Childish Gambino "Royalty"

B+ 

          For me, Childish Gambino has always been best outside the constraints of having to contextualize his music. In the best possible way, the best ‘Bino is (and will always be) the ‘Bino that freewheels on verses about E.E. Cummings and Jackie Joiner. Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino is back this summer with a new mixtape entitled Royalty that, despite having an entirely different sound than we’re used to, is all kinds of dope.
           The verses on Royalty are measured, deliberate, and less jocular than on previous releases. Even the cadence of Glover’s delivery is harsher and generally grittier than what we’ve heard in the past. The tracks are lengthier, more complex, and have a healthy balance between the superficial and irreverent.
              To be honest, this album had to grow on me. I had to let it sit and return to it with a fresh pair of ears. Royalty is full to the brim with stuttering drum beats and quickly becomes a who’s who of up and coming hip hop names (i.e. Kilo Kish, Josh Osho) as well as veterans (Ghostface Killah, RMZ, Beck) . Gambino quips masterfully on tracks like Black Faces (see me stunting so Conde Nasty) and We Ain’t them (my mom like, ‘why you wanna leave a good job?’/ My dad like, ‘do your thing, boy, don’t stop’) in an earnest and charming way that brings to light the Bino we fell in love with all those mixtapes ago.
             I meant to get this review out a while ago but, as I said, I needed to walk away from it. I’m ambivalent about it. While the beats are well crafted, and the verses poignant and dynamic, I have a tough time following Gambino’s progression from release to release. This release, in my opinion, should have been his debut LP instead of Camp. It is interesting in a way that Camp wasn’t.
               Royalty is pensive and introspective and forces you to sit up and pay attention. Gambino’s narrative structure in all of the songs is impeccable and without flaw. His verses are clear and lucid and glide masterfully from verse to verse. Though, if there is anything Childish Gambino has always been good at, it is narrative structure. Some rappers will tell you how great they are. Childish Gambino will give you example after example.
             While he isn’t exactly what most would call a “conscious rapper” (and he has never claimed to be), Gambino is especially good at delivering bars that inspire thought and introspection and let you know that all the crazy stuff you’re feeling is just a part of being a human being. Royalty was released July 4th, 2012 and is available on iamdonald.com for free download.