This Is America

This song is oozing with social commentary that is exposed through satiric trap-influenced lyrics.

This social commentary is all the more obvious through the song’s controversial video which showcases graphic gun violence and directly after showing Childish Gambino doing various dances that you might recognize from your favorite social media network. America’s endless fascination with black culture is directly juxtaposed by its inherent neglect for black lives. The country seems to live in this odd realm of being where it showcases its love of various aspects of black culture (trap music, various dances, etc.) enough to pull the wool over the viewer’s eyes so they won’t notice the never-ending injustice and horror that’s happening in America every single day.

The video is essentially a practice in that hypothesis. Depending on how desensitized you are to gun violence, you may notice the dancing more than you do the violence. The two topics obviously don’t match each other in importance but yet they have a fair shot at getting the attention of the viewer. The clash of these two instances truly show how crazy living in America really is, but interestingly, how used to it most Americans are.

This song is a shocking wake up call and reminder that America has a gun control problem.

The video displays Childish dancing around and others doing the same, until there's sudden shooting. What he's doing is distracting us and then showing us the real truth. The whole point of the song is to remind us that shootings are a daily thing in America. Despite how horrible it is, we still go on with our daily days as if it didn't happen. We make some noise when it happens, but it dies down, hence distraction.

This is America is a song of contrast.

The church choir sings an uplifting catchy melody under Gambino’s innocent “we just wanna party” lyrics and Young Thug’s crooning ad-libs. Then the song is ripped from its bright, joyous choir and guitar foundation to reveal a muddy trap beat, layered with primal percussion and gritty, droning 808’s. Here Gambino changes his tone, sounding direct, percussive and confident in his delivery.

The stark contrast in the music is mirrored in the visuals. Cars on fire, hijackings, riots, and police brutality fill the backdrop of the video while Gambino and his posse dance in ignorant bliss. Each of the verses begin with Gambino shooting: one reminiscent of a political execution, and the other painfully alluding to the Texas Church shooting last November. Each are then followed by remorseless singing and dancing.

To Gambino, these contradictions and multiple realities are America. The violence is repetitive and inescapable, and the injustices toward underprivileged people are a constant part of life. But there’s also music and brotherhood and faith and celebration alongside these tragedies. Gambino is showing us that America is violence and happiness, cruelty and community at the same time.

Did anyone else notice the 17 second pause? 17 kids were killed at Parkland.

Glover hosted, and was the musical guest for, Saturday Night Live and released the music video for "This Is America" shortly after his SNL performance.

youtube.com/watch

It includes appearances from BlocBoy JB, Young Thug, Quavo, and 21 Savage who all make a huge impact on the trap genre.

I really like how the music goes from the typical innocent hip hop song, to a sudden dark tone. It is all around a great song, not just for the lyrics and meaning, but it's a very catchy song and has a pretty nice beat. This is definitely some of Childish Gambino's most creative work.

A lot misheard by everyone out there, but this part is one of the worst. Try this:

Look how I'm geekin' out I'm so fitted I'm all Gucci I'm so pretty I'm gon' get it Watch me move This'll sell it That's a tool All my Kodak Ooh, know that Ooh, get it Ooh, work it Hundred bands, hundred bands, hundred bands Contraband, contraband, contraband I got the plug on Oaxaca They gonna find you in a locker

If anything needs a specific explanation, I would say "All my Kodak" meaning both all his pictures and all his followers taking / posting his pictures. Know that - that's how you get paid today.

I am on the fence about whether he says "I'm on Gucci" or "I'm all Gucci". "all" makes more sense, but "on" rhymes better. "on Gucci" like his car seats? Shoes? Like I said, "all" makes more sense.