‘Donald Glover Presents’: How he became a modern Renaissance man
After conquering TV, music, music videos, and Star Wars, rumor has it Donald Glover now plans to man the first solo mission to Jupiter in a hot air balloon before coming back to Earth to host the Oscars while producing a 24-part documentary on the history of the Pacific Ocean (which he’ll also be presenting from a submarine from the sea floor.)
He’s not really, but with his resume thus far it really wouldn’t surprise us if he did. It’s also why he’s our Renaissance Man this year and every year.
Why?
Atlanta, that’s why. The show’s gone from strength to strength since it began in 2016. Glover has won Golden Globes and Emmys for both his acting and directing of the show. FX knows the show’s power, and renewed it for both a 3rd and 4th season. Filming back to back, both seasons should be released in 2021 sometime.
What else is he doing?
As well as being Donald Glover, he’s also Childish Gambino (wait, what?) and you might have seen the recent music video for his song, “This is America” (which at last count has around 375 million views on YouTube alone.)
The video was so influential there are now videos online with nearly as many views as “This is America” itself, just looking at the context and meaning of its many thought-provoking images. Glover himself has held back from explaining the video, telling TMZ “that’s not for me to say”.
Assuming there’s no sinister agenda behind the video’s gratuitous violence, if he was any cooler he’d be filled with ice & beers.
Gambino’s fourth studio album 3.15.20, also known as Donald Glover Presents, dropped in March on the 20th, offering a 12 new songs for fans to jam to. Featuring collabs with Ariana Grande, 21 Savage, and Kadhja Bonet, it’s definitely the album for the hot girl summer we all need.
Anything else?
Glover was also in the Han Solo spinoff (fair enough, everyone is allowed a bit of a blip), but he’s also Simba in the reboot of The Lion King which surely was a small movie that millions upon millions of people didn’t go and see.
Troy Barnes also made a return to Greendale Community College as part of a Community reunion special. Similar to the Parks and Recreation one, the cast got together over video chat to raise money for World Central Kitchen and Frontline Foods. Though apparently Glover is too big now to be part of the Community group chat.
This year may see the end of Childish Gambino, as Glover has said he is bored of the project. We can only assume that, looking at his career thus far, he’ll be aiming to take Gambino out on a high. If Donald Glover Presents is that high though, it’s a pretty solid end.
