Donald Glover is back in the music scene, and he’s not wasting any time. After a four-year hiatus, the multi-talented artist known as Childish Gambino announced that his upcoming album will be his last under the Gambino moniker. With expectations soaring, Glover recently revealed details about the album’s lead single, generating buzz among fans and industry watchers alike.
On June 24, billboards featuring Childish Gambino’s name and the phrase ‘Bando is coming’ began popping up, hinting at the album’s title, ‘Bando Stone in the New World.’ Not long after, Glover stepped up the excitement by announcing the lead single from the album. Titled ‘Lithonia’ with the provocative subtitle ‘Nobody Gives a F*ck,’ the song is set to be released on July 2, exactly one week after the billboards appeared.
Choosing a Tuesday release for the single is an unconventional move, as most artists prefer the more traditional Friday releases to capitalize on weekend buzz. However, this decision aligns with Gambino’s unique vision for the album ‘Bando Stone,’ a vision he hinted at during an interview with E! News in 2023. Despite being heavily involved in television projects, Glover felt a strong pull back to the music studio. ‘I’m making music right now, I love it,’ he shared. ‘I’m actually working, I’m in the studio. I’ve been bringing people in, like secret people, working on little things. But I just been, you know, making it for fun right now. But soon something will happen, I promise. Something will happen.’
The forthcoming album is billed as a ‘soundtrack,’ reminiscent of Gambino’s earlier projects that blended music with other forms of storytelling. His 2013 album ‘Because the Internet’ was accompanied by a screenplay designed to be experienced with specific songs from the album. Fans are eagerly speculating how ‘Lithonia’ will fit into the larger narrative of ‘Bando Stone in the New World.’
Fans won’t have to wait long to get a taste of what Childish Gambino has been cooking up. ‘Lithonia’ is just around the corner, and given Glover’s track record, it’s bound to be anything but ordinary. Mark your calendars for July 2.
