What a year it has been for Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino. His show Atlanta, which he acts in and directs, has been an overwhelming success, praised by viewers and critics alike and setting viewership records for FX, the channel it airs on. It was also recently announced that the rapper/actor has gotten a role in the next Star Wars movie in which he’ll play Lando Calrissian. He also recently had a child and now it’s come to light that he’s finally releasing a brand new studio album titled Awaken, My Love! The project will be released just slightly over 3 weeks from now on the 2nd of December 2016.
The news hasn’t been announce officially by Gambino himself, but several sources have more or less confirmed it including Amazon International and Allmusic, which have both listed the 2nd of December as the album’s release date. Many people thought that the album would be released under the title Pharos which was the name of an event he put on earlier this year.
This will be Gambino’s third album. His first Camp came out in 2011 and his most recent project, Because the Internet, came out 3 years ago to positive critical feedback and commercial success. It was certified gold earlier this year by the RIAA further contributing to the great year that he has already been having.
Gambino is known for his awkward, slightly depressing yet comedic music and delivery. Since he hasn’t released any new music since 2014’s mixtape STN MTN/Kauai so it’s difficult to predict what type of music Awake, My Love! Will contain, which is kind of cool. It can be boring sometimes when you know exactly what to expect from an artist. Whatever it is I’m pretty sure though that it’s going to be something different from the usual stuff that’s wildly popular these days, so let’s wait and see.
Gambino is quietly becoming a model of what a successful rapper and actor can be, moving between the two roles seamlessly. Add to that the directorial and writing credits he has collected through Atlanta and it’s not difficult to see that he could become the next media powerhouse, following in the footsteps of others who have gone before him such as Ice T, Will Smith and most notably Ice Cube; all rappers who have had and continue to have successful runs in Hollywood.
As you wait for the album you can watch one of my favorite freestyles ever from Hot 97 with none other than Childish Gambino himself just to remind you how unique and skilled he is in case you forgot.
