Summer 2018 has been quite a ride, I’m sure we all can admit. As if the political turmoil and international stresses of the world weren’t enough, the hip-hop community experienced one of the most tumultuous summers in quite some time.
Childish Gambino recaps this summer with his video for “Feels Like Summer,” the single from his Summer Pack released in June alongside “Summertime Magic.” Starring MOST of hip-hop’s biggest celebrities along with the culture’s biggest influencers in animated form, Gambino creates a summertime vibe that is eerily reminiscent of Will Smith’s mega-hit from 1991 – “Summertime.”
A casual stroll in the neighborhood takes the highs and the lows of the past four months and reimagines it in its most innocent form – summertime fun. Drama and feuds fade away as hip-hop collectively comes together to enjoy the weather. Summer is supposed to be the most relaxing season of them all, and that’s what summer is about and that’s what Gambino brings us back to with this visual. He also takes time to touch on the sadness and the losses that we’ve had to endure, bringing the tragedies into focus while attempting to stay as optimistic about the future as possible.
There are about 58 cameos (that I can count) in the video, and most of them represent something bigger than the images themselves. Let’s delve into another one of Childish Gambino’s masterpieces.
NICKI MINAJ AND TRAVIS SCOTT
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
While building what seems to be a solid structure, Travis Scott removes one block and sends Nicki Minaj’s entire empire tumbling. A quiet nod to Nicki’s rant about Scott’s Billboard success based on using his girlfriend and newborn baby as a publicity stunt. But at least they’re playing nice together… kinda.
KANYE WEST AND MICHELLE OBAMA
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
A crying West wearing a MAGA hat is comforted by former First Lady Michelle Obama. West has come out recently to apologize for his comments about slavery earlier this summer, and it’s added insult (what he’s dubbed as the one-two effect) of the MAGA hat along with his misconstrued rant. Michelle Obama has not publicly forgiven West, but in this imaginary summer, one would believe that if anyone would forgive him with open arms, it would be our classy former First Lady.
KID CUDI
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
The “suicidal urges” that Kid Cudi has spoken out about, and his decision to check himself into rehab seems to be amplified here with this solemn image of Cudi alone against a black backdrop.
CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD AND LIL YACHTY
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
Although Lil Yachty’s last visit to The Breakfast Club radio show was a bit awkward due to Charlemagne’s comments about Yachty being the new “poster child for wack rappers,” in this scene we see them enjoying the cool deliciousness of frozen treats.
KODAK BLACK
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
Seen shaking his head to the incessant pestering of Lil Pump and Trippie Red to come outside and play, Kodak cannot. He is grounded, or more realistically incarcerated, and is unable to join in on the summer’s festivities. Luckily for him, this is his former situation since he was recently released.
AZEALIA BANKS
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
Azealia Banks watching all the fun from above in a tree not only speaks to her believed status amongst other hip-hop figures, but to her true alienated position within music, social media, our opinions…
SOULJA BOY, LIL PUMP, AND TRIPPIE RED
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
Soulja Boy seems to be recounting his infamous home invasion story to hip-hop’s newcomers Lil Pump and Trippie Red. They are thoroughly engrossed in the tale of rap life and violence – these are aspects that they can only hope to replicate although it seems impossible to many due to their lack of street credibility within hip-hop.
ANDREW GILLUM AND XXXTENTACION
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
Tallahassee Mayor, and Florida gubernatorial hopeful, sits on a bench solemnly. Although he has recently cinched the Democratic nomination in the Florida governor’s race – making him a step closer to becoming Florida’s first black governor – he has been racially attacked the entire way. By way of connecting XXXTentacion’s birth state to Mayor Gillum, we see a bowl of vanilla and chocolate ice cream (his blonde and brown hair) melting away. It’s a nod to the loss of a life gone too soon.
WHITNEY HOUSTON AND MICHAEL JACKSON
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
And, of course, it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t recognize and give tribute to these two legends born in the summertime.
And these aren’t even HALF of the cameos that were made in Gambino’s amazing cartoon visual!
CHANCE THE RAPPER, JADEN SMITH, BIRDMAN
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
WILL SMITH
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
DR DRE, SNOOP DOGG, WIZ KHALIFA, JAY-Z, GUCCI MANE
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
SZA, JANELLE MONAE
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
CHRIS BROWN
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
OUTKAST
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
RIHANNA
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
OPRAH, LIL UZI VERT, TIFFANY HADDISH, KEHLANI
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
BEYONCE WITH TRIBUTE TO FREDO SANTANA
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
2CHAINZ, MEEK MILL, PUSHA T, LIL WAYNE
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
DRAKE
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
FUTURE
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
J.COLE, RAE SHREMMURD
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
THE WEEKND, TY DOLLA $IGN, FRANK OCEAN
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
A$AP ROCKY, SOLANGE, WILLOW SMITH
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
YOUNG THUG, THE BALL BROTHERS (LONZO, LAMELO, LIANGELO)
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
21 SAVAGE, METRO BOOMIN
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
THE MIGOS
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
 |
| SOURCE: CHILDISH GAMBINO/YOUTUBE |
What other connections can you make to the cameos that Gambino has included?
Comments
Post a Comment