Niche Markets and More…
I’m suuuuuper late on Childish Gambino.
I had some awareness of him, but since I’m not really a rap person (sue me) I didn’t really pay attention to him.
As mentioned yesterday, I started watching Community and though it was slow to catch on for me, I’m going strong almost to the end of season one.
Always thought Donald Glover was a cutie patootie, and also knew he was in the Derrick Comedy improv group which I found to be hilarious when came across them them five years ago.
Having no preconceived notions other than the ones I have for rap in general (again sue me) I decided to listen to some things to see what I could see.
First exposure Freaks and Geeks :
I thought, ah that’s one of my favorite shows! But for some reason didn’t think this guy would be into that kind of stuff…
Again not typically a fan of braggadocio…but this beat kinda hits and there is some clever wordplay there…couple of listens to catch everything.
His allusions have a wider scope than the typical topics of hoes, money, drugs, etc that rappers usually talk about. It also includes just regular middle America stuff…maybe even things the general Black person doesn’t really find interesting…
And his mention of Freaks and Geeks at the end…maybe he IS into that kind of stuff…
I wanted to know more.
Downloaded The Great Gambino, Culdsac, Camp, and Royalty to listen to on my ride home (I’m at the ‘rents house now. Free food!)
Heard this :
Started REALLY paying attention. He’s rapping my life…the whole conundrum of not quite fitting in with Black people and not quite fitting in with the other races either.
Then I heard this :
Sold.
I’m not a profanity person at all, and I can mostly pass on the braggadocio stuff, but what he’s talking about is seriously stuff I can relate to. Finally I get why people like rap so much….just had not quite heard artists that talked about things I knew about. I’m a little sad that he isn’t quite accepted in the Black community yet, other than among people who are like him, but that’s okay if he is appreciated by people who CAN relate.
That’s really the answer to that conundrum. Who cares if your “community” doesn’t accept you or thinks you’re strange or different for being who you are. Don’t pretend to be someone else just to fit in….be yourself and be appreciated by the people who like you for you. For me it was much easier in college with a bunch of other kids like me who got the side eye for speaking properly or liking alternative music or having good grades or going to the “white school”…became even less of an issue. Interesting that I had more trouble with racist ideas from other Black people…not non-Black people…
Bleh, it gets better.
Also could relate on the “black girls don’t seem to like me” thing. Definitely got the opposite of that as I’m not curvy, not really stylish, not the “dime” or even one the popular ones that the boys go after that bring the drama. My environment has always been full of nerds though so I did okay. Put me somewhere with status driven non nerds though? Wouldn’t work out. I’m a lame stuck up square then.
But yeah anyway…totally relate to dood!
I officially have my eye on him…maybe even for the Harem!
Awkward Black People Unite!
