Childish Gambino is back. In addition to hosting and performing on “Saturday Night Live” last night, the multifaceted Donald Glover unleashed his new single, “This Is America.”
Over a trap-inspired beat, which he co-produced with Ludwig Göransson, Gambino sings and raps about the land of the free. “This is America / Don’t catch you slipping up / Look what I’m whipping up!” he raps, adding, “Get your money, black man.”
The upbeat track also features a choir and an assortment of rappers who provide ad-libs, including 21 Savage, Big Sean, Kodak Black, Offset, and Young Thug, among others.
Thugger adds a few lines throughout the song, rapping, “America, I just checked my following list and you motherfuckers owe me.” SEX also handles the outro, in which he sings, “You just a black man in this world.”
To go along with the song, Gambino released a dramatic video. Directed by Hiro Murai, the clip features Gambino smiling and dancing shirtless, juxtaposed by rage, gunfire, and blood splatter. SZA also makes a cameo in the finale.
Gambino is working on his fourth studio album, set for release on his Wolf + Rothstein label via RCA Records, which will reportedly be his final album under the Gambino moniker.
In September, he is heading out on the road with Rae Sremmurd and Vince Staples on select dates. The trek kicks off Sept. 6 in Atlanta and ends Oct. 12 in Nashville.