Childish Gambino‘s album Camp was leaked on npr First Listen a week before the official release date (Nov. 15), creating a flurry of pre-release fanfare. In the past Gambino has been called a rising rap giant, with many comparing him to Lil Wayne, Drake, and even Kanye West, but Gambino’s debut album for Glassnote Records is a definite game changer. With Camp, Gambino finally distinguishes himself from conventional rappers by writing with a honest, raw, and extremely witty style .
His lyrics range from intimate and self depreciating to cocky double entendres, backed by rich, engrossing beats and swelling vocal harmonies. The catchy loops, heavy beats, and rich vocals make jaw dropping backgrounds for songs chronicling Gambino’s childhood, struggle with racism, guilt and revelry of success, and keenness for asian women.
Previous Gambino albums have been available exclusively online for free as a side project of Donald Glover, but Camp is definitely worth the change. Gambino fully comes into himself with this album, with a full studio and chorus at his disposal he was able to create songs with more depth, complexity, and weight than ever before.
Official Rating – WPGU, debut classic.
