Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover, the incomparable) may be trying to make an addition to his already lengthy, illustrious list of threats: actor, writer, director, singer, rapper, comedian, improvisational auteur, one of the few black people in space and now, the Fred Hampton of hip-hop.
Gambino recently dropped the video for "Feels Like Summer," a track from his most recent release, Summer Pack. The video features an animated Gambino strolling down a street that's somewhere in the world of every black dream. Joining him are animated versions of some of the biggest names in, primarily, the hip-hop community, all enjoying a beautiful summer day. There's Raesremmund running around spraying the likes of J. Cole with waterguns, Oprah and Tiffany Haddish braiding the hair of Lil Uzi Vert and Zendaya, not to mention Lil Yachty, Jay-Z, 21 Savage, Janelle Monae and so many more. With so much vitriol being sprayed from either side of Hip-Hop's generational gap, Gambino attempts to bridge the divide with this video.
By no means is he the first to try, just the first to try his way. DMC of Run-DMC recently made a video comparing today's hip-hop to the height of disco, and ultimately projecting the latter's self-destruction on today's most popular music genre as an attempt to implore change. J. Cole has admirably tried to impart wisdom on the new generation of rappers through his music, though his lyrics have been too easily perceived as him talking down to his target audience when delivered from his pedestal. Gambino's gospel, on the other hand, preaches zero criticism, is devoid of any hierarchy and professes only love, communal love.
The video overlooks streaming numbers, lyric complexity, artitsts' upbringing and so on to show figures from both sides of the gap living in harmony. In other words, it depicts a community. Together, it's what they all constitute, but also what recent events — whether it be 6ix9ine's constant trolling or Eminem firing his Kamikaze at today's state of rap — show many of them have individually lost a sense of. When the song's lyrics long for change, the video depicts solemn images of those in need of this community's support, calling for empathy on the behalf of the Kid Cudis, Kanyes and Chris Browns, evoking the memory of Whitney and Michael who also fell victim to the pitfalls of fame, but didn't get the support that today's divide denies those who still stand to benefit from it. It doesn't mean turning a blind eye to the mistakes they've made, but maybe to spark dialogue before jumping to canceling them.
Like J. Cole, Gambino's imparting wisdom likely gained when both sides of the generational gap were unwilling to recognize his legitimacy in hip-hop. Like DMC, he's imploring change in perspective that intended to foster acceptance — acceptance of one another, acceptance of their role and responsibilities as a community, and the acceptance of change in itself. It's a message that deserves eyes and ears far beyond the world of hip-hop, but in times as divisive as these, any place is a good place to start.
