Childish Gambino: STN MTN/Kauai

When we hear someone talking about a certain hip hop artist these days, much of what comes to mind has to deal with image. I'm talking about the mental image that the music reflects on the artist who performs it. When you hear, or taste, or smell something, you get an image or memory about that thing. I think that music is the same way, and it can relate the sound to the artist performing it. It's for this concept that I want review the STN MTN/Kauai mixtape that was dropped in October, 2014 by Donald Glover turned Childish Gambino.

"Turned?" you ask? I'll lay it out for you: actor Donald Glover, hailing from Atlanta (a vibrant hip hop community), creates an alternate persona to begin a rap career where he can use his comedy background as a basis for clever yet consistently good tracks. 10ish albums/EPs later, hard hitting and "savage" Glover puts out an album with two parts: STN MTN and Kauai. The theme of location plays a big role in Gambino's work, as made evident by the titles of some of his songs and the background behind the name of the mixtape: the beaches of Kauai versus the terrain of Stone Mountain. STN MTN, a reference to Stone Mountain in Georgia, brings back some of the themes from early rap in Atlanta, which seems to me like a tribute to Donald's roots and inspirations. Kauai on the other hand is a whole new Glover, with chill themes and lyrical elegance that represent a symbolic transition to maybe fully becoming his alter ego: Childish Gambino. 

A lot to comprehend? Think of it this way: STN MTN/Kauai is symbolic of the evolution from Donald Glover to Childish Gambino. Yeah, he's always been "Childish" but the diversity between these two parts of the mixtape definitely shows a musical identity shift. This brings it back to the concept of music reflecting the artist's personality and ideas. Donald Glover has a different kind of vibe to his work, because he really is different and doesn't hold himself to any musical restrictions. The difference brings people IN to his music: he's new, fresh, and he isn't one to hold back any kind of lyric or line. This mixtape is full of differentiating themes that adds to Gambino's wide array of content. For example, his opening track of STN MTN is a mashup of three titles, starting with a spoken intro about his dreams, which flows into Southern Hospitality and then into Partna Dem. This jumble of music styles is something that Gambino does so effectively and often. Another thing he does is break up verses or hooks with spoken lines, quotes, or statements that serve as supplements to the theme of the track in particular. One such place where this happens is in Kauai twice: in Pop Thieves and Late Night In Kauai, both featuring Jaden Smith in long monologues that, in "Jaden Smith" fashion, are just plain weird and awkward. Childish does this a lot anyway, which you get used to if you listen to a lot of his stuff, but it is, for sure, a different sound and vibe.  

Since this is the most recent album from Glover, his past titles and styles still take precedence in his music. STN MTN covers this well, but, as a fan of his past work like Bonfire and LES (from Camp, 2011), I wish that he had spit some more savage or insensitive verses. When people think of Donald Glover, they think rapper, yes, but also as an actor, a stand up comedian, etc. Puns, metaphors, and jokes are still embedded in his work, yet they aren't as blatant as before. Much of his quality comes from the way he aligns his lyrics with the beats, every drop or hook works towards a better overall track. STN MTN has a harder set of instrumentals and beats than Kauai, which I think Gambino intended because of the tone each part is trying to present. 

Of the two parts, Kauai definitely stood out as my favorite. The mix of Childish's rap style with his chill instrumental beats combined for a solid EP. The seven tracks on this part of the mixtape bring out more of a romantic feeling than his previous albums. Sober and The Palisades get into heartbreak and the relation between love and feeling high or in another place. In Sober, Gambino talks about how his last break up was so bad that he’s going to have to drink to get it off of his mind and that he’ll never be able to recover. He sings “and now that's it's over, I'll never be sober. I couldn't believe, but now I'm so high.” Being high applies to his emotional condition but also to where he is mentally. Feelings sway more towards the R&B categorization of music, and Gambino melds that with his lyricism and mellow beats in this EP. I think the musicality definitely attests to his transition in personality in this album.

Above all else, Childish Gambino is a symbol in the hip hop community. His somewhat unorthodox methods make him stand out, and this mixtape brings his skills and techniques to the forefront. Perhaps it's a hint as to what the next few albums or mixtape will follow in terms of style and musicality. Whether you're the type to climb up STN MTN or chill on the beaches of Kauai, Donald Glover provides enough diversity in his sound for you to decide.