Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino is the musical identity of Donald Glover, an American actor, rapper, writer and filmmaker whose catalogue refuses to sit still. Born at Edwards Air Force Base, Glover studied at New York University and worked with the comedy group Derrick Comedy before being hired to write for 30 Rock at 23. He would gain wider fame as Troy Barnes on Community, but his music had already begun to move alongside his television career: after a number of independently released projects, he signed with Glassnote and released the debut album Camp, a lyrically sharp hip-hop record with a theatrical sense of self.

His next moves kept widening that lane. Because the Internet pushed toward expansive storytelling, while the psychedelic funk of “Awaken, My Love!” found him abandoning straightforward rap; its single “Redbone” won a Grammy and lodged itself in the culture. Then “This Is America” arrived as a direct hit—debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sweeping Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Music Video at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

Gambino’s footprint has never been limited to music. Glover has worked across film and television, from Atlanta, Guava Island, Swarm and Mr. & Mrs. Smith to roles in Solo: A Star Wars Story and The Lion King. Newer musical projects—Summer Pack, Atavista, Bando Stone and The New World—keep the alias elastic, proof that the artist, like the man behind it, is happiest in motion.