Music Review: Childish Gambino - Because The Internet

To state the obvious, the internet has changed the world around us. It has changed how we access the news and media. It has also changed our ways and habits of communication. Even our relationships have evolved (or devolved). Much can be said about how we all live because of the internet. And it is a good thing that the internet is a central (yet non-consequential) figure piece to Childish Gambino’s album Because The Internet.

If this is any example of how we are and what we may have become, then there is no doubt that we all need to watch and observe our everyday actions.

Given a listen to this album, you will notice the direct and indirect references to the internet and modern communication as a whole. Even from the beginning of the album on “The Crawl”, he gets into sending out Evites to a get together. “World Star” gets into the desire of many to become “stars” through precarious and outrageous documentation of us at our best and worst. As the album evolves into its particular storylines, the internet still serves as either a slight basis of reference or a simple dependent variable. Such craftsmanship could only be done by someone with a simple purpose for their music.

Even bigger than the internet references, however, are the examples of how people function within society. “Sweatpants” makes reference to how rich people live by their own rules with little regard to outside opinion. “Flight of the Navigator” gets into the melancholy feelings of losing someone. “Pink Toes” references drug dealing and the effects the lifestyle may have. Within it all, Childish Gambino created something that touches on many things at once.

At the end of the day, Childish Gambino gave us an album that “directly/indirectly” tells a story about how modern day technological advances have forged their way into our everyday habits. Added with mixtures of side stories and premises of relationships, you get to see how many young people function. Many may not like the album because it, quite frankly, “isn’t their cup of tea”. However, those willing to deal with the nuances of the music and ride along with the messages will cherish this album. At the end of the day, Childish Gambino has secured his spot as one of the artists to stake their claim within the hip hop lexicon.