about him
Name: Donald McKinley Glover Jr.
Also known by: mcDJ and Childish Gambino
Professions: Actor, Comedian, Writer, Producer, Director, Siner, Songwriter, DJ
School: Graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts in Dramatic Writing
Major Awards:
2 Emmy awards
Outstanding directing for Atlanta
Outstanding Lead Actor for Atlanta
2 Golden Globe awards
Best Actor for Atlanta
Best Television Series for Atlanta
5 Grammy’s
1 for Redbone (R&B)
4 for This is America
Music: Awaken my love; Camp; Because the internet; Kauai; Summer Pack; EP
Movies: Weirdo; 30 rock; Derrick Comedy; Atlanta; Guava Island; Lion King; Solo: a star wars story; Community; Spiderman
Writing Style: Writing for himself and no one else. Being true to himself. Whatever sounds good. Whatever he finds funny. He does so many different genres, he cannot be pinpointed into one.
Inspirations: LCD Soundsystem (rock); Ghostface Killah (rapper); Outkast (hip hop); Migos (hip hop); Funkadelic (rock)
Writing Tips: Be truthful. Make it you. Write about you want. Do it for fun. Enjoy it. If you make a mistake, own it, move on and grow. Just write a lot. Expose yourself to new ideas.
some of his works
III. Telegraph Ave. (“Oakland By Lloyd”)
analysis pieces
(1)
III. Telegraph Ave. (“Oakland” by Lloyd)
I don’t really want to drive
But I think I’d rather die
In Oakland, in Oakland
With my hands on two and ten
So I guess it all depends
On Oakland, on Oakland
And I’m nervous, truth be told
I never saw me growing old
In Oakland, in Oakland
And if I married you tonight
It would probably start a riot
In Oakland, in Oakland
(2)
This is America
This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo)
Don’t catch you slippin’ up (ayy)
Look at how I’m livin’ now
Police be trippin’ now (woo)
Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy)
Guns in my area (word, my area)
I got the strap (ayy, ayy)
I gotta carry ’em
Yeah, yeah, I’ma go into this (ugh)
Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo)
Yeah, yeah, I’ma go get the bag
Yeah, yeah, or I’ma get the pad
Yeah, yeah, I’m so cold like yeah (yeah)
I’m so dope like yeah (woo)
We gon’ blow like yeah (straight up, uh)
emulation pieces
(1)
All the shine
I’m not trying to come hard, I’m trying to come me
That’s why these older songs that I used to make I’d release free
What’s the point of rap if you can’t be yourself, huh?
That’s why I come first like my cell phone
I’m a role model, I am not these other guys
(2)
Me and Your Mama
Can’t stand it, backhanded
They wanna see us fallin’ apart
You know that I love you
So let me into your heart
Let me into your heart
Do you really love me?
I’m gon’ get you, girl, ah
This is the end of us
Sleeping with the moon and the stars
I know where you’ve been, oh
You can see the sun
my emulation
My dear,
That’s why these older memories
I hate to have, I’d release free.
To send them flying through the sky
fearing what is to come next.
Those moments of regret and fright,
of pain and loss and fury and jealousy.
All they want is to see us fall apart.
Tearing at each one of us until
there is nothing left but skin and bone.
Nothing but a pair of eyes to watch
our mistakes flash by on a neverending loop.
A pair of ears to listen to the lies we told
and every hurt and tear we caused.
A hand to grasp on for dear life,
even when you know it is futile.
But my dear,
That’s why these older memories
I hate to have, I’d release free.
For my heart to remain unshattered
and continue to love and protect.
For my nerves to drive me forward,
willing me through new experiences.
My lips to morph into smiles daily
and release bursts of laughter constantly.
To allow myself to be able to fall down
atop a hill and watch the sky.
Beautiful clouds floating by.
The rays of sun peaking around.
Colours shifting during the switch
between day and night.
The transfer of the moon and the sun.
Now watching the moon and stars
as my eyes drift off in delight.
And my dear,
That’s why those older memories
I hate to have, I’d release free.
what I learned
You can make a career out of what you love as long as you work for it. You aren’t entitled to it, but it is achievable.
Don’t worry about what you write, write what you love and create what you love and it can be marketed or used in whatever way.
Everyone makes mistakes, no one is exempt from that. They can; however, be used to push your writing or yourself forward. So when you make a mistake, recognize it, fix it and grow from it, but most importantly, use it to your advantage.
Photo Links: https://giphy.com/explore/childish-gambino
variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-drops-two-new-summer-themed-songs-listen-1202870279/
https://www.thefader.com/2018/09/07/childish-gambino-last-ever-tour
http://diymag.com/2018/12/03/childish-gambino-announces-second-london-show