Childish Gambino (a.k.a. Donald Glover) dropped a (free) 18-track mixtape called Royalty, on 7/4. The collection features the likes of Danny Brown, Ab-Soul, Bun B, RZA, and Tina Fey. Yeah, you heard correctly -- for all the folks out there that doubted the legitimacy of Childish, Bun B and RZA give their love. No one can deny that Childish Gambino is an anomaly, how many comedian/writer/actor/rappers are out there? He uses his background to his advantage with copious amounts of college educated, insecurity verse (My mom like, 'Why you wanna leave a good job?' / My dad like, 'Do your thing boy, don't stop in "We Ain't Them") and a guest appearance from Tina Fey. Fey's participation on the last track could be seen as incongruous to CG's step toward rap legitimacy but the move is just too ingenious. With the addition of the wonder woman of comedy (Fey), CG seems to say f-you to typical rap conventions. His lyricism is seen in full on this album, as well as complex beats and moments of comic relief.

The mixtape, overall, seems a bit more personal than his debut LP Camp. In track "Silk Pillow", Gambino admits that he raps about nothing as a precedent to the line But that nothin was something that aint nobody was bumping'. He knows his peruliarities and he takes them by the reins. His first album was definitely a success but this new release is a step in the right direction.
Stream it below, or download it here.



We hopped on the Childish train a long time ago.