" I ’m not 25 anymore , standing in front of a boulder like , ' This has to move . ' "
Donald Gloveris ready to putChildish Gambinoto rest, and it’s truly the end of an era.
I take pride in being an actual day one. I’m talking about reciting the problematic Derrick comedy sketches with the high school homies in 2006 and listening to his dozen “mc DJ” mixtapes on my first laptop with a bag of Hot Cheetos and Lemon-Lime Gatorade.
Those moments almost 20 years ago make perfect sense why Donald’s latest release,Bando Stone & the New World,will mark the end of his alter ego, Childish Gambino — it’s been a long journey.
In an interview withthe New York Times,Donald spoke about his latest project, lengthy career, and why it’s time to move on from his well-known hip-hop moniker.
Since the beginning, Childish Gambino has released four EPs, a couple of them tied to visual projects, and five albums — 2011’sCamp,2013’sBecause the Internet,2016’s"Awaken, My Love!",2020’s3.15.20,its 2024 reissueAtavista,and finally,Bando Stone & the New World.
His albums have earned him 12 Grammy nominations and five wins for “Redbone” and the Record and Song of the Year for “This is America.”
The newest album, which serves as a companion piece/soundtrack to his latest film of the same name, shows two sides to the creative genius — he’s not just a rapper; he’s a damn good actor/writer/director.
AsDonald Glover, he’s made appearances big and small — TV and theatrical — from a cameo in one of my favorite episodes of HBO’sGirlsto the funny ensemble of the NBC sitcomCommunity.
He starred in FX’sAtlanta(2016–2022) as a creator and actor, earning him several nominations and two Emmys for Outstanding Directing and Lead Actor for a Comedy Series. And in 2024, in the same capacity, he earned two Emmy nominations for the Prime Video seriesMr. & Mrs. Smith.
On the silver screen, we’ve seen him bring to life a young Lando Calrissian inSolo: A Star Wars Storyand the King of Pride, Simba, in the live-actionThe Lion King.
The 40-year-old multi-hyphenate has come a long way from the days of creating an alter ego from aWu-Tang Clan name generator.
Donald said, “I think that kid really wanted a home,” speaking of Childish Gambino’s origin. Growing up “in the ’80s and ’90s — there wasOprah, Michael Jordan, Eddie Murphy; not a lot of alternatives” for Black people, and he had to create a space for himself, at times withobstaclesin the way.
With the release of his fifth album, the rap alter ego has run its course. “It really was just like, ‘Oh, it’s done,'” he said, describing the moment of realization.
“It’s not fulfilling. And I just felt like I didn’t need to build in this way anymore.”
WithBando Stone & the New Worldas the landmark, it’s clear Donald’s in a new space — a universe that he’s built himself, brick by brick.
“I’m not 25 anymore, standing in front of a boulder like, ‘This has to move,'” he told NYT. “You give what you can, but there’s beauty everywhere in every moment. You don’t have to build it. You don’t have to search for it.”
And with that, I say cheers to Donald and farewell to Childish Gambino. It’s been a remarkable run! 😭😊
Read the full interviewhere.
Check out the trailer forBando Stone & the New Worldbelow:
