The cover for “Lithonia,” the latest Childish Gambino single
Just under two months after delivering “Atavista,” a splashy update to 3.15.20 that brought Childish Gambino back into the consciousness again, we’re on the precipice of another brand-new project. In anticipation, the Atlanta native/Atlanta creator dropped its lead single towards the top of the month, likely the only taste of the project we’ll get before its arrival in earnest. Here’s everything you need to know about “Lithonia,” the lead single for the last Childish Gambino record, Bando Stone & the New World.
Philosophic Reflections Define Gambino’s Latest
Opening with weighty organ lines, there’s a truly cinematic atmosphere Childish Gambino sets up even in the earliest stages of “Lithonia.” It’s only amplified as the lyrics kick off, establishing a third-person narrative that touches on a character named “Cody LeRay,” mid-spiral & ostensibly with nowhere left to go.
It’s an interesting dynamic between the isolation that Glover discusses in the actual text and the instrumentation that backs it up. While “nobody gives a f***” is a frequent refrain on this track, the production that backs it up couldn’t be more emotional; the combination of thrashing power ballad guitars heightens each and every line and almost forces an empathetic reaction out of the listener.
Importantly, Bando & the New World will serve as a soundtrack for a feature film of the same name. So there’s surely a hidden narrative at work that we’ll only find out about down the round. All the same, it’s hard not to take the song as some sort of meta-commentary, especially given where in his arc as a musician lands.
Where “Lithonia” Lands In The Childish Gambino Arc
The nihilistic themes at the very least appear to reflect on the state of the music industry, a “come and go” sort of atmosphere that dulls the impact of even the most profound, commentary-laden projects. Particularly when honing in on the “Cody LeRay/He had a break” line, a likely interpretation is as a sort of double entendre, both reflecting the long hiatus between releases and the heavy emotional themes reflected in the ones that did make it to market.
Regardless of what form Childish Gambino’s last LP takes, a heavy round of applause is past due. It’s hard to square away how the “Bonfire” rapper has traversed so much ground since his debut. Though, certainly, tragic circumstances led to the former’s inclusion in the matter, Mac Miller’s/Kanye West’s/Tyler, The Creator’s “artistic growth” conversations shouldn’t go very far without Gambino’s name coming up. Though the moniker will be retired after this next release, Glover himself has left the door open to music down the road, and for at least this writer’s sake, hopefully, there’s still plenty more to come in whatever form he chooses.
You can listen to “Lithonia” on streaming platforms everywhere. Bando Stone & the New World is expected to drop on July 19th, with the film’s release details currently pending.
