The books Childish Gambino is obsessed with: “They’re on a separate bookshelf”
Hip-hop and books are sometimes perceived as two ends of the intellectual spectrum. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Although rap music has become more and more anti-intellectual over the years, at its core, the art form is storytelling that can relay extremely powerful messages, just ask Childish Gambino.
Whether it’s KRS-One, Chuck D, Talib Kweli, or Nas, some of hip-hop’s best lyricists can paint the most vivid of pictures with their music and transport listeners. Many use their rhymes to address societal issues, especially those relating to racial discrimination and enlighten people with their conscious lyrics.
Although artists such as Lil Pump, Tekashi 6ix9ine and Soulja Boy aren’t exactly bastions of knowledge with a love for books and storytelling. In 2012, GQ magazine spoke to a slew of exciting rappers about some of the books they were reading and what texts they would recommend to their fans.
One emcee they spoke to was Childish Gambino. Earlier this year, Gambino released his album Bando Stone & The New World, which he announced would be his last album under the stage name, accompanied by a world tour entitled the ‘New World’ tour, which will be his first tour since 2019.
Gambino (real name Donald Glover) is far from anti-intellectual and, as a writer, rapper, actor and singer, is a prolific creative. As such, it is unsurprising that he reads a lot of books. However, what is startling are the kinds of texts he likes. While speaking with GQ, Glover explained, “I have an obsession with books about kids with Asperger’s syndrome. I like the way they think—it suits me.” He then named some classic books, many of which have been revered by critics.
Listing some of his favourites, Glover continued, “The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon is great! That and Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close [by Jonathan Safran Foer]. They’re on a separate bookshelf. They don’t understand what the other books are saying by their facial expressions, but they’re perfectly lined up.”
Many rappers, including artists such as Questlove and Chuck D, are still promoting book reading in hip-hop and are even writing their own books to pass on some of their knowledge, but it is always interesting to hear what contemporary MCs are reading and taking on board.
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon, which Glover cited as a favourite, is now considered a classic, and it was lauded upon its release.