Childish Gambino’s ‘This is America’ Paints an Uncomfortably Beautiful Picture You Have to See
The PUG! staff dishes out their thoughts on the new video
Funké:
I’m so glad this man grew up.
I remember first listening to Bonfire and getting turned off by the unbearably irreverent lyrics. This dude made a track that was edgy and weird for the sake of being edgy and weird. That’s not my wave. But after cracking that fringe shell and listening to the rest of his discography, a tween me saw some genuine gems in his earlier tracks; clever bars, lyrical plays, and ripe references that stayed on my mind for months. Fast forward to this year where Gambino releases This is America, a song surging with subtext and commentary on what it truly means to be black in America. The video opens up with a mesmerizing melody that had me bopping my head and spitting an almost inaudible barrage of “Okay!,” “Yuh….,” and “Damn!” adlibs under my breath. That stream of good feelings and stupid exclamations came to an abrupt stop when the video started to get real, and I started to get uncomfortable.
Telling a shockingly raw and real story of police brutality, distraction-based performative uncle tomfoolery in popular culture, and the complex mental strain success has on black people, I think This is America is a must-watch video for everyone. Childish Gambino was childish for a long time, but that seed of talent he’s always possessed has matured, dropped the arrogant mildew, and turned into a flourishing flower of high quality content.
Garold:
I wasn’t sure at the beginning as I’d been burned by ol’ Donny G before (Awaken, My Love! was nowhere near as good as the preview tracks framed it to be.) So, when the acoustics started I was like: “Oh no, lad.” However, after the first beat change I was like “Alright, that’s nice — I feel that bass in me bowels.” Finally, I heard Young Thug on the adlibs and I thought “Young Thug has never lent himself to a bad song, I trust this.” Long story short — great song!
Ryan:
Wow. Let’s start off with the fact that Gambino’s comeback is a beautiful mix of production and bars paired with a beautiful seamless visual. Both the song and video touch on issues in America today while also being catchy to the ear and visually stunning. The choreography and art direction are something I’m still baffled about, from the handfuls of cars in the background, to the group of chickens you probably missed, and that wonderful outro zoom where everything seems to be lined up perfectly. Lastly, I just want to make the point that Young Thug’s vocals coming in for the last 20 seconds were not only a huge surprise but a beautiful ease from the chaotic melody before it.
Sel:
First of all: Gambino, you got moves. I did not expect that. But also because I am saying that, I feel like I’m not getting your overall message of the passive nature of a desensitized public reacting to Black death while profiting off Black culture. I mean, I do, but mentioning your dance moves is contributing to the facade. Second: I did not expect you to go this hard ever in my life. In 10 years time, you went from being the nerdy kid in theatre to the new duly-appointed Soulmaster General. What happened? Keep moving in that direction.
Meleah:
I’ve watched the video at least.. 15 times now and for viewings like, 2 through 9, the intention was to observe the complex and seamless orchestration of events happening beyond the man himself, appreciating its intense symbolism and artistry… but I just could not take my eyes off Donald’s gyrating uncle bod. In all seriousness, I’m thrilled this is the wave for 2018. Childish Gambino is an extremely intelligent and talented artist but in the past, he has channeled it into some incredibly corndog verses and stunts. However, in the last couple years he’s noticeably evolved and become clearly aware of his influence and capacity as an artist. He has begun using his power and position to make some unflinching, thought-provoking work, which I am so, so happy to see. I think… is it cool again to like Childish Gambino?
