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Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, recently revealed that he is dropping his stage name after releasing his new album. While promoting his upcoming project, Bando Stone & the New World, Glover told The New York Times that he is ready to retire his alter ego.
"It really was just like, ‘Oh, it’s done.’ It’s not fulfilling. And I just felt like I didn’t need to build in this way anymore," he said.
The actor has maintained a steady rap career along with his other artistic pursuits in the entertainment industry. Gambino is best known for his songs Redbone (2016) and This Is America (2018).
In a 2011 interview on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show, the Solo: A Starwars Story actor revealed he got his Childish Gambino moniker through a Wu-Tang Clan (a hip-hop collective from New York) name generator. Glover explained that he was in his sophomore year of college at the time, and he ended up linking the name.
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Donald Glover announced his plans to retire the Childish Gambino moniker in 2017
Donald Glover is known for his acting, music, comedy, writing, and filmmaking. He began his career writing for the beloved NBC sitcom 30 Rock. Around the time, the 40-year-old was a part of a comedy troupe called Derrick Comedy. Glover rose to fame by appearing as Troy Barnes in another NBC hit, Community, from 2009 to 2014.
Since then, he has appeared in hit films and TV shows like Spider-Man: Homecoming, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The 40-year-old has tried his hands at directing with great success. His FX show, Atlanta (creator, writer, and actor; also directed nine episodes), was met with critical and commercial acclaim.
In June 2008, the actor released his mixtape Sick Boi under the moniker Childish Gambino. He released a series of mixtapes and EPs over the years, gaining recognition in the industry for his distinct style of merging rap with comedy and social commentary.
In June 2017, the rapper hinted he was planning to say goodbye to his alter ego during the Governor’s Ball Music Festival in New York City.
"I’ll see you for the last Gambino album," he said.
In an interview with HuffPost the same year, he explained that retiring Childish Gambino was "necessary," saying that "there's nothing worse than like a third sequel."
Glover's work has earned him several awards, including two Golden Globes, five Grammys, and two Primetime Emmys. Additionally, he boasts five Outstanding Writing awards from the Writers Guild and one for Outstanding Production from the Producers Guild.
Speaking to the New York Times, Donald Glover expressed pride in being himself, stating:
"I think grace is undervalued in the world. When I put my son on my shoulders, I feel deep joy. That’s real. No one on their deathbed is going to look back and say, ‘Thank God I avoided being cringe."
Childish Gambino's Bando Stone & the New World is scheduled to drop this Friday. The project's release is preceded by two singles, In the Night (feat. Jorja Smith and Amaarae) and Lithonia. Bando Stone is Donald Glover's second album of 2024, following Atavista (May 2024).
The album's release will coincide with the premiere of a film of the same name. The movie stars Glover as Bando Stone, a fictional musician trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world.
