Childish Gambino - Camp

The opening track to this album is a great introduction for anyone. A firm declaration of not only blackness, but a blackness that doesn't often get rapped about, much less portrayed anywhere. A ghetto-less existence in middle-class white schools with parents who work hard together to bring a better life to their kids. That opener, "Outside", also includes a decidedly anti-soul gospellish hook. It defines the indie rap flow he'll be going for in the rest of the record/career. Even later on, he declares himself, "the only black dude at the Sufjan concert".

Later on, the beats and loops get more traditional hip-hop, but the lyrics never let up. Glover's a comedy actor/writer of course, so you would expect straight-up jokes or simple dick-joke Mickey Avalon style bullshit. But no. While Gambino's rhymes have a distinct sense of humor, it really just runs the quality MC route. Sometimes boastful, sometimes introspective. To give a list of accomplished examples would be futile here- there's simply far too many of them. "Kids" for example, has one of the best lines.

"There any breakage in that Trojan?"
She see what she wanna see
So I make her take Plan B in front of me
Women talk shit on men like all day
But it's Pete Wentz, goes both ways

The whole song, dealing the with ego flip following the female influx once a man becomes successful, is as clever as "Golddigger". But CG delivers it mournful and angry, as if he's lost something more pure by winning what he fought for. It's not the party jam of Kanye's ilk, but just as satisfying. Especially for a baller like this writer.

CG is sure to have a hit with "Heartbeat" which I cringed when I fist put on due to it's typical radio-beat and Usher-stlye club-sexy hook. But then the sexual politics of a broken-up couple who still cling to their physical whims are story-told in the lyrics and I was sold. "I'm a ghost and you know this. That's why we broke up in the first place."

When we get to the end, Donald is telling a story; a poem, almost; about this whole "Camp" idea. It's written for one woman, or girl- more to the point, a rememberance of one of those important declarations. The story is wistful, childish, romantic, dark and lonely. And it's a perfect ending to a great record. (4 of 5 stars)