If you haven’t seen Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ video yet, what have you been doing with yourself?
The video has stirred a critic in pretty much everyone who has watched it. Type Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ into Google and pretty much every relevant website have their own opinion of what the video means, followed by hundreds of comments where readers/fans deliver their own opinions too.
The video is filled with hidden messages and serves as a scathing indictment of America’s racism and obsession with gun violence. It turns into a gore-ish spectacle that contrasts terrorism and riots in the backdrop of outwardly happy people doing the latest dance moves with impeccable quality, all to the tune of ebullient choir singing paired with the most infectious trap beats.
Childish Gambino is the musical alter ego of actor Donald Glover. His tender combination of rapping and singing over slick pop hooks took cues from Kanye West and Drake, however his previous actor ‘credentials’ meant that critics thought he was a bit of a joke and Rap labels wouldn’t touch him resulting in him signing with an independent.
Glover was an underdog, but he now has the last laugh. When an artist can deliver a piece of art that has the whole world talking and debating, evoking a realisation for change, then that is certainly a gift and talent which deserves acclaim.
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