Childish Gambino
“Camp”
(Glassnote)

As a fan of comedy, I can say that Donald Glover is probably one of the most unique voices out there right now. Not only is he sharp in absurdist comedy (Derrick Comedy), but even in performing in a commercial situation (30 Rock, Community), Glover has a chameleon-like ability to adapt well.

For his long-running hip-hop alter ego, Childish Gambino, Glover falls ridiculously short.

Part of the problem is that the internet fame that has given the Gambino moniker credence is based on the idea that the project is good because it’s Donald Glover. Let’s not lie to ourselves; at best, it’s mediocre.

Like so many other actor-rappers, Childish Gambino is difficult to take seriously because he apes Atmosphere and Kanye West so badly, which makes his full-length, “Camp,” incredibly difficult to listen to.

“Firefly” is more-or-less every track on the album. Glover Gambino talks about fucking chicks, being a black kid who’s not accepted, and makes social media references. With its catchy chorus, it’s pretty much the only song that you need to listen to.

Most of “Camp” is certainly ambitious, but Glover’s purposefully unrefined style is grating and annoying. Other rappers like Jim Jones and Malachi from Group Home are emcees that are rough around the edges, but are innovative enough to stand out. Glover’s rhymes, which are largely misogynistic (“I’m in her ass like sodomy” REALLY?), is something that I imagine would appeal to people who listen to Odd Future and this kind of off center, shock rap that all the kids seem to like these days, but I wouldn’t really call this shit hip-hop.

One of Glover’s lines goes, “I rap about my dick and talk about girls that are fly.” If I wanted to listen to that, I’d at least listen to Big Daddy Kane. That dude can rap.

—  Ryan Pangilinan