Donald Glover is a great rapper...singer...comedian...actor...writer...director...executive producer...you know what, it's just easier to call him a Renaissance man. Renaissance man is a title given to anyone who has numerous talents for several different things and that is the title that most accurately describes Donald Glover.
Glover started his career as a writer for the popular TV show “30 Rock.” Although he's mainly credited as a writer for the show, he also made frequent appearances on the show himself. Not content with being a simple acclaimed writer for a popular TV show, Glover went online and discovered something that would change his life: a Wu-Tang Clan Rap Name Generator. This name generator provided Donald with his stage name, Childish Gambino. Under the Childish Gambino moniker, Donald began releasing mixtapes and songs to a surprising amount of praise. His “Camp” EP garnered so much critical attention that Glover was able to go on tour with it along with Chance the Rapper.
Never content to stay still, Glover went on to star in and write another TV show, “Community.” Glover got national attention and critical acclaim for his role as Troy Barnes and he was a huge reason for the show's success. While on Community, Donald somehow also found time to release a one hour stand up special for Comedy Central, aptly titled “Weirdo.” At this point, Donald was already on a roll. For most people all these achievements would be enough. But Donald is not most people.
After successfully negotiating his way out of his contract with Community, Donald then went back to music under his Childish Gambino name. Going on a writing tear he went on to release 3 projects within a 2 year span. Most of these songs were met with praise from fans and mixed reviews from critics, but, nevertheless, Gambino had a significant impact on the music world gaining nominations and victories from several music award shows. But, proving that he could do music and do it successfully Donald went off for another challenge.
Donald went back to acting with his role in the 2015 hit movie, “The Martian.” This was only a prelude to all the acting muscle Glover would flex. In 2016, Glover was back on TV with his hit show, “Atlanta,” a show praised for its comedic insight into the experience of the black community in Atlanta, Georgia. “Atlanta” was an instant success, being renewed for a second season within the airing of its second episode. What made the show all the more important for Glover was that it was his. He wrote it, he directs episodes, he is the lead actor, he's the executive producer, and he bases the story, its premise, and its characters on his hometown of Atlanta.
Atlanta was just the start for Glover's 2016. Next he was tasked with iconic roles in big budget movies set to come out in later years. The first is a role in the new Spider-man film. While having any part in that movie would be the role of a lifetime for some people, Glover is also set to play a younger version of Lando Calrissian in a 2018 Star Wars film! Then, just when we thought his year was as good as it could get, Glover released another album at the start of December. With an emphasis on Funk and soul vocals Glover once again impressed the music world with his creativity and range.
If it isn't clear by now, Donald Glover can do it all. He does not commit himself to just acting or music or comedy, instead he occupies his time with constantly seeing what else he can do. With his penchant for success in seemingly every field, Glover is a renaissance man who could rival Ben Franklin himself. Donald Glover's jack of all trades persona has brought fans the world over a lot of happiness and joy, so let's all wait in anticipation while he works on whatever he wants to work on next.
