Donald Glover, known in the music world as Grammy-winning Childish Gambino, is closing the chapter on his alter ego with the release of his final album, Bando Stone & The New World. This album, out July 19, marks the retirement of a persona that brought us iconic hits like Redbone and This Is America. The lead track from the album, Lithonia, wanders away from Glover's hip-hop roots with an operatic rock sound.
The Lithonia music video features Glover performing with a band in a seemingly normal setting, perhaps a house party with a few friends in attendance. However, the intensity written on each face consistently rises as their eyes take on a wildness; they are covered in sweat in a few short seconds, and they begin to move erratically. Things take an unexpectedly gory turn in the last quarter, in a horror-inspired twist. The final seconds of the video feature actress Suzanna Son running through a forest, blood-splattered and frantic. The lyrics point to disillusionment and the fleeting nature of fame, perhaps reflecting revelations from Glover’s own extensive career.
The song is part of a larger project that includes a film of the same name, directed by and starring Glover. Bando Stone & The New World is set in a dystopian future filled with lasers, monsters, and even dinosaurs, reflecting Glover's eclectic approach to storytelling. The New York Times wrote that Glover’s inspiration for the film came from an idea he had about a musician “recording his masterpiece on a remote island when a global calamity strikes.”
Glover has said that his decision to put away the Childish Gambino moniker comes from a place of satisfaction with his work and catalog so far, as well as considerations about the increasing logistical difficulties that come with producing an album in today’s splintered and demanding music industry. He feels that he has achieved what he set out to do with this persona and is ready to move on to new projects, not least of all enjoying fatherhood. His ability to reinvent himself is evident in this latest project as well as in his transitions throughout his career. The music video for Lithonia encapsulates this kind of shift, blending influences from his rich past with new surprises, symbolizing the beginning of another era for Glover.