Donald Glover’s Final Childish Gambino Album Drops Tonight: What We Know

Topline

Donald Glover’s fifth and final album under his stage name, Childish Gambino, titled “Bando Stone & the New World,” releases at midnight and will mark the end of the rapper persona that launched Glover’s music career and won him five Grammy Awards.

Key Facts

Why Is Glover Retiring His Childish Gambino Stage Name?

Glover had long suggested that he would eventually retire the Childish Gambino name, as early as in 2017, when he said during his Governor’s Ball music festival performance that the next Childish Gambino album would be the last. He reiterated the next year at the Grammy Awards—where he won Best Traditional R&B Performance for his 2016 single, “Redbone”—he would retire the name, stating “endings are good because they force things to get better.” He also stated his 2018 “This Is America Tour” would be his last under the stage name. Though it was unclear whether his 2020 album, “3.15.20,” was his last as Childish Gambino, Glover clarified in 2023 that he had not yet retired the name and would release new music. Glover told The New York Times this week he had a moment of realization that the new album would be the last release under his stage name, stating: “It’s not fulfilling. And I just felt like I didn’t need to build in this way anymore.” Glover, 40, also said his decision to retire the name was influenced by getting older and having two children, as well as the difficulty of balancing music with his family and his various film and television commitments.

Key Background

Glover said he got his stage name from a Wu-Tang Clan name generator when he was in college. He has since released five albums (including “Bando Stone”) and various mixtapes under the stage name. He released his first album, “Camp,” in 2011, and earned a Grammy nomination for his second album, “Because the Internet” (2013). His third album, “Awaken, My Love!” released in 2016 and contained the successful single “Redbone.” He won four Grammys for his 2018 single about systemic racism and gun violence, “This is America,” including Record and Song of the Year, as well as another for its music video. The song became his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Tangent

Glover has pursued a successful career in film and television under his real name. He launched his career as a writer on “30 Rock” from 2006 to 2012 and acted on the sitcom “Community” between 2009 and 2014. He has since starred in and written for a variety of projects. He created and starred in the series “Atlanta,” for which he won two Emmy Awards, one for writing and another for acting. His most recent project is the Prime Video series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” which garnered 16 Emmy nominations on Wednesday, including two for Glover in the drama writing and acting categories.

What To Watch For

Glover is attached to several upcoming film and television projects, including a revival film for the “Community” series. The film had been in early development since 2014, but Glover confirmed in February that the script is done. “Community” actor Joel McHale said in March filming will likely start this year but will depend on Glover’s schedule. Glover will also voice Simba in the upcoming Disney film, “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters in December. Glover is also set to write “Lando,” an upcoming film set in the Star Wars universe. “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” will return for a second season, though it’s unclear whether Glover will return, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Further Reading

Why Donald Glover Is Saying Goodbye to Childish Gambino (New York Times)