In Honor Of Childish Gambino’s New ‘Swarm’ EP, Here Are 5 Of His Best Songs
On Friday (March 17), Childish Gambino dropped his first new musical project in three years with his EP Swarm, to accompany the release of his new Amazon Prime Video series of the same name.
The EP consists of five tracks from Gambino and singer KIRBY, who voices a fictional artist named Ni’jah. Additionally, he’s credited as a featured artist and co-producer on the song “Sticky,” which was initially previewed in the trailers for the series.
The new project comes out almost three years to the day of his last album, 3.15.20., which was released via RCA Records in March 2020.
So to celebrate both the continued accomplishments of both Donald Glover and Childish Gambino, we’ve listed five of the latter's best song offerings to-date.
Stream Swarm EP here.
“IV. Sweatpants” (feat. Problem) (2014)
Album: Because The Internet
Need a Childish Gambino song to play at the party? This is the one. It’s a certified bop to get it going while delivering one of his best rapping performances of his career.
“Pop Thieves (Make It Feel Good)” (feat. Jaden) (2014)
Album: STN MTN / Kauai
Bringing out the laid back vibes of Kauai, the second song from Gambino’s second EP features Jaden Smith on the outro and fits in the tracklist perfectly following “Sober.” Considered the biggest bop on Kauai, it exemplifies the multi-hyphenate ability to please a wide audience while not sacrificing any element of artistry.
“Redbone” (2016)
Album: Awaken, My Love!
By far the biggest hit of Gambino’s career on perhaps his best album, “Redbone” instructed us all to “stay woke.” The song details elements of paranoia in a relationship and the attempts of satisfying a woman will actually drive her away. Commercially, it reached #12 on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, also making it the rapper’s most chart-successful cut to-date.
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“Kids” (2012)
Album: Camp
“Kids” relays the contrast between the lovable näiveté of childhood crushes and the more consequential elements of adult love all over xylophone taps and violin stringing. The Camp track was proof early on that Gambino had a knack for creating music, using some of those same skills today.
“I. The Worst Guys” (feat. Chance The Rapper) (2013)
Album: Because The Internet
The third collaboration between Gambino and Chance, “I. The Worst Guys” is one of the standouts on Because The Internet and features the Chicago rapper’s odd, yet catchy underlining refrain of “all she needed was some.” In the end, it all works and is a certified bop.
Bonus Video: Check out BET Talks’ interview with The Swarm’s Chloe Bailey and Dominique Fishback
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