By Taylor Rapalyea
Staff Writer
Childish Gambino, AKA Donald Glover, usually evokes love or hate with his music. It’s hard to find a fan who isn’t diehard, or a critic who doesn’t stubbornly critique him. But the launch of his newest album, “Because the Internet,” was met mostly with acknowledgment of his genius and the thought-provoking nature of his music.
Gambino didn’t just release an album. He also wrote a screenplay and created a short film to accompany the tracks. The rawness and familiarity of both creations isn’t unusual for the writer, turned comedian, turned rapper: His previous album, “Camp,” was heartbreaking at times, though admittedly borderline misogynistic.
The most popular track off of “Because the Internet,” “3005,” possibly alludes to the mysterious Instagram photos Gambino posted in October 2013, which depicted deep and very sad thoughts scribbled on hotel stationery. The music video is just as sad, but the song reflects his shaky love for his friends and undying love for fans, and a certain resignation to the fact that life is short, and not something that can be controlled.
The track has a beat with twisted reverb that’s fairly unlike what you typically hear on the radio, but is digestible enough to make your most played list on iTunes. And as we’ve come to expect from Gambino, every song is packed with meaningful one liners, enough to give Rap Genius a run for their money.
“Sweatpants” is another must-listen, if only because it feels like something Troy – Gambino’s character on “Community” – might sing. Of course, that could just be because a rabid fan made a shot for shot music video using “Community” references that connected to the lyrics. The music video makes the song, and you’ll never be able to hear the line, “Don’t be mad ’cause I’m doing me better than you doing you,” without picturing Troy.
The album has been criticized for being too long – it stands at 19 tracks and requires a decent chunk of time to listen to and absorb it – but many of the songs are meaningful but brief interludes.
Gambino’s own dark and frank introspection is intensely relatable, despite the fact that it’s from the perspective of a wealthy celebrity in California. His shrewd inner monologue on the album makes you take a hard look at your own life, and the long moments of silence in his short film speak for themselves. But don’t be fooled by the deep exterior (and interior) of the album. There are plenty of songs to which you can move.
