Gainesville is about to feel the beats and lyrics from the heart of hip-hop’s newest member of royalty, Childish Gambino.
Donald Glover, who raps by the name Childish Gambino, will perform on Flavet Field Friday at 7 p.m. for free.
But Glover isn’t just a rapper.
The 29-year-old has been a member of the sketch comedy group “Derrick Comedy,” a writer for “30 Rock,” an actor on “Community,” a standup comedian and a movie star.
Gambino said he got his rap pseudonym when he typed his name into a Wu-Tang Clan name generator.
Tomorrow, Gambino will rap about everything from sex and fame to Spider-Man and his penchant for Asian women.
Behind the lyrics is usually a pulsing electronic beat molded to match his high-pitched voice, but he’s been known to rap over indie rock hits by artists Sleigh Bells, Grizzly Bear and Neon Indian, too.
Gambino recorded his first music video to his song “Freaks and Geeks” off of his EP.
The video, which has more than 11 million hits on YouTube, was directed by Dan Eckman.
Eckman has worked with Glover since his days on Derrick Comedy and and the group’s movie “Mystery Team,” which premiered in 2009.
The video shows Gambino dancing alone in a warehouse.
As usual, he doesn’t shy away from vulgarity:
“E.E. cumming on her face, yeah that’s poetry in motion.”
He graduated from New York University in 2006 with a degree in dramatic writing, and it shows.
“Took the ‘G’ out your waffle, all you got left is your ego.”
Listen for the single from his first studio album, “Bonfire” from “Camp.”
This hit is high-tempo throughout. It starts with alarms and cuts right into his fast-paced and vulgar lyrics that are too good to deny.
In the song, he claims to be the best black actor who raps while gaining respect from other rappers.
“Rap’s stepfather, yeah you hate me, but you will respect.”
And during the song, he shows he is OK with controversial lyrics.
“Made the beat then murdered it, Casey Anthony.”
Different from most Gambino songs, “B---h, look at me now” from his mixtape “I Am Just A Rapper,” covers Grizzly Bear’s song “Two Weeks,” an indie rock hit.
Gambino’s nasally lyrics shine through the free and happy rock song with a choir.
“I’ma try to make my street cred stack up. I mean I’m rapping over Grizzly Bear, what the f--k?”
The song is an amalgam of one-liners weaved together to create an amazing mash-up of indie rock and underground rap.
“These rappers need ER like their Charlie Park. Go hard like my suits made by Tony Stark. This kind of music makes your balls drop, Dick Clark.”
Gambino uses subtlety and raw emotion to create a track to chill with.
“I’ll always be childish. Call me Maggie Simpson.”
As soon as you lose sight of Gambino’s actual rap skill and think he’s full of sophomoric and cartoonish d--k jokes, he comes back with songs that showcase how much flow and intelligence he has.
Gambino felt inspired by Common on his track entitled “I’m On It,” from his third independent album, “Culdesac.”
The song, and the whole album, has a light and airy feel to it, with sincere lyrics about Glover’s life over the choir-like sentiments of the album.
Even if you aren’t a Childish Gambino poindexter, you should go to the concert — even if it rains.
