By: Iman Dancy ft. Guest Writer Rohini Sharma In his highly-anticipated December 2016 album, “Awaken, My Love!,” artist Childish Gambino deviated from his typical hard-hitting rap lyrics and instead presented a conglomeration of varying musical styles. Gambino’s decision to stray from his witty rapper niche ignited a wave of disapproval and backlash from fans and frequent listeners. Though confusion regarding the drastic genre shift found in the album is understandable, “Awaken, My Love!” still stands as one of the greatest musical projects of 2016. Fusing ‘70s funk, psychedelic rhythm and blues, hard rock, and reggae influences, Gambino reveals yet another side to his complex persona, wowing listeners with vocals akin to musical powerhouses of the late twentieth century. Rather than narrowing in on a single concept, “Awaken, My Love!” guides listeners along a tempestuous journey, traveling from the age-old tale of unrequited love to a galvanizing call for insurrection, then adopting a softer, more paternal tone, and finally concluding with a nostalgic reflection on the ideas ingrained in Gambino during his early childhood years. Following a two-year hiatus since the release of his second EP, “Kauai,” “Awaken, My Love!” acts as the impeccable re-proclamation of Gambino’s musical genius, exhibiting him as a truly multidimensional and matured artist.
The album’s first track, “Me and Your Mama,” is certainly difficult to overlook. The piece begins with a haunting repetition of its introduction, a simple fourteen-syllable loop supplemented by high-pitch, traditionally hip-hop synths. Approximately two minutes in, however, the song abruptly transitions to grunge power chords on guitar, with bellowing, maniacal laughter reverberating in the background. Gambino then interjects, his Steven Tyler-esque shrieks of “let me into your heart” coupled with the powerful vocals of a choir. Reminiscent of the 1970s soul music produced by lyrical legends such as Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes, Gambino presents a funky slow jam in “Redbone,” the album’s sixth track, showcasing his higher octave vocal ability and teleporting listeners to a time far before the digitally altered songs that dominate today’s radio. “Redbone” narrates the complicated relationship between an overly-zealous Gambino and his significantly less eager love interest, his dejected cry of “I’m wishing I could make this mine” echoing in the ears of his audience. Gambino’s soulful vocals paired with the old-school feel of “Redbone” makes it, arguably, the best song on the album. “California,” the seventh song on “Awaken, My Love!,” takes a highly contrasting approach. Combining whimsical island percussion, upbeat reggae influences, and Gambino’s jerky and accented vocals, “California” takes the cake as the most unusual track on the album; however, the song’s peculiarity actually works in its favor, and many find themselves with its catchy tune stuck in their heads from to time. “Stand Tall,” the final song on the album, centers around the lessons Gambino was taught as a small child. “Keep all your dreams, keep standing tall. If you are strong, you cannot fall. There is a voice inside us all. So smile when you can, when you can,” he sings in the hook. “Stand Tall” is certainly the most traditionally “Gambino” of all of the songs featured in the album; its stripped-down, tranquil nature and absence of vocal editing in the first half allows listeners to simply bask in Gambino’s mellifluous vocals. Halfway through “Stand Tall,” the song re-adopts the funky sound that typifies “Awaken, My Love!,” introducing a jazzy flute accompaniment and digitally filtered vocals. “Awaken, My Love!” resembles no other project that Childish Gambino has created. Venturing outside of the confines of his rapper image, Gambino put forth an assemblage of several, eclectic musical influences, exploring varying styles and taking inspiration from both retro and modern artists alike. Unlike his rap-centric 2013 album “Because the Internet” and 2014 “Kauai,” Gambino doesn’t restrict himself to a single category of music on his most recent production, instead appealing to a widely-diverse audience as a result of his genre-jumping. While “Awaken, My Love!” has received numerous mixed reviews, its fearlessness and malleability is an eye-opening glimpse into the versatility of Gambino’s musical ability.
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