sick boy clique, that's an Animal Collective.
Fuckin with you raw like i don't need protection.
I am just a rapper, i'm in search of perfection.
Spit hot shit, yeah my mouth is a toaster.
Shit look easy like a turd in a short skirt.
I am not a fairy tale, i earned this shit.
Leave a track on the stove and watch me burn this bitch.
Sick as a dog, fly as an angel
I am just a rapper, better learn sign language.
Cause i don't talk, yeah i fight Teddy Ruxpin.
Yeah i got paper like i just ate a muffin.
This is all wrong man, this is all wrong.
Have a nigga, have a hit, and then they sing the same song.
That is so not me, i'ma change it all up.
Doctor knows i'm sick dude, i don't need a follow up.
Tell me when you can't take the track any longer.
Weird soufflé[?!] and the noise make me stronger.
I have gotten stronger, tongue like a shotgun.
If you let the track loose, you can watch me pop one.
Sick boy bitch, and it's back to the future,
Cause i'm McFly and it's not what i'm used to.
Cause they used to call me other name of a rooster[?].
Sky is the limit like a jet pack booster.
Fuckin with a nigga like he fuckin with a time bomb.
Can't see a nigga, motherfucker turn your eyes on.
I am so different y'all don't even know the half of.
I do not talk, motherfucker i'm a rapper.
In "Both Hands," Childish Gambino boasts about his skills as a rapper and how he stands out from the rest of hip-hop. He calls out other rappers for being all talk and no action, claiming that he's put them in their place with his music. Gambino also touches on the concept of individuality in hip-hop, saying that he refuses to conform or be like anyone else, and that his artistry is unique and unparalleled. Throughout the song, he showcases his clever wordplay, vivid imagery, and fearless attitude as a lyricist.
One interesting fact about "Both Hands" is that it was released as a free download on Childish Gambino's website in 2010, a few months after his debut studio album "Culdesac" came out. Another fact is that the song samples "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics, as well as various other songs and sounds, including a clip from the film "Blow." "Both Hands" was also featured on Gambino's 2010 mixtape "EP," which included other early tracks and remixes.
Additionally, "Both Hands" features a line that references indie rock band Hot Chip, with Gambino boasting about having a "Hot Chip like the indie band." The lyrics also mention Animal Collective and Alonzo Mourning, among other cultural references. The song's catchy chorus, which includes the repeated line "If you want the neighbors woke, you'll have to shout even louder," adds to its fun and playful vibe.
As for the chords to "Both Hands," they are not readily available, as the song relies heavily on samples and electronic production. However, fans can still appreciate the song's clever lyrics and catchy beats.
Line by Line Meaning
These guys aren't tough and stuff
These individuals are not as strong and intimidating as they make themselves out to be
They can talk that shit when the chips are up.
They can easily talk tough when things are going well for them
But the chips are down, cause i put them there,
But since the situation has turned against them, it is because I made it so
And i got a Hot Chip like the indie band.
And I am on fire just like the English indie band Hot Chip
This is Christmas man and my flow is Miami,
This is a time of celebration and my rap style is hot and lively like Miami
And the only goal that i have is my Emmy bitch
And the only aim I have is to win the Emmy award
Yes and a nigga stay down like i'm into this
Yes, I remain grounded as if it is my choice
These niggas never did shit different, i was tired of it.
These individuals never did anything unique, and I was bored with it
See the other side of it, hate how they say how
On the other hand, I despise it when they claim
Hip-hop is dead and everybody is the same now.
That hip-hop is dead and everyone sounds the same now
I am not the same, how could i ever be?
I am not like them, how would I ever be?
I am so fly and on fire like a phoenix wing,
I am exceptionally cool and hot like the wings of a phoenix bird
I go light speed, you go slow pace.
I go at lightening speed, while you are slow in comparison
And i go hard like G-O in bold face.
And I go hard like the capital letters 'G-O' in bold font
Used to do me cause i had to, now a nigga like to
I used to do things out of necessity, now I do things because I want to
Cause i get cheese like the mice do.
Because I make money just like mice do - by stealing bits of cheese
I am a work of art, crush niggas like i'm crushing on Annie Clark
I am a piece of artwork, and can take out my opposition in the same way I might have a crush on musician St. Vincent
They stop sleeping on me
People will stop undervaluing me
Good morning, like Alonzo,
Good morning, just like the famous basketball star Alonzo Mourning
Go ahead and cut that shit out like a tonsil.
Stop that behavior right now, like removing a tonsil
Yes i stay weird and fuck chicks like i'm gonzo.
Yes, I maintain my uniqueness and sleep with women like Gonzo in The Muppets
Sleeping on a cow pie, tired of the bullshit,
Taking a nap on a pile of cow dung, exhausted by all the nonsense
Dick is her baby, why does she abuse it?
Her lover is like her child, so why does she treat him poorly?
Eight shots and a beer and i'm passing out,
Eight shots of alcohol and a beer is enough to make me pass out
Glasses, leather jacket, i'ma ask you out.
Wearing glasses and a leather jacket, I am going to ask you out on a date
Spend the night if you got your own toothbrush,
You can stay the night if you brought your own toothbrush
I really think i like you, but not too much
I actually think I like you, but I don't want to become too attached too quickly
This is all fun yeah, my work is vacation.
This is all an enjoyable experience for me, as my job is like a vacation
Me and six shots, that's a bad combination.
Me and six shots of alcohol is a dangerous pairing
I don't need your money, this is free download it,
I do not require your money, this music is free for you to download
Play it at a party, watch it pop like a soda.
Play it at an event, and watch it become extremely popular, like a bottle of soda
Thick indie black girl, double stuffed Oreo.
A curvy black indie female, just like a double-stuffed Oreo cookie
Make a shit rapper pissed off like a urinal.
Make a terrible rapper feel angry like a backed-up urinal
You can not see me, i can change your perspective.
You cannot truly understand or see me, but I have the power to change your outlook
Sick boy clique, that's an Animal Collective.
My group of sick boys is similar to the indie band Animal Collective
Fuckin with you raw like i don't need protection.
Messing with you without any precautions or safeguards, as if I do not need protection
I am just a rapper, i'm in search of perfection.
I am simply a rapper, but constantly striving to achieve perfection
Spit hot shit, yeah my mouth is a toaster.
Rapping fire material, as hot as a toaster oven
Shit look easy like a turd in a short skirt.
Making this look easy, like wearing a short skirt while taking a dump
I am not a fairy tale, i earned this shit.
My success is not imaginary, I worked hard for it
Leave a track on the stove and watch me burn this bitch.
Leave room for me to rap, and observe me dominate the competition
Sick as a dog, fly as an angel
Feeling ill, but still soaring like an angel
I am just a rapper, better learn sign language.
I am solely a rapper, you might as well learn sign language
Cause i don't talk, yeah i fight Teddy Ruxpin.
Because I don't speak, I fight the robotic Teddy Ruxpin toy
Yeah i got paper like i just ate a muffin.
Yes, I have money - as if I just ate a muffin made out of paper
This is all wrong man, this is all wrong.
This is not right, it is all incorrect
Have a nigga, have a hit, and then they sing the same song.
Have a successful rapper, and they will release a hit song that all sounds the same
That is so not me, i'ma change it all up.
That is the complete opposite of me, I will alter the norm
Doctor knows i'm sick dude, i don't need a follow up.
The doctor is aware that I am ill, and there is no need for a check-up
Tell me when you can't take the track any longer.
Let me know when you cannot bear to listen to the track any more
Weird soufflé[?!] and the noise make me stronger.
It is like a strange soufflé food item that makes me stronger, along with the accompanying noise
I have gotten stronger, tongue like a shotgun.
I have become even more powerful, with a tongue like a firing gun
If you let the track loose, you can watch me pop one.
If you let the music play, you can observe me excel
Sick boy bitch, and it's back to the future,
My crew is sick and badass, and it is reminiscent of the movie Back to the Future
Cause i'm McFly and it's not what i'm used to.
Because I am like McFly (from Back to the Future), and this is not what I am accustomed to
Cause they used to call me other name of a rooster[?].
Because they used to call me a different nickname involving a rooster of some sort
Sky is the limit like a jet pack booster.
The sky is the limit for me, soaring like a jet pack booster
Fuckin with a nigga like he fuckin with a time bomb.
Messing with me is like handling a ticking time bomb
Can't see a nigga, motherfucker turn your eyes on.
You cannot see me, idiot - open your eyes
I am so different y'all don't even know the half of.
I am incredibly unique, and people do not even understand how much
I do not talk, motherfucker i'm a rapper.
I do not use words in regular conversation, I just rap
(Throw the phone out the window)
Throw the phone out the window
(If you want the neighbours woke)
If you want the neighbors to be awakened
(You'll have to shout out loud)
You will need to shout loudly
(And set the bed alight and slow)
And then perhaps set the bed on fire, gradually
(If you want the neighbours woke)
If you want the neighbors to be awakened
(You'll have to shout even louder)
You will need to shout even louder
Contributed by John L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LorenzoDoesntExist
He should redo many of his older songs with his matured voice and production techniques. Listen to Retro.
@AyfoZ94
This is easily one of my favorite Gambino songs, and I have no idea how he does it If you were to hand this instrumental to anyone else, they would call you crazy for thinking this could make a good rap beat, but Gambino still murdered it and it just blows my mind He truly is an amazing rapper
@DJSJ31
That second verse though....
This and that last verse on Hero have to be his best.
@apollog7764
3rd verse of 'Not Going Back' Murders tracks
@tolkienblack6602
+Garikai Munowenyu Or pretty much the entirety of What the fuck are yoy
@Litro740
still love this song after all these years
@subj3ctt0chang3
This song feels like an amazing descent into madness.
@sadisawesome
House of Leaves energy
@3Ieo
Proof that he is a great rapper
@Drake2JD
2017 almost 2018 and still love old bino
*edit 2019 almost 2020 still listing to this much love ♥️