Childish Gambino | “EP” | Album Review
Story by Mitch McCann 
| Published Apr 5, 2011

He’s a stand up comedian/30 Rock writer/DERRICK Comedy sensation/star of NBC’s hit sitcom ‘Community’ -- and now Donald Glover is pushing his comedic everyman abilities into what one might hope would be the final frontier with the release of “EP” under rap-moniker ‘Childish Gambino.’ Anyone familiar with Glover’s vast range of talents as a funnyman may be somewhat bummed to find that Glover chose to parlay his new persona into a serious hip-hop career. It’s less Weird Al, more Beastie Boys.

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Photo illustration by Courtesy Photo.
Glover’s extremely active presence across all venues has lead to a “jack of all trades” image, whose online and indie persona have skyrocketed him to what might be more mainstream fame than the Gambino was prepared to handle. “EP,” a big jump from previous LP “Culdesac,” is Glover’s open-hearted letter to fans and press. Childish Gambino delivers a much more reigned-in and mature presentation. Glover’s cheap, typical rap façade has been dropped (kind of), and is instead replaced by actual confidence, although at times even he questions it.

The cornerstone of “EP” is easily the comedic-homage, hot-as-hell “Freaks & Geeks.” Glover hits a career high as elements which were hit and miss and shotgunned across all of “Culdesac” come together this time. Not usually one with a prolonged taste for rap, I was struck by the track’s (and album’s) absolutely genius rapid-fire references over a minimalist yet powerful beat. All of this becomes the genesis of a track which single-handedly supports the rest of the album, and which is (only slightly) weaker in comparison. And depending on how you felt about Lupe Fiasco’s “Lasers,” “Freaks & Geeks” could easily be 2011’s best hip hop track thus far.

“EP” delivers a Glover/Gambino who is much more secure in his fame and exposure, and though at times it may be hard for him to let go of the homophobic or lamestream haters, he will soon find his path. Hipsters may not take him seriously, and MC’s may doubt his fit in the hip hop community, but Childish Gambino will soon deliver the necessary chops to silence his rather eclectic mix of critics.

Comments

1
Posted Apr 21st, 2011 at 6:58 am
you can't say that you don't listen to hip hop that much and feel like your review is worth anything. no doubt donald glover is a cool cat, but his flow is pretty stale and the beats are less than imaginative. and pretty cocky/bold/stupid saying that either 'lasers' or 'freak & geeks' are the 'best hip hop track' so far in 2011. doubt most hip hop enthusiasts would agree. if you want that raw shit, odd future all the way. please don't try to bullshit something you have little knowledge about. you come across as a pretentious know-nothing asshole.
--Anon
2
Posted Apr 25th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
for someone who feels they are entitled to comment on an emerging artist's album, you've got quite a set of your own. Jay and Diddy can blow each other over who discovered OFWGKTA first all they want, when Tyler writes a song about 4 or 5 times better than Yonkers, you go ahead and call me. Glover's 'unimaginative' beats are clearly not the point (the same goes for Odd Future, by the way) but accusing him of lacking flow makes you the pretentious know-nothing asshole, my trolling friend.
--Mitch
3
Posted Apr 25th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
I'm not sure how I could have made it more obvious that Glover is an amateur at his craft and "EP" was nothing short of a surprise, which I have yet to have seen anywhere else in the hip-hop community, short of (surprise, surprise) Odd Future. Pulling the OF card makes you about as knowledgeable as me and every other arrogant, self-involved dick out there, congratulations. No one requested your name-dropping bullshit. If you think you can do better, come to a writer's meeting.
--Mitch 2
4
Posted Dec 23rd, 2011 at 2:22 pm
I'm so glad that the internet allwos free info like this!
--Caro

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