Donald Glover’s rise to rap superstardom is an unlikely path, and there’s no other word more befitting of him than trailblazer. On top of being an artist, he’s also a celebrated actor, writer, and stand-up comedian, but being Childish Gambino is the task that he finds most challenging.
Glover first began to make a name for himself when he was part of the writing team on 30 Rock, and he was already making music on the side, even if it was only a hobby. After departing the show, his sketch group Derrick Comedy began to get an online following, and he was cast in the hit sitcom Community in 2009.
After debuting Childish Gambino in 2011, Glover’s multi-faceted career was summarised by his appearances that year at Bonnaroo when he performed as both a musician and a stand-up comedian.
All of his careers started to fly at a similar pace, and it’s rare for somebody to be as highly respected across every field. However, Glover is a generational talent, and the rules don’t abide by his mercurial self.
Intriguingly, Glover decided against making his character in Atlanta a rapper despite the show being based on hip-hop culture. Instead he made Earl’s cousin the one who enters superstardom, and there’s something about being a rapper that makes Glover feel uneasy, and speaking to Stephen Colbert, he revealed that it “would have been whack” if he had played that part.
He then went on a rant about why he hates being a rapper, and the image that you have to maintain 24/7 when you’re in the game can be tiresome. Making music is never something that could get tedious to Glover, but everything attached to keeping up that persona is partially why he doesn’t let being Childish Gambino define him.
“Being a rapper is super awkward,” Glover explained to the talk show host. “You’re in the video and you’ve got champagne and butts close to your face. And then you have to go to Whole Foods.”
He added: “And [people are] like ‘You’re that dude,’ and you’re like, ‘Please, I just want to buy this ice cream.’ But they are like, ‘Yo, you have to be you right now, so let’s take this picture’. You’re like, ‘Alright’. You have to be that wrestler face, but in the real world all the time.”
Over time, his popularity has allowed Donald Glover to be accepted for being his nerdy self. Everyone is fine with the fact that he isn’t your typical champagne poppin’ rapper. Still, it’s probably best to not ask for a photo if you see him buying ice cream.
