“This is America,” Childish Gambino
Arguably the most politically charged songs of modern Hip-Hop. Childish Gambino’s “This is America” holds a mirror to the face of American society. Forcing all listeners to consider their role in America’s contorted reflection including the glutenous manifestations of our greed represented by drugs, guns, revelry and materialism.
“Don’t catch you slippin’ now … Look what I’m whippin’ now … This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo) … Don’t catch you slippin’ now (ayy) … Look at how I’m livin’ now … Police be trippin’ now (woo) … Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy) … Guns in my area (word, my area) … I got the strap (ayy, ayy) … I gotta carry ’em … Yeah, yeah, I’ma go into this (ugh) … Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla, woo … Yeah, yeah, I’ma go get the bag … Yeah, yeah, or I’ma get the pad … Yeah, yeah, I’m so cold like yeah (yeah) … I’m so dope like yeah (woo) … We gon’ blow like yeah (straight up, uh)”
While the people are more concerned with partying than anything else, it is the elements of this massive American “party” which has contributed to the chaos of the modern American experience in 2018. Police violence, racism, social media and ulterior political motives seem to be the root of the chaos but still people seem to be more concerned with partying.
“Look how I’m geekin’ out (hey) … I’m so fitted (I’m so fitted, woo) … I’m on Gucci (I’m on Gucci) … I’m so pretty (yeah, yeah) … I’m gon’ get it (ayy, I’m gon’ get it) … Watch me move (blaow) … This a celly (ha) … That’s a tool (yeah) … On my Kodak (woo, Black) … Ooh, know that (yeah, know that, hold on) … Get it (get it, get it) … Ooh, work it (21) … Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (hunnid bands) … Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband) … I got the plug on Oaxaca (woah) … They gonna find you like blocka (blaow) … Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody … (America, I just checked my following list and) … You go tell somebody … (You mothaf**kas owe me) … Grandma told me … Get your money, Black man (Black man).”
The infectious beat actually had people dancing without really listening to the words. Staccato in nature, each stunted statement was as revolutionary as it was sparce. The disturbing official video broke them out of the trance that simply overwhelmed fans who are living out loud the lyrics of the song.