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]
Freaks & Geeks
Childish Gambino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mass appeal, orange rind, smoke your green, I'm spendin' mine
The beat is witches brew, but beware this shit is potent
E.e. Cummin' on her face, now that's poetry in motion
Yeah, Gambino make it work, I'm the boss move somethin'
Yeah, this cool fuckin' suits me, swag two button
Yeah, these girls be actin' crazy when they're dancin', Black Swan
I ain't fuckin' at the club, put your clothes back on
Rappers wanna battle me, I have to mail their heads back
And my clique make that dinero, so it's time to meet the fuckers
I am runnin' this bitch, you are just a dog walker
Leavin' with your girl when we last seen each other
Yeah, you fuckin' with the baddest like we tag team Rihanna
Fly girl on her knees, she don't wanna come near me
Yeah, my dick is too big, there's a Big Bang Theory
Got her picture in my iPhone, what do y'all think?
While y'all niggas masturbate, I'm in that Ariel Pink
If I am just a rapper man, you could've fooled me
I'm the shit, when these dudes talk, they talkin' bull me, ah
Okay (Alright) I'm down with the black girls of every single culture
Filipino, Armenian girls on my sofa
Yeah I like a white girl, sometimes we get together
Need a thick chick though, so it's black and yellow, black and yellow
Love is a trip, but fuckin' is a sport
Are there Asian girls here? Minority report
Put your team on the map, Blake Griffin on the court
Niggas bitin' off my tracks, need a knife and a fork
We the illest, need a nurse, here's the cheque, grab your purse
Unless we fuckin', then I'll pay for all the food on the Earth, man
I got some pussy that was insane, so insane, it's an enemy of Batman
I'm dominant, niggas call me faggot 'cause they closeted
I'm hot as shit, comin' outta the backside of a rocket ship
It's monster shit, you dudes are the opposite of Loch Nesses
Respond to this, we can squash the beef right now like sausages
Chillin' with my n-words, say it like a white kid
Yes, your booty's big as hers, say that to my white bitch
So she don't get embarrassed, my dick is made of carrots
Bunnies wantin' to be fed it, I meant honeys, oh forget it
I have worked all winter, I will not fail summer
In the back of the bush, like Gavin Rossdale's drummer
Yeah, my stinger's in her flower, I hope she let me pollinate
Workin' hard as shit, yeah, this beat is made from concentrate
Nigga can't you tell that my sample of Adele
Was so hot, I got these hood niggas blowin' up my cell?
Swag out the ass, I'm the man, fuck chico
Took the G out your waffle, all you got left is your ego
Think about it for a second, man we eatin', where's your breakfast?
Man, you hungry, have this sandwich, got my wallet, cheese and lettuce
An elephant never forgets, so my dick remembers everything
Green inside your wallet is that pussy open sesame
Runnin' the game, fuck am I sayin'? Runnin' the Earth, give me a month
Told all you niggas I'm in it to win it 'cause havin' an Emmy just wasn't enough
You get sloppy drunk, I stay whiskey neat
My clique should be canceled, Freaks and Geeks
The song "Freaks And Geeks" by Childish Gambino has several layers of meaning. In the first verse, Gambino references his sexual escapades with women and his wealth. He also speaks about the power he has as a rapper, claiming that he is the boss and can make things happen. He also plays on words with the reference to ee cummings, suggesting that he is both poetic and vulgar. In the second verse, Gambino talks about his attraction to women of all races and colors but emphasizes the need for a thick girl. He also brags about his talent as a rapper and how he is changing the game. The hook "My clique should be canceled, Freaks and Geeks" suggests that Gambino and his friends are outliers in society, and they have different interests and habits than the mainstream.
This song is a power anthem that is self-aggrandizing and harsh towards other rappers who might be attempting to win the game too. Gambino is aware of his status as an outlier and uses his unique experiences as a selling point for his music. He also plays with different metaphors and wordplay throughout the song, making it enjoyable both musically and lyrically.
Line by Line Meaning
Alright, Gambino is a mastermind, fuck a bitch to pass the time
Childish Gambino is highly intelligent and skilled, and engages in casual sexual encounters as a way to fill his leisure time.
Mass appeal, orange rind, smoke your green, I'm spendin' mine
He has a very popular public persona, and while others are conserving their resources, he is freely spending his money on marijuana.
The beat is witches brew, but beware this shit is potent
The instrumental track is complex and powerful, and should be approached with caution.
E.e. Cummin' on her face, now that's poetry in motion
Referencing a well-known poet, Childish Gambino is implying that sexual acts can also be artistic and beautiful.
Yeah, Gambino make it work, I'm the boss move somethin'
He is a successful and powerful figure, taking charge and accomplishing tasks effectively.
Yeah, this cool fuckin' suits me, swag two button
Childish Gambino is fashion-conscious and looks good in stylish clothing with a particular type of button on the coat.
Yeah, these girls be actin' crazy when they're dancin', Black Swan
Girls often behave erratically on the dance floor, similar to the singer in the film Black Swan.
I ain't fuckin' at the club, put your clothes back on
He is not interested in having sex in noisy, public places like nightclubs, and tells others to put their clothes back on.
Yeah, this beat is a disaster, 9/11 this track
The instrumental track is terrible or offensive, and likened to the infamous September 11th attacks.
Rappers wanna battle me, I have to mail their heads back
Other rappers are eager to compete against him, but he is skilled enough to effortlessly defeat them in a way that is fatal to their careers.
And my clique make that dinero, so it's time to meet the fuckers
His associates are financially successful, and he is ready to confront his rivals and establish dominance.
I am runnin' this bitch, you are just a dog walker
He is in charge of the situation, while his opponent is merely a servant or lackey.
Leavin' with your girl when we last seen each other
He departed the previous gathering with someone else's girlfriend as his companion.
Yeah, you fuckin' with the baddest like we tag team Rihanna
Referring to a famous singer, he and a male partner are dominating in their field like she does in her own industry.
Fly girl on her knees, she don't wanna come near me
A woman is humbling herself before him, but he finds it unappealing or unnecessary.
Yeah, my dick is too big, there's a Big Bang Theory
He has an unusually large penis, so much so that it creates a hypothetical scientific explanation for the creation of the universe.
Got her picture in my iPhone, what do y'all think?
He has a photo of a woman on his phone and asks others for their opinions about her appearance or potential as a romantic partner.
While y'all niggas masturbate, I'm in that Ariel Pink
While others are engaging in sexual self-pleasure, he is busy pursuing a musician named Ariel Pink.
If I am just a rapper man, you could've fooled me
While he is known as a musician, he has many other talents that make him more than just a rapper.
I'm the shit, when these dudes talk, they talkin' bull me, ah
He is incredibly confident in his abilities, and people who criticize him are just wasting their breath in useless arguments.
Okay (Alright) I'm down with the black girls of every single culture
He has a preference for women of color, regardless of their specific racial or ethnic heritage.
Filipino, Armenian girls on my sofa
He has had Filipino and Armenian women as his guests in a casual and intimate setting.
Yeah I like a white girl, sometimes we get together
He also finds white women attractive, and has had sex with one in the past.
Need a thick chick though, so it's black and yellow, black and yellow
Although he is not solely attracted to a particular race, he prefers curvier women whose bodies resemble the colors of black and yellow.
Love is a trip, but fuckin' is a sport
He thinks that love is an intense and unpredictable experience, but sex is more of a competitive activity that can be played for fun or for rewards.
Are there Asian girls here? Minority report
He is asking if any Asian women are present in the room, and references a sci-fi movie about predicting future events to make a play on words.
Put your team on the map, Blake Griffin on the court
He advises others to try harder and become successful, like basketball player Blake Griffin has in his career.
Niggas bitin' off my tracks, need a knife and a fork
Other musicians are stealing ideas from his songs, and he needs to come up with a new way to defend his intellectual property.
We the illest, need a nurse, here's the cheque, grab your purse
He and his associates are the best in their field and require medical attention, but he will pay for everything and the others should be ready to leave.
Unless we fuckin', then I'll pay for all the food on the Earth, man
In the case of a sexual encounter, he will generously treat his partner to any food she desires.
I got some pussy that was insane, so insane, it's an enemy of Batman
He had a sexual encounter so incredibly intense that it could be considered a threat to a fictional superhero.
I'm dominant, niggas call me faggot 'cause they closeted
He is highly effective and in control of most situations, and people who call him a slur for homosexuals are actually struggling with their own latent sexual preferences.
I'm hot as shit, comin' outta the backside of a rocket ship
He is incredibly attractive and successful, and compares himself to a spacecraft emerging from its exhaust port.
It's monster shit, you dudes are the opposite of Loch Nesses
His music is highly impressive and successful, while the other musicians he is comparing to a mythical monster are actually non-existent or obsolete.
Respond to this, we can squash the beef right now like sausages
He challenges his rivals to engage with him, and if they do, he is willing to end their conflict quickly and amicably.
Chillin' with my n-words, say it like a white kid
He is in the company of his close friends, and encourages his associates to speak slang in the same way that white people would.
Yes, your booty's big as hers, say that to my white bitch
He is agreeing with someone's observation about a woman's large buttocks, and tells them to repeat it to his girlfriend who is white.
So she don't get embarrassed, my dick is made of carrots
He is reassuring others that his girlfriend will not be ashamed of his genitalia, which he humorously compares to a vegetable.
Bunnies wantin' to be fed it, I meant honeys, oh forget it
Women are sexually interested in him, but he initially misspeaks by calling them animals before correcting himself.
I have worked all winter, I will not fail summer
He has been committed and dedicated throughout the previous season, and he will continue to thrive in the upcoming season.
In the back of the bush, like Gavin Rossdale's drummer
He is hiding in a remote or sequestered location, and compares his situation to the drummer in a band who is often unseen or unnoticed.
Yeah, my stinger's in her flower, I hope she let me pollinate
He has sexual intercourse with his female partner, and imagines himself as a type of insect gathering pollen from a plant.
Workin' hard as shit, yeah, this beat is made from concentrate
He has put in a great deal of effort to create a very powerful and condensed instrumental track.
Nigga can't you tell that my sample of Adele
He has used parts of a song by the singer Adele in his own music and believes others should recognize it.
Was so hot, I got these hood niggas blowin' up my cell?
Because of the popularity of his song that includes Adele's music, he is receiving a lot of attention from people in less affluent areas.
Swag out the ass, I'm the man, fuck chico
He is very stylish and confident, and considers himself to be superior to everyone else.
Took the G out your waffle, all you got left is your ego
He has deprived his opponent of something essential, leaving them with nothing but their pride.
Think about it for a second, man we eatin', where's your breakfast?
He and his associates are successful and well-fed, and challenges his rivals to compare their own accomplishments and provisions with his own.
Man, you hungry, have this sandwich, got my wallet, cheese and lettuce
He offers his opponent a sandwich to make fun of their lower status and emphasize how wealthy he is.
An elephant never forgets, so my dick remembers everything
He is suggesting that his penis is so memorable and impressive, that it will be forever etched in a woman's mind.
Green inside your wallet is that pussy open sesame
Money is a powerful tool to get sexual access to a woman he desires.
Runnin' the game, fuck am I sayin'? Runnin' the Earth, give me a month
He is so influential and powerful that he could be in control of the whole planet in only a matter of weeks.
Told all you niggas I'm in it to win it 'cause havin' an Emmy just wasn't enough
He is so driven and ambitious that winning a prestigious award like an Emmy is not enough for him, and he wants even more success and recognition.
You get sloppy drunk, I stay whiskey neat
While others lose control and drink too much alcohol, he remains composed and sophisticated by drinking whiskey without diluting it.
My clique should be canceled, Freaks and Geeks
His friends and associates have very unusual or eccentric personalities, and he is aware that people don't always understand or appreciate their behavior.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Donald Mckinley Glover Ii
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ibnorator8149
Speaking of Gambino * EHM...CLEARS THROAT* Greetings Beautiful soul! lol (forgive me abit i know I am not exactly what you may have come here for ..) but my name is Ibn Orator...I am an Avant-Garde, introspective & Political Hip Hop Artist from New Haven CT. I've recently released a project titled "The Fishbowl Syndrome" that is centered around the topic of our mental health and art; how they intertwine in experience or how they are sometimes viewed here in America;to which my first debut music video "The Horse on a Trampoline" works showcase on the spectrum of my own experiences with it, that i feel fans alike of FKA twigs, Janelle Monae , EarthGang, Flying lotus, Childish Gambino or those of Bjork, Logic , Lupe Fiasco, & Reggie watts may resonate with...id like to share this with you by giving a warm welcome to my Channel to not only, like and subscribe but to comment with genuine feedback. (Please leave a comment there underneath the video and not here) as i would like for my listeners to feel welcomed to give more in thought than in clout and start a conversation which is what my subject matter is based on ..."Commentary on our shared world".In hopes that this may be fruitful to you i look forward to your response
The Horse on a Trampoline Official Music Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sol3DsWhzpA
All the best
Ibn Orator
P.S. Im aware that for some us, if not all, are having a hard time this year..so id like to say that i love you very much, if you haven't heard it from anyone, and that things are about to change as they always do, for better or worse….#godspeed..
@TehSwanny
His lyricism is ridiculous.
@mage2066
"are there asian girls here? minority report"
yeah, ridiculous alright.
@dataevo2640
He's insane
@vickiwieczorek126
+DaTa Evo Hes fucking the best
@Impuhlz
+FaZe Swan yoooooo swan what's good man, ha
@Stegasaurous1
+FaZe Swan yeah these girls be actin crazy when they dancing faze swan
@airman6937
Donald Glover is probably one of the best entertainers on this planet. Actor, comedian, director, producer, rapper, fucking insane and he excels at it all too
@marmarclassic3636
Don't forget singer
@TheHumbleBao
plus singer and DJ. He dj's under the name "mcDJ"
@xEpicZable
for fucking real this is the man