The first album Childish Gambino ever bought
(Credit: Daniel Patlán)

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The first album Childish Gambino ever bought

It’s no secret that Donald Glover—also known in the rap world as Childish Gambino—has some varied music tastes. Even with his incredible rap skills perhaps suggesting he’s more aligned with hip hop than any other genre, Glover has always represented himself as a renaissance man of sorts. He’s always sort of walked the line of rap and alternative in a lot of his work, if only due to the fact that he acts and does comedy under a different name than he produces his music.

In fact, he’s joked around in the past about liking all kinds of alternative music rather than rap at certain points in his life, like in the comedy bit where he gave a shoutout to his love of The Cranberries, for example. So, it might not come as a shock that when asked about the first album he ever bought with his own money, his answer was Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt.

When asked about the first album he ever bought with his own money by Jimmy Kimmel, he actually gets a little bit embarrassed at first and takes a moment to reveal his selection. However, when he does, it’s clear that he simply liked the album and wanted to buy it!

Of his selection, he said, “I guess, I remember the first album I bought with my own money. I think it might have been…Wow, this is, well, it’s not embarrassing, it’s just funny that you can tell how old I am. But it was probably Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt. Like, I think that was the first time I had money, and that song ‘Don’t Speak’ was out.”

He continues, “And I was like, ‘I just love this song’, and I just really wanted it.” After that, he goes on to talk about other favourites and albums he listened to the most, but the variation is absolutely there, considering he goes from No Doubt to Lauryn Hill.

Jimmy Kimmel snaps back at the end with, “These are good choices. I approve.” And hey, it seems like an easy enough sentiment to agree on there. 

No Doubt is one of the most iconic alternative bands of their era, and even if it’s a little out of left field for your usual taste, it’s hard to keep from bopping to ‘Don’t Speak’ or ‘Hella Good’, isn’t it?

If you want to check out the full clip of Donald Glover dishing on the very first album he bought with his own money, you can find his interview with Jimmy Kimmel linked down below.