Donald Glover, a.k.a Childish Gambino, has finally returned his new album, "3.15.20," to the airwaves Sunday, March 22, and fans are still speculating.
The multi-hyphenate has pulled a bizarre strategy to his fourth studio album. It was first posted last Sunday, March 15, as a single, continuous stream entitled Donald Glover Presents uploaded on the website of the same name. The fans found a brief respite from the still-growing coronavirus concerns with the twelve-track mix of new songs as well as previously released works such as "Algorhythm," "Warlords," and "Feels Like Summer." Billboard reports that the other artists featured in the stream include previously associated acts, such as SZA, Ariana Grande, and 21 Savage.
However, as the fans started mellowing down to Donald Glover's surprise treat, the video was suddenly taken down, without explanation or notice, after a day of streaming.
After the on-and-off stunt, a week later, Glover has officially uploaded the long-awaited album across all major streaming sites such as YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. The similar "Donald Glover Presents" found a week before is now uploaded in Donald Glover's official YouTube channel, still as a continuous stream. Meanwhile, a track-by-track playlist is available on Childish Gambino's Spotify channel.
Aside from "Algorhythm" and "Time" (featuring Ariana Grande), the rest of the tracks on Spotify are entitled with numbers, which correspond to their exact timestamps on the uninterrupted stream. Fans familiar with the work of the award-winning artist will find similar works on the new album such as "42.26" which is basically the 2018 hit "Feels Like Summer."
His fourth studio comes shortly after reports that the production of his highly-acclaimed comedy series on FX, Atlanta, has been temporarily put on hold over coronavirus concerns together with some of the channel's flagship shows Fargo, Snowfall, and Y: The Last Man.
Donald Glover has often released his musical undertaking under his alter-ego Childish Gambino, using the medium to share mindblowing social commentaries such as with "This is America." However, his use of his real name as the banner for his current work has fans speculating in this time of distancing and separation. His last studio album as Childish Gambino, "Awaken, My Love!" In her review, Mosi Reeves of Rolling Stone describe Gambino's third album an "enthralling trip into the land of funk."
As early as 2015, "The Lazarus Effect" actor hinted about plans to retire the Childish Gambino persona, saying "I feel like Childish Gambino is a period that should come to a close" on the Today Show. Also, after headlining the Governor's Ball 2017, Glover told the audience "I'll see you for the last Gambino album" before promptly going off-stage. Furthermore, he confirmed the decision to retire his musical screen name after receiving his 2018 Grammy win. The "Redbone" singer stands by his decision, adding that he's "making another project right now" before appreciating endings and their importance to progress.
Fans have declared the album their new quarantine anthem, due to the overall theme and feel of 3.15.20. Glover's new work seems to focus on more calming R&B tunes, and less rapping, exemplified by the songs "Summertime Magic" and "Feels Like Summer." Also, the YouTube uninterrupted stream keeps a steady, flowing rhythm for almost an hour after hitting the play button once.
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