“The Night Me and Your Mama Met” has no lyrics but the choir returns over a scratch-guitar instrumental that features an amazing guitar solo reminiscent of Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain”. It’s used stylistically rather than a crutch in songs like “Boogieman”, “Zombies”, and the bubbly “California”. There is sporadic use of auto-tune throughout the album but not enough to beat the listener to death with. Glover’s voice and style of singing changes from song to song, emulating George Clinton to Prince. Filled with raw wails and primal screams alongside a gospel choir, right off that bat you know that this is no ordinary Childish Gambino record. The album begins and immediately takes you on a roller-coaster of sound with the stellar first single, “Me and Your Mama”. “I remember hearing a Funkadelic scream and being like, ‘Wow, that’s sexual and it’s scary.’ Not having a name for that, though just having a feeling. In an interview with Billboard, Glover described how these groups influenced him and his vision for the new album. “ Awaken, My Love!” is heavily influenced by funk legends Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, and The Isley Brothers.

After a home run first season of his show Atlanta on FX, which Glover wrote, produced, and starred in, comes the last thing anyone expected from the quirky rapper: a completely sung P-Funk album. “ Awaken, My Love!” is the third studio album from artist Childish Gambino, also known as writer and actor Donald Glover. This album is Childish Gambino’s “ Awaken, My Love!”.

This album is a funkified force of nature. This album is a throwback to black music of the 60s and 70s. This album is for his newborn child and the woman he loves. Be forewarned my friends, this album is not going to be for everyone.

Awaken my love release