Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino, has had an immensely successful career spanning television, music, and film and has been a household name in all three fields for a number of years now.
Having been part of massive tv shows and had hits across multiple popular music genres, you may know a ton about him. If not, here is everything you need to know about the genius that is Donald Glover.
Early Life
Donald Glover was born in 1983 at Edwards Air Force base in California. He then attended DeKalb School of Arts in DeKalb, Georgia, where he was voted to be “Most likely to write for The Simpsons.”
He then graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in dramatic writing. Around this time, he started producing and DJing, going by the name of
MC D.
Music
Glover’s first extended play, which he named EP, was released in 2011, with a music video released shortly afterward. He then began his IAMDONALD tour a month later, a one-person show consisting of music, rap, comedy, and video segments that he created.
Glover’s first studio album, Camp, was released in 2011 and debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 list. While the album wasn’t met with thousands of reviews, the feedback it did get was generally positive, scoring 69/100 on Metacritic.
His subsequent albums would also be viewed in a similar way until his most recent release, 3.15.20. His latest album is widely regarded as his best yet, with reviews ranging between the low 80s and 90s out of 100.
Glover has had a number of hit singles, including Redbone, Bonfire, and arguably his most famous track, This is America. The song was released in 2018 and deals with several social problems such as police brutality against African-Americans, racism, poverty, and violence.
The music video is just as hard-hitting, portraying what is spoken about, with Glover assuming the role of a Jim Crow-style caricature at times. The footage took many aback and was widely praised as a project that didn’t pull any punches.
Television
Many people will be familiar with Glover due to his role as Troy on Community. However, his work in television began a few years earlier when he was hired as a writer on Tina Fey’s show, 30 Rock.
Glover debuted on Community in 2009, playing the character of Troy Barnes. He was a show regular, starring in 89 episodes from seasons 1-5. He used Community as a stepping stone for more TV appearances, going on to be part of Robot Chicken, Girls, Adventure Time, and finally, his own show, Atlanta.
He stars, directs, writes, and produces the show, which is based on Glover’s stylized life in and around Atlanta. Seasons 1 to 3 have all received some of the best reviews and ratings, all coming in above 95/100.
Film
Glover has also jumped into the cinema pool, starring in films such as Magic Mike XXL, The Martian, Spider-Man Homecoming, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and most recently as the voice of Simba in the Lion King.
He has also written four movies, Mystery Team, Clapping for the Wrong Reasons, Chicken and Futility, and Guava Island.
Comedy
Considering he is someone who has acted in serious roles and has rapped about some very sensitive and serious topics, it is interesting to note that Glover is also a relatively successful and popular comedian.
In 2010 he filmed a comedy special with Comedy Central; he has also hosted Saturday Night Live, taking part in multiple hilarious skits and being the musical guest for the show.
Impact
Glover has proven to be a cultural icon of sorts, being someone who has shown his talents in the world of writing, comedy, music, film, and TV. He has also broken the mold of what each of these titles means, effortlessly swapping between Donald Glover and Childish Gambino.
With season 4 of his show Atlanta on the way, we are sure to see far more of his writing and comedic genius, and hopefully, a brand new album is on its way. Donald “Childish Gambino” Glover is easily one of the most versatile creators in the world today.
