Multi-talented entertainer Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, released an animated music video for the track “Feels Like Summer,” on September 2nd. This latest video shows Glover walking through an animated neighborhood passing by various rappers and musicians from J.Cole to Lil Pump.
Glover, Ivan Dixon, and Greg Sharp directed the video which was illustrated by Justin Richburg, who illustrated the controversial Black History Month “dice game” on Instagram, earlier this year. The illustration featured a variety of well-known African-American figures as well, from Barack Obama and Martin Luther King Jr, to Rihanna and Black Panther.
“Feels Like Summer,” opens up with a show from inside the house of a neighborhood, before Glover is shown walking down the street with his headphones in. Various scenes then begin to unfold including Migos playing basketball, Will Smith washing his car and The Weeknd, Frank Ocean and Ty Dolla $ign engaged in a tug-of war vs A$AP Rocky, Solange and Willow Smith.
During a few shots outside the neighborhood, artists such as Kid Cudi, Beyonce wearing a R.I.P Fredo Santana shirt and Kanye West, who is clad in a MAGA hat and crying before being comforted by Michelle Obama, are shown. The latter scene references West’s controversies from this year, as he vocalized support from Donald Trump and posted picture of his Make America Great Again hat on social media.
Other controversial figures such as Chris Brown are shown in a similar matter, as he is sitting outside of the neighborhood, covering his face in shame. Brown gained notoriety in 2009 for beating his then girlfriend Rihanna, which he was eventually sentenced to 5 years probation for.
“What inspires me is things I see and conversations with people,” Richburg explained, regarding his creative process to the Source.“I don’t have a goal I go off how I feel at the moment.”
Glover released both “Summertime Magic,” and “Feels Like Summer,” in July of this year, in anticipation for a project who’s title name has not been announced. “Feels Like Summer,” has a very relaxed vibe mixing in some influences of Vaporwave with its aesthetic and R&B backed with a catchy acoustic guitar. This track calls back a bit to his track “Flight Of The Concord,” that was featured off his 2013 album Because the Internet, which mixes in a similar indie vibe.
Prior to these song releases Glover dropped surprise music video for the song “This is America,” back in May, which landed over 380 million views on YouTube and landed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Directed by Hiro Murai, the music video provokes a stark commentary on racial prejudice and mass shootings in the United States.
Despite these successes Glover has faced a small monetary dispute with his record label Glassnote, regarding his royalties across various streaming services. The albums that are currently being discussed with a mediator are Camp, Because the Internet, and “Awaken, My Love!” which were released between the years of 2011 and 2016.
Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna
Leave a Comment