2016 has proven to be a notable year in music and even at the year's end, it is not letting up. It's been 3 years since Childish Gambino's last album release Because The Internet. This album quickly became a favorite amongst many and provided Childish with a lot of well deserved attention. With this album also came a peek at his genius. The album is essentially a soundtrack for the screenplay (that I'm still [im]patiently wait ing for); the two fuse as perfectly as one could imagine.

There's only been a mixtape [STN MTN/KAUAI] between now and then. Some lucky fans in 2016 have heard other music. In June, Childish tweeted about a mysterious album listening party that only few were to attend. All phones were taken at the door and fans were able to hear his latest project pharos, that no one has heard of since. Besides those lucky few, fans have been waiting for something else to get their hands and headphones onit's almost finally here. 

Shortly after the season finale of Atlanta (an absolute gem and a great ass show), Gambino dropped the word that new music is soon to come, Awaken, My Love! Then came the release of single "Me and Your Mama". When I heard that he had FINALLY released a song, I was jumping off the walls harder than Micheal Jackson. I cued up the Apple Music, turned my speaker all the way up, and let it ride.

 When I listen to Gambino, I'm always prepared for bars on bars over a signature beat, maybe a little note (like Urn or his Tamia cover)  from time to time. To say that I was completely thrown for a loop when the song came on is a understatement. I am truly an old soul at heart and love me some funky music. So when the song fully came in and then took a hard funk turn, I was blown away in four different ways and loved them all. This was when I knew this album 1, wasn't going to be like the last one, and 2, he did. not. come. to. play. Needless to say, I listened to it about 15x in a row.

Then came "Redbone". Now, in listening to the first song, me and my brother had firmly decided that Prince came to Gambino himself in a dream and then came the genius that this album is about to be. I'm always here for songs that are straight grooves, of which had been obviously accomplished in "Me and Your Mama". The first time I listened to "Redbone" was at night walking home from work and it fit my atmosphere almost perfectly. It gave me Prince's Camille persona "If I Was Your Girlfriend" vibes & I was taken away immediately. Between the chorus' mantra of "stay woke" and the hypnotizing guitar and drums,  "Redbone" was another song I would listen to all night, no interruptions.

As I try to wait for tomorrow to roll around to fully indulge and be awakened, I've been indulging in all things Childish. Be sure to download the PHAROS app to fully experience the virtual reality he's attached to this project and pre-order the vinyl there if your funds support your decisions.  In the meantime, listen to the two singles below to hold you over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hZCsgcKa-g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp7eSUU9oy8