Childish Gambino broke all the record after debuting the music video for his new song “This is America,” which is at No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart this week becoming his first-ever chart-topping song.
The incongruous song by Glover’s alter ego which Childish Gambino released on May 6, vacillates between plucky guitar strains and booming, bassy beats. It’s a melodic meditation on the African diaspora and, like Glover’s work on Atlanta, an examination of the absolute shit show facing down modern black Americans.
According to a report, this video sold 78,000 downloads within the first five days of its release. Prior to this accomplishment, Gambino’s highest mark on the Hot 100 chart came from “Redbone,” which peaked at No. 12 last August.
The artistic video announcing “This Is America” undoubtedly played a part in the song’s meteoric popularity, but this is a big musical achievement for Glover/Gambino on its own.
“I haven’t been on the internet since Thursday night before Saturday Night Live,” Gambino admits. “I was like, ‘I don’t want to be in all the mix.’ It’s bad for me. I’m really sensitive so I’ma be like, ‘Let it be.’”
> Shatabdi Sarker Poushi
Gambino’s “This is America” Strikes No. 1 in Debut Week
