As many people will already know, Childish Gambino aka Donald Glover opened up to friends and family earlier this week via Instagram with a series of letters, which gave the world one of the most personal insights into his life and thinking space as a whole. From the likes of future worries to reflections on the past, the multi-talanted artist finally came to terms with revealing what is truly on his mind, and not backing down due to the initial expectations of the Internet.
Although the act was mostly rewarding for himself and fans of Gambino to see, there were a number of questions that people wanted to be answered and cleared up. Touching on a number of remarks made throughout his notes, the LA-born figure spoke on his initial statements of not wanting to rap, taking on a number of tasks at a given time and how he currently feels as a person.
Find out more after the jump with quotes from a recent interview with NME, along with a look at the scribbles in case you missed them.
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At one point during his writing, Glover briefly stated that he doesn’t want to rap, but that wasn’t exactly the case he was trying to put across. He’s simply tired of being categorized in that certain area of description, which doesn’t resonate with what he is setting out to do as a creator. He told NME:
“I just don’t like the term “rapper.” It exists but I’m definitely not a rapper. Rap is all balances of coolness and who can do the most with just their bravado. I don’t have that. That’s not my game. I’m not going to make certain things “cool.” But it means that I am going where rappers can’t go.”
As one of the most prominent stars with roles as a writer, comedian, actor, hip hop artist and more, people often assume that matters couldn’t be greater in the life of the biggest shows and selling a notable number records. But like so often being in the media spotlight, the public always has an opinion of what’s going on.
“I don’t get why I can’t be all these things. They’re not “a thing” – I’m alive, I’m just doing something. People expect certain things from you and they don’t even know you. It’s like, how can you know me when I don’t even know me?”
Speaking on the initial reason for bringing his thoughts into the public eye, Donald explained that although the Internet has provided a space for people to openly speak on what they think, personal matters that relate to many across the world are somewhat classed as “insane” or “out of the ordinary” when reaching into the heart. On an intimate level, NME was told:
“I felt like I needed to be heard. Everybody’s so scared on the Internet, even though it’s supposed to be the most freeing thing. They’re actually afraid to say and do whatever. The Internet isn’t a place where freethinking is rewarded. I’m not having a personality crisis, more like a personality burst. I just wanted to be honest. People are like, “Ah, this guy is unstable,” but it’s like, you guys are the ones who are unstable, you’re just dying the same way your grandfather died, doing the same old fucked up shit. I’m just being alive.”
Gambino just wants to be able to open up on a wider scale for himself and others, and hopefully he has pushed the envelope for people to do so without feeling the need to shy away from what others may think is classed as unusual.
Maybe, just maybe, we’ve seen a sudden change for the better.
“I don’t see why being insecure is such a bad thing – some of the worst people in the world were very secure with who they were. Hitler was very secure in who he was – he was also a huge asshole and one of the worst people ever. This is who I am, and I’m insecure, so fuck it.”
[Source: Interview with NME]