Growing up?

Hip hop fans were in for a surprise this week, with the release of a new album by US musician Donald Glover, under his musical alias Childish Gambino.

The American rapper dropped Atavista, featuring verses from Ariana Grande, 21 Savage, Summer Walker, and more, sprinkled across 11 tracks.

“This album is the finished version of 3.15.20, the album I put out four years ago,” the artist explained, in a statement posted on his social media accounts.

Atavista features polished versions of existing tracks alongside the new song, Little Foot Big Foot, featuring rapper Young Nudy. The song boasts a spacey, funk-infused sound reminiscent of Prince, a clear influence on Childish Gambino’s musical style. This influence is further explored throughout the album, with some critics finding it derivative. However, others see it as a ‘palette cleanser’ in the crowded rap scene.

The album has sparked discussions, with some praising the refined sound and others questioning the need for a near-remake.

Atavista arrives alongside the announcement of Danny’s impending retirement of the Childish Gambino moniker, under which he plans to release one more album Bando Stone & The New World this summer, as the soundtrack for his upcoming film of the same name.

This two-album send-off adds context to Atavista potentially framing it as a final revisiting of an earlier artistic chapter.