First Time Hearing | Childish Gambino - This Is America Reaction

[@shanepye7078]

“The focus is on the star, but there is a lot going on in the background” Yes, that’s the point. This is America.

[@NoProtect]

Litterally what I said.

[@MidnightWanderer]

In a nutshell.

[@serioushex3893]

this video has layers and layers and layers of meaning and symbolism, just about everything is social commentary. it really requires several watches to pick everything out. You're starting to pick up on the "ha ha look at him dance, don't look at the horribleness around" message he was ABSOLUTELY trying to send. The pose he takes when he first shoots the guitarist is supposed to evoke the pictures of jim crow, gunning down a church choir was a reference to the 2015 charleston church shooting, there's more. so much more, it's nutty how much he packed into the one video.

[@stressfreepaperchase3215]

2:52 exactly what you said.

[@seanmcintyre4990]

He should've had the lyrics up on this one too.

[@livingroomsuperstar]

I felt like the music itself tried to exemplify the Black American experience too... it went from West African chanting to Caribbean guitar to southern gospel all in a hip hop song. That plus the video is straight up ART

[@kerry7713]

✊🏽

[@Miller_Time]

Yeah after 5 listens I'm like yo. This is terrifying

[@Liambic]

"America treats the weapons better than those whose lives are extinguished by them." and "I think he's a distraction." Exactly right, one of many layers of meaning to everything that's happening. Well done sir.

[@Blynat]

Even his dancing and funny faces are a choice to distract you.

[@kellysparky9485]

You nailed it with the reference to how guns are treated better than the people killed. The gun is wrapped in cloth and carried away "respectfully" while the body is dragged off scene. This IS America, sadly

[@blairhaffly1777]

He's not "trying" to make a point. He's hammering it home right between our eyes. It's brilliant

[@iamspamus8784]

Amazingly well done.

[@redfiveroe1138]

"I know writers who use subtext and they're all cowards."

[@bahamutskingdom]

And still, even after the years have passed.....I am still finding and seeing new things, new angles, and new feels.

[@caseyroberts1171]

There's actually an insane amount of hidden meaning in Gambino's actions and dress. The pants and his poses he does in the beginning are meant to mimic minstrel show imagery and images from the 1800s, basically recalling the image of the dancing slave entertaining his masters. A lot of the lyrics are referencing the things that African-Americans use to distract from the harsh reality where their lives are cheap, with their value measured by how they can entertain and hustle. Also there are references to how, since their lives are fleeting, just go out and get yours, because it's gonna get taken away in the end.

[@thewriter8762]

And the fact that guns are handled with care while bodies just get dragged off screen or left. Pretty much a feeling of how we treat guns with more respect than people.

[@caseyroberts1171]

@@thewriter8762 Exactly... Even more so when we discuss black bodies and government agencies. When you break down every bit, role, prop, and even lyrics with the scene, this video is insanely well thought out. Nothing in that video is extra, and all of it goes to making a point about how Black America is a cornerstone of entertainment and culture, but is also treated as completely disposable. This treatment encourages Black Americans to hustle for what they can get, because nothing is promised to them, even their lives, even if you can attain celebrity or respect.

[@TheDivayenta]

Well said!

[@j.ascension7]

And then after dark the "Distraction" or entertainer is running for his life because America has put a target on his back since he stopped singing and dancing now they hunt him.

[@rk41gator]

@@caseyroberts1171 Exactly.....being used by the system, pawns; happy and distracted, just as designed and directed. Chaos is OK for black lives as long as it remains confined and does not move above into the office tower. Glover is shirtless as were the slaves. Aren't the confederate pants given the ultimate put down? Saying to those who would return to the ugly past, No. Ain't goin' back. But as long as he is 'invisible', things are chaotically OK; step out of line, try to bring that chaos outside the warehouse where it can be visible, then you better run.....fade to black.

[@joshuamcaleer3501]

I feel like you really nailed it at the start of the video when you said "he's a distraction". A lot of his dances and poses are minstrel dances from the Jim Crow era, and the chorus keeps saying "get your money black man". He's a black minstrel being paid to dance and distract from the chaos enveloping black America.

[@Brooke-rw8rc]

Damn, you picked up on... SO MUCH! There were very few reactions that caught THAT MUCH on the first watch-through. And I watched dozens of them! Like... the Confederate pants. At the beginning he also makes an Uncle Fester face and when he fires his first implement, the pose he takes is a reference to Jim Crow posters. One of the more overriding themes that I've noticed is that, not only is he the distraction to keep you from seeing what's going on around him, but while he's playing that role, on behalf of the people that want you distracted, he's untouchable. He commits 2 first degree crimes, but he's still the golden child and all the young kids are following his dance moves. But then he starts making more obvious, less subtle references: copying dances and songs that are far more well known, and his "untouchable" aura begins to slip. He's trying too hard to stay relevant, and it's costing him his rep. No, he doesn't even commit a crime, but just mimes one, and everyone panics and runs from him. Next we see him, he's making claims about what he's "owed" and you see his last-ditch effort to stay in the spotlight, but the crowd wanders away and he loses the spotlight. Next we see him, he's in the dark on his own, left out to the wolves. Since he's no longer useful as a distraction, he no longer has any status or protection. So it's not just about "the distraction", it's about how the people used as the distraction are used for as long as they're useful, then chewed up and spit out when they're not. As for the style of rap, I think he chose mumble rap partly because he wanted to tell the story through the visuals more than fancy words, but also because mumble rap WAS "the distraction" just before he made it.

[@Brooke-rw8rc]

This also came out about the same time as Joyner Lucas's "I'm Not Racist", which is equally hard-hitting and disturbing to watch.

[@JasonB72481]

@@Brooke-rw8rc I like Joyner, but I think that song was weak by him. I think the current Joyner could make a better song. The points Joyner made were surface level, I think he avoided really hitting with those hard truths many Americans don't seem to be ready to deal with.

[@kbsskb788]

@@JasonB72481 Hard hitting truths? The entire song was about listening to each other, not proving each other wrong.

[@sandplasma]

cause he had seen it in the past, you really believe he didnt? it was all over the news for weeks when it came out. you have to be living under a rock to not have heard this.

[@Brooke-rw8rc]

@@sandplasma 'cept he doesn't live in the States?

[@ForceOfWill100]

The pose he strikes at the beginning was a poster for the original "Jim Crow", who was a character used by a white actor in blackface during the minstrel shows in the 1850s. That's also the reason for his getup, erratic movements, and facial expressions, as those were all stereotypes created during that time. This last part is speculation on my part, but I think he's using the "Jim Crow" character along with the modern lyrics about getting money, wearing gucci, etc. to illustrate a point about how America has always pushed a narrative about how black people "should act" under the guise of celebrating blackness while oppressing them openly in the background. The comparison makes sense, as the minstrel shows were initially seen as racially positive because they featured "black culture", while in reality served as a tool for racial oppression.

[@thewriter8762]

I don’t think that it’s to oppress. IMO it’s more of the bluntness of what rappers and artists say in its base form with no extra metaphors or pageantry around it. Rap has inspired kids to be thugs and misfits instead of trying to be the best that they can be. Some people use rap to get out of that life while some listen to it to feel like they are apart of it.

[@Noddite416]

@@thewriter8762 I think I would have to agree in part, I'd say it serves a double purpose. One being the facade of the rap business which leads to the chaos - despite the fact many involved in the business never really experienced it themselves. The other being that this was an illusion of success that was set up for them by corporate America to take their money as opposed to reinvesting in themsevles. So I wouldn't relate it to oppression as much as I would exploitation. I feel this is one of the best social commentary songs/videos since Zombie.

[@spartnfish]

Ya the video in of itself is meant essentially as a minstrel show distracting from what's going on in the background

[@highlycriminal3874]

The focus on him primarily with the chaos in the background could also stand for a critique of modern Americans in general. How they tend to be so self-involved that they don't really see what is happening around them. And how the media tends to hyper fixate on one aspect of a situation. Kind of missing the forest for the trees. But ultimately I think it's left petty ambiguous in areas so it can mean something else to whoever is watching. It's pretty brilliant.

[@Makaveli13Xroy]

Someone pointed out that all the abandoned cars in the background refrence all the black people killed during Routine traffic stops ; which is a REALLY Good observation

[@heroofcanton101]

When this song came out, I watch a lot of reactions to it. I am both white, and not American, so a lot of the specifics of this song were not immediately obvious to me. But the one thing that always struck me was that they all fell victim to the exact point of the video. Something tragic happens, and then people are immediately drawn away from it by some empty entertainment. He shoots a guy in the head out of nowhere, and all the reactors had a "WOAH! WTF" moment. And then he started dancing again, and they just...started dancing and bobbing along with him, smiling and laughing, like he didnt just exectute a man in cold blood. Which is exactly what he is trying to portray. I also took the "Thats a celly, thats a tool" line to be a reference to the guy who was shot by the cops because they thought his cell phone was a gun. I think that didnt happen too much before this was made. This is, arguably, one of the best statement songs out there. And it feels, sadly, like it was listened to by many, and not heard.

[@ThaOneChrisJONES]

The cell is also a tool because it's useful ( sometimes ) in possibly preventing police from unjustly killing African Americans. When they have bystanders standing around with their phones filming, it's much less likely that bad cops will use brutality or murder the person they're trying to arrest or stopping in traffic etc..

[@dwvw]

As someone who grew up in the golden age of music video's (I turn 49 today) I can honestly say this is one of the most important videos I have ever seen. I can't imagine listening to the song without the video.

[@breakdancinfool]

His body position when he shoots the guitarist references the old Jim Crow, rasict propaganda posters

[@brandonday2494]

That droning bassline is one of the more ominous things I've ever heard. You picked up a ton at first watch. And yeah, it was Young Thug. Really great reaction.

[@satoristeve]

There's an absurd amount of references and social commentary packed in here. Definitely requires a lot of rewatching. I bet somewhere out there there's a doctoral candidate teaching an entire semester long class on this video.

[@hugrunj]

I hope so, I would pay to watch

[@CortexNewsService]

I would honestly be surprised if there isn't

[@sport1girl]

Hey. I'd take that class in a heartbeat

[@GunnyRaps]

I remember hearing Donald Glover say he wrote a whole play from the point of view of the black mayor of Hill Valley (Back to the Future)... His point is always that we're always missing something.

[@lk_c7214]

Ok, now I kinda wanna see that become a thing!

[@ghadrackpotato960]

I never have had the pleasure of meeting him, but people I respect call Donald Glover a genius, any project he does I check out. I hope he stays with us, he seems like one of those artists too smart and talented to put up with humanity.

[@davidfrance2915]

Bro, just gotta say, I appreciate you going all the way back. Watched a lot of your reactions, and I know you don't normally do that. It's not a bad thing at all. You are reacting, and your reaction is that something more is happening, and you want to see it again and connect the pieces. OFF OF ONE VIEW. I come to see your reaction for many reasons, and to know that you are moved enough by the song, the visuals, the symbolism whatever it is that made you go back just proves the depth this video has. Hours have been spent breaking it down. I clicked on this video soon and I saw it posted to see how you felt about it, not a full on analysis. So just keep doing you bro. That's why I'm here supporting and don't change how you react man. It's pure and genuine.

[@d34dR0d3n7]

Agreed. I don't film reactions (or anything, lol) but MrLboyd's approach to trying to understand this masterpiece is unique. I personally just put it on repeat several times focusing on different things each time when it first came out. Still think 'Sober' is my favorite Gambino song/video, but this stands in a league of its own.

[@Th0rvidTheViking]

It is very possible to be both pro gun ownership and also realize that there is a gigantic problem inherent to guns in America, and this video touches on the problems beautifully. Like the guns being carried away on red velvet padding while the victims are just dragged away like they are no longer worth anything. The treatment of the guns is very much in touch with the NRA and their immediate jump to defense of guns and immediate OFFENSE to any talk of being more careful about how they can be acquired. Some of the mass shootings that have taken place in the States were committed with weapons that actually were legally acquired, or were at least not vetted when being sold to the perpetrator. All of this is a problem, yet, whenever these problems rise up and make themselves apparent, we all get distracted by what you have pointed out here sir. The dancing. The music. The clothes. The pop culture. And then the cycle repeats. One thing that never really gets picked up on in this video is the moment of silence after he mimes shooting a gun. It's exactly 17 seconds long. One second for each death at Stoneman Douglas High, the most recent school shooting before this video was released. A school shooting where the shooter had LEGALLY acquired his AR-15 rifle. Again, I will state, I have no issues with gun ownership. But there is definitely a problem with guns in America, how they are perceived, often worshipped, and ultimately, through the use of media like Hollywood and various cultures from Gang culture to Wild West, presented as the ultimate solution to a problem. The good guy with a gun saves the day. Sure, sometimes, maybe. You can defiintely save YOURSELF with a gun when the moment requires it. But the way that the gun is viewed as a SOLUTION is a problem that needs to be addressed, and that is something that goes far beyond any second amendment argument. It's DEEPLY ingrained.

[@seigeengine]

A huge portion of major shootings are guns that are either legally owned by the shooter, or come from, say, a family member, or other close person. When they're not, where do you think the gun came from? The majority source is domestically from legal sources. Either owners illegally sell their guns, or they get stolen, or they get robbed from distribution or gun stores. As for self-defense, you never want to get into a situation where you have to defend yourself in the first place, because the odds are not good either way, and a gun is far from an ideal solution to someone who legitimately wants to hurt you.

[@Kirinketsu_]

America has 9,000 to 11,000 death by a firearm a year, out of that 4,000 to 7,000 are criminal acts and of those criminal acts 70% to 80% are during gang related activities and the sell of drugs. There are confirm reports each year of 80,000 to 300,000 crimes being stopped because a good guy with a gun flashes said gun at the criminal, it is estimated to be in the millions of crimes prevented from the present of a firearm. There is no gun problem, there is a crime problem mainly a gang problem, and it is not policed because it has been deemed racist to do so, along with the way the system now works gangs help police departments meet their quotas that give them more funding.

[@susanaltman5134]

The NRAs main concern used to be gun safety. But it transformed into a group that basically serves gun manufacturers.

[@susanaltman5134]

@@Kirinketsu_ 54% of handgun deaths are suicide, according to Pew Research center. I don't mean to imply that we don't have a homicide problem here. We certainly do.

[@michaelccozens]

@@Kirinketsu_ >There are confirm reports each year of 80,000 to 300,000 crimes being stopped because a good guy with a gun flashes said gun at the criminal, it is estimated to be in the millions of crimes prevented from the present of a firearm. Yeah, the zero fucking evidence you even attempted to supply here is very persuasive, and not at all indicative of the fact that you're lying and you know it.

[@Saltpork305]

There are videos on KZbin that breakdown all of the social and cultural references made in this video. There are a *ton* including historical Jim Crow, evolution of dance, the white horse is seen with a rider in a previous scene and yes, it's a symbol of the apocalypse.

[@modulator7861]

This is one of the most profound works of art in the history of American music. So many, many layers to this one.

[@nolongerinvolved]

Feels like summer may hit for you musically, it’s very Marvin Gaye- esque. The video is incredible, and also came out around the time this dropped so it was made in the same creative mind space.

[@Drahnier123]

Yes, Feels like summer, and Sweatpants are his best songs.

[@JJBelyeu]

Feels Like Summer is incredible, but This is America is very purposeful

[@rennieHughes]

Seeing what he reacts to sometimes,I'm not 100% that he knows who Marvin Gaye is lol.

[@nolongerinvolved]

@@rennieHughes man no wayyyyyyyy, you may honestly be right tho

[@the0prynce]

@@Drahnier123 Sweatpants is unreal

[@tonytorrez1256]

I’m sure someone else mentioned this in the comments, but what sent me chills were how everyone scattered in fear when CB had mimed the finger gun… and how that was more terrifying than the scenes when he would “extinguish” the other people in this video. To me this felt that his own skin is more threatening than the tools he used for the actual killing.

[@sonjacuti2627]

I know this is old but perhaps them running from the man with finger gun could be showing that it's not the gun that should be feared but rather the person should be feared

[@stevendemayo3631]

CB? Childish Bino? Conald Blover?

[@sanctionskillkids3541]

17:04 you can find a wu tang nockname generator online.

[@nepkolz]

Yes, he's Troy from Community. Also he's the mind behind another big and great show: Atlanta. I think you would really enjoy it. One of the best shows out for ppl to watch for sure.

[@michelle6337]

Putting SZA in there randomly was such a dope move, because the number of reactors who were completely distracted from the video when they see her just drives his whole point home.

[@kxbrewsky]

Redbone is a good song by him, it was featured in Get Out so it sounds like you've probably heard that one with out knowing. It's worth checking out the rest of the album that it is from too though, Awaken, My Love. I was a huge fan of him before when he was just doing rap stuff, but Awaken took a whole funky, jazzy, soulful turn that was really unlike anything he did before and I thought was amazing.

[@kalianuddin-askew3776]

also me and your mama is a solid song from the same album as redbone

[@bradleyshelly5440]

Redbone is Amazing

[@daniahkitten]

Redbone is my favourite 😍

[@caseyroberts1171]

The best way to describe the album "Awaken, My Love" is like it's the best R&B album from the 1970s that got lost and rediscovered in the 2010s. It is insanely good, and hits like a Marvin Gaye or old-skool Parliament album. It is awesome...

[@brucekirkpatrick3653]

This is strongly influenced by.. Public Image Limited

[@uzi978]

After seeing this, you should check out "Redbone" and then "Freaks & Geeks" to see how varied his music is. He's definitely an incredibly talented artist in many areas... acting/directing (Atlanta), music, stand up comedy... he does it all.

[@thenuts80]

And don't forget he was Troy Barnes in the best show that has ever been made: Community! #sixseasonsandamovie

[@NattyNickDxB]

freaks & geeks is a banger

[@uzi978]

@@NattyNickDxB Oh yeah, love that beat. 👊👊

[@raisnaix]

Solid react! Glad you caught the depth. Check out Sweatpants by Childish Gambino next. It ends with Redbone if you watch the official video. He's a LEGIT rap artist!

[@Manwhoreieo]

Sweatpants is SUPER underrated..

[@cmeast]

"This is a celly, that's a tool". This line has multiple meanings. Yes, a cellular device can be a tool for recording and sharing evidence of oppression, but in the context of the video it's showing black people behind bars - a jail cell is a tool. Further, in the context of the song itself he's singing "I'm so gucci, I'm so pretty, I'm gon' get it, watch me move' and he's saying that THIS is a jail cell, the capitalist, materialist, self-aggrandizing culture that was created and is perpetuated by exploitation of minorities for the benefit of those in power. This is America, he sings, as he murders black people - even as they sing their submission to capitalism through the phrase "get your money". Taking part in a pyramid scheme doesn't lift you higher, it just keeps those at the top in power.

[@jasonhoffarth]

yep, cellys are a tool for legalized slavery.

[@oliverchristoph6092]

One production note about this track that I think gets overlooked is in the bridge, right before CG gets on top of the car and we see the SZA cameo; "Ooh-ooh, you go tell somebody, Grandma told me. Get your money, black man get your money" Is repeated again and again That plays right until it's broken by Childish Gambino's "GET DOWN!" Doing an ad-lib, but then the sequence of the line becomes; "1, 2 - Black man - GET DOWN!" Like a Cop offering a final warning. It's obvious most of the imagery and symbolism is done with the music video, I also understand the juxtaposition with a seemingly similar hot track being used to 'distract' us from the horrors that happens to communities all over the world. This is also not to say this is just some well-payed director making something out of a hit song. Glover is the same guy who gave us stuff like "The Worst Guys" and "Stand Tall." So this isn't his deepest lyrical works, it isn't supposed to be - because that's the point.

[@mollusckscramp4124]

Brilliant observation, all these little symbols stand out so much clearer in the light of 2020 tragedies

[@craftsecond]

You know, I watched at least one deep dive close analysis of this video before. I remain impressed by how much MrLboyd gets every time in real time in his reactions. Love a highly educated man. I will say, on the subject of not liking it musically that much: I think it was intentional. That pulsing base that came in immediately after the first act of violence, I think it is meant to be unsettling. And it stays that way to keep the audience off balance. This is much more of a full performance piece that should not be separated from its video content than a song meant to be listened to on its own for pure enjoyment. It's...amazing and terrifying.

[@powersofdestruction5694]

When he says "this a celly, that's a tool", I think he's referring to the cellphones the kids have, and their role in exposing police brutality by allowing for the recording and sharing of videos.

[@JohnnyRyall420]

you're not wrong but the way the kids are sitting on the railing is very cell pod like

[@Ruritsu]

It's a triple. Cell phones are "tools" for the capture of police violence. Prison cells are literally tools used to keep the incarcerated from society. "Tool" can colloquially refer to a gun and there have been a number high profile cases of individuals being shot by officers who claimed to have thought the victim's cellphone resembled a firearm which seems to be a fair thing to reference given the subject of the song.

[@thewilch]

@@Ruritsu plus alot of murders by a "tool" be transparent here.

[@dontresca8009]

The beauty of lines like this is that they can have multiple meanings embedded within that can all simultaneously be valid interpretations of the line.

[@SungJaeUng3]

"The singer is the focal point, but there is a lot of going on in the background." Yep. Exactly. Don't look at the horrors, keep focusing on the bright shiny things goofy things. DON'T LOOK IN THE BACKGROUND.

[@MarkGraves5]

When he said "ohhh! There's a choir!" We all held our breath.

[@SilverFlame819]

The second he paused, I was like, oh no, that was bad timing! Lol

[@jakeofalltradesj.o.a.t.6197]

You caught a lot of his symbols but there are like 100 plus. It is definitely worth checking out a breakdown of the this video. The words and visuals go together and it's crazy bow deep he goes.

[@seanhutt4621]

Worth noting that this one won song of the year The musically I think you indirectly touched on what I'd like to bring up when you notice a Caribbean/ west African feel But I think it goes deeper than that I think an argument can be made that with the beat changes he's calling out a whole bunch of different types of music generally associated with black culture, Caribbean/ West African , gospel older r&b up through current Mumble rap. And at the end of stylistic sampling each of them ends with an act of violence so it could be interpreted as condemning how violence has infiltrated Many facets of music culture , and how people aren't really talking about it instead they just sleep through it I've always thought the way he just wakes up lights a J (almost saying this is how I start my day) and then proceeds to engage in The only positive thing that happened in the music video, he starts dancing almost as if to say that you can choose which aspects of things you wish to engage with As always loved the reaction and would love to see more

[@makaveliuk86]

Love that you realised there was more to this,and went back to try and catch it👌big up man👏👊💜

[@kevinor8811]

Massive fan but how on earth has he not seen this video? It was a cultural milestone. I’m a white boy in Ireland and this was literally a massive song with loads of coverage and discussion

[@ToxicRT]

I always wonder the same. Like all of the "vocal coaches" who don't seem to have ever heard any song from any genre.

[@princess-kira]

It's kind of easy to miss stuff like this if you're not actively looking for new music, or not actively following pop culture. My first time seeing it in its entirety was this video, and since I don't watch the news and scroll past it on social media, whatever brief glimpses I may have caught of it were immediately forgotten other than some vague memories recalled after watching this reaction.

[@Vitalabyss]

This music video is a masterpiece. Everything has purpose. There are multiple meanings. And it all mixes together, music and visuals, to create even more symbolism. All of it a social commentary linked to the line "This is America."

[@AloneViibes]

This song is so genius and so many didn't understand it. You always have some of the most intelligent reactions and takes on hip hop👌🔥

[@manuelroberts7379]

Still don’t everyone says america is the worst yet countries like Africa still have slaves we don’t understand tearing down America the way the left has wtf taking them statues down do for anyone no one feels better “everyone still a butthole” Tom Macdonald

[@akiltircuit7515]

@@manuelroberts7379 Childish Gambino is an American critiquing America… why would he critique Africa? He ain’t from there.

[@unclebobboomergames]

@@manuelroberts7379 no one says america is the worst. No one serious. Also who gives a fuck about statues. Leader worship is anti american. The confederacy is anti american. But when im looking at how i want my home to be better, i focus on fixing problems i see. Not let things remain because other places have it worse. Thats a childs view

[@zeallust8542]

@@manuelroberts7379 Africa isnt a country

[@unclebobboomergames]

@@zeallust8542 cuz theyre black. You know why. Even though what drives a lot of ghese conflicts are lines european nations drew. And its too far to go back. So now were stuck putting out fires we started. But hes just going to judge the whole conteninent as one entity

[@MrQuawnday]

I sincerely love your thought process through out this video

[@Flweem]

Watching this again, it feels significant that in both cases where people were killed, they were solitary moments of peace and joy. Nothing going on in the background. But when, say, he's dancing with the schoolkids, drawing the viewers' attention away from the chaos in the background, those kids get to survive.

[@Ruritsu]

The thing I took away from that is that by that point is was just him and the kids. They were the last to become aware that perhaps it was time for them to leave even amidst all the chaos. He serves as a distraction to both us the audience who might be distracted from some of the more poignant meanings but also to the children, who obviously stand to be most distracted by the shenanigans of a charismatic and talented pop artist. This particular music video is absolutely wildly well crafted. I feel like there's zero wasted space in the whole thing from the shots to the piece of music. Mans was on some other shit that day.

[@andrew348]

@@Ruritsu They are born into chaos that is the normal environment for them. Saying its time to leave ignores the fact that chaos was always happening in that environment. So, why now? He's more likely simply depicting the struggle of being born into that chaos and how some kids cope by distracting themselves with these types of cultural activities and others cope by becoming violent etc.

[@SuzakuX]

@@Ruritsu When they do run away in fear, he's not even armed. All he has is a joint. Think there's a message there, too.

[@tiah1927]

No one picks up on the West African music in the beginning being replaced by HipHop. It’s almost like metaphor for African culture disappearing and what black culture is now in the US and how it is the culture now. The music is almost just as important as the video.

[@mindfuct8862]

It's OK to go back again and watch. There's a lot to take in. I'm glad you did. Most ppl don't catch any of it and just jam to the tune. Irony on another level, considering the content.....

[@TrenchantAtheist]

Great reaction, you picked up a lot for a first-time view. For the 2A stuff, I'm a little less convinced. My understanding is that most school shootings are by the children of lawful owners (in the Oxford high school case, they literally bought a gun for him). Also, there isn't a huge difference in lethality between semi- and full-auto weapons; the same number of bullets leave the barrel in a short time period, and semi-auto (or burst) is generally preferred in the military to avoid "spray and pray" -- because of the low accuracy associated with the practice. Full auto is mainly for suppressing fire, not target engagement. Physically making someone pull the trigger 5x may buy the victims a couple of seconds, but the Parkland shooting lasted 6 minutes. The only way to guarantee survival is to not be there in the first place. Fully-automatic firearms are also entirely legal if they were made before 1986 (see Firearm Owners’ Protection Act). According to the ATF, there are more than 630,000 grandfathered guns in circulation, and a wide range of loopholes exist regarding modifications to modern guns to make them fully automatic. Even among the illegal full-auto guns, to argue that "only criminals" have them, lends to the belief that you're talking gang bangers and career thugs. I'm sure a large portion of illegally-owned firearms are by milquetoast whitebread schmucks who just want to own cool stuff. They would be criminals if anyone actually cared enough to prosecute them... but I'm guessing most law enforcement don't care as long as that's the only law you're breaking. So it renders the "only criminals have them" argument kind of moot. It's technically accurate, but misleadingly so. Which, I suspect, is the point of that argument. Someday a kid will steal a fully-automatic weapon from their dad, and the NRA will shrug and say, "But he was a criminal anyway, so what were we supposed to do?" (The answer is not spend decades working to flood the market to justify a culture... to justify the market... to avoid legislation... to encourage the market... Kind of like how they argue "government doesn't work" and then they run for office so they can dismantle the system from the inside and say, "See? Doesn't work!" ...to sell their anti-government belief to others)

[@ecjimenez]

I thought I was the only one who picked up on this. Thanks.

[@pillar81]

This is a super perfect encapsulation of what I feel too. It's great to read words that would not come from my brain.

[@Eudaemon1]

You made a valiant effort to understand it live. Like many people in the comments say, it takes several watches to really get everything. And in many cases, you either have to know the cultural references or you have to learn them. Very, very deep and striking message. It is an amazing piece of artwork. The music, the video, everything. One of the best music videos and songs ever in my estimation.

[@becksimilian2955]

I watched this when it dropped on KZbin... jaw dropped the whole time. Rewatched it like 4x in a row 😄 seriously an iconic song and video

[@Gnomojo]

I remember when this first came out I swear I watched the video about 10 times. There’s so much going on, so many references. The confederate pants one you caught on really quick to. You’ve pretty much nailed it in the first viewing. Kudos.

[@GregFries]

The metaphor is that entertainment is the distraction from what's really going on in the background of the country.

[@TheGridGames]

I really enjoy your commentary and your dissection of both the audio and video for each of the songs that you react to. That being said I find it totally implausible that you have never heard a good majority of these songs at some point in the past. Unless you live in a cave with no social media presence or a radio it is near impossible. You are a photographer which means you are out in a very social environment. It's ok if you know the songs already it doesn't take away from the intuitive commentary.

[@melissasaint3283]

"what is happening, bro?" Is basically the sentiment we've all felt about America for some time now.

[@Wykydtron666]

From the beginning, his every move is important to the story he's telling. And that pose when he fired the weapon was intentional.

[@Matthew_BKG]

This isn't a song, this is 100% a statement, and it doesn't work without the video

[@laraismyname821]

oh, there are whole videos just on the symbolism in this video

[@breakdancinfool]

Yeah this video is JAM PACKED with symbolism

[@joedoe999]

The red cloth symbolises a bloody weapon (thats protected) - as you said.... sooooo many layers, just the dancing/poses suggesting 1800s, insane mindplay.

[@BeastNationXIV]

It just hit me after seeing this music video a few times: CG is playing America....but the way his antics are hitting and his disconnected, chaotic nature.... That's Mayhem (played by Dean Winters) in the Allstate commercials.

[@TomJones-wx5on]

There’s so much complexity to this song and video. If I had to pick out one theme it’s how the focus is on fun dancing while we are ignoring the chaos on the background.

[@cyberwolf_1013]

I saw this when it was first released after the Parkland mass murder. I catch something new about it on every rewatch. There is so much symbolism and messages hidden in the background and even his dress/actions. How the gun is treated better than the victims. Everything being wrapped in (blood)red, the guns, the choir, ect. His moment of silence. The way his dancing is meant to distract us from what's really going on. Pay more attention to the background action and so much gets opened up.

[@els1f]

I can't believe this one got passed you until now man😱 I get chills and I can't even see the video!

[@nathananderson7582]

Everything by him is legit. HEARTBEAT, Sweatpants are my favs

[@Flagsitta]

Smoking a joint makes everything alright. It doesn’t actually fix anything, but you feel better about the horrors.

[@shtudent2783]

You should check out Les, Bonfire, Sweatpants, or Redbone by Gambino.

[@klaytonrocks]

Is this truly the first time you’ve seen or heard Childish Gambino? He’s huge! You need to see more of his stuff.

[@IamThatGuy61]

All his hits are fantastic. Definitely one of my favorite artists.

[@doctorteethomega]

"I think we're missing things, guys." Yup. I always thought that was the main point of the video. To remind us of the constant distractions that draw our attention away from ongoing problems.

[@jennybrown8184]

I am so grateful for this reaction. I usually never comment cause I'm a weiner. But I wanted you to know, that I have never seen someone translate the lyrics the way that you have. I love watching you breakdown all videos with your analysis which is so much more intricate than most I watch but this was particularly illuminating.

[@GoBriceLitton]

This is why I love you and your channel you know how to analyze and think deeply about the subject matters at hand in each piece, keep rocking my dude! Much love

[@FFLCJT01]

This song is deep. I had to watch it over and over to soak in everything he was referencing. It is definitely one of his best songs imo. Watch Atlanta. He is awesome and it's a great show. They are finally releasing season 3 on March 24th.

[@gammaman6988]

Uvalde was a fully legal gun owner. So was Highland Park.

[@CPUGaming]

Yeah, 77% of mass shooters are legal owners. He was just categorically wrong on this.

[@mansoryO]

this guy impressed me so much after community i would say creatively he expresses things in so many patterns and styles hes super talented

[@stambo1983]

Everything in the song and the clip is deliberate, it's a brutal review of American culture and truly a work of art.

[@WolfTalkings]

It is meant to be a visual song and not just the lyrics. So going back is okay. This song makes you dance as real shit is in the background. Glad you got a good chunk of the reference. He is also as a character a reference. Something about an old image that he is playing

[@danic9304]

I think he is supposed to evoke the Jim Crow image - when he shoots the first guy his stance is just like that of a very famous image of the Jim Crow character

[@redfiveroe1138]

I might have listened to song by itself once. It only works as a whole, with the video, sound effects, and music.

[@kellylappin5944]

Yes, going back a hundred years!

[@steviekc9057]

I have watched this video SO MANY TIMES - it is brilliant. You see something new every time.

[@respectfulremastersbymetal8336]

Yeah man, there are some very in-depth breakdown videos that go into every allusion and reference in the video. Very much worth checking out.

[@chiefersutherland5609]

I'm so glad you took the extra time on this one! You are the right man for this job!!👍

[@lakiawx23]

Whenever I was a Junior we had a whole lesson on this song in history. I found it wild that we literally started class by watching this music video and had a whole lesson on it and what the meaning of it was

[@TheRiconegro]

No need to apologize. This video has a lot to unpack.

[@UTxTheArchangel]

Every single second of the video is a message or hidden meaning. This video was viral for a while because ppl saw it, then noticed wait....there is more to this. So a lot of ppl made videos trying to figure out each hidden message in the background, while also processing the message of the song itself. An example is we as a society especially in the urban community get hooked on new dances, while crime is happening around us. So notice whenever he dances that's when there is a lot of mess in the background. Him and the kids are the distraction. In the US we ignore all the bad things happening bc we get distracted by whats hip and cool, fads, going viral, tik tok, etc. Everything down to his clothes and poses are a message/hidden meaning. Example, at the beginning when he shoots the man, he's doing it with the pose of the Jim Crow cartoon drawing. The Pale Horse aka the Death horse, is suppose to represent that Death gets a Police escort.

[@krxahfb]

The amount of symbolism in this video is just flat out nuts. You can watch this a dozen times and still find new things. I am amazed at the mans creativity.

[@nicquinn7291]

He got his rap name from the wu tang name generator.

[@greatemeraldoz]

You caught more than most on the first play through this is so heavily laden in messages it is amazing.... I cry everytime i watch this

[@BillyVicenti]

Donald Glover / Childish Gambino has songs all over the spectrum. Redbone is amazing. Sober is fantastic, sweatpants, Bonfire are all great tracks as well.

[@nightparrot5010]

there is so much symbolism in this vid, you can spend many hours deciphering

[@luke.6001]

To fully understand Glover's music, I feel like single songs don't always do him justice. His albums in entirety provide a better scope on the artist that he is. But if I were to choose a few to listen to casually, Sweatpants, Sober, Me and Your Mama, Redbone, Feels Like Summer and 12.38 are all great singles

[@Katy-sh3ru]

I.Flight of the Navigator, too

[@wolff_tk9421]

Respect you tons brotha

[@MrKaelas]

If this is your first reaction to Childish Gambino, you should definitely review more of his music. He's got some amazing stuff. One of my favorites is Freaks and Geeks.

[@kellylappin5944]

He’s shirtless, in confederate pants,... He’s running. It’s too horrible to comprehend.

[@Lerker2000]

Also, yes, nearly every mass shooting in the US in the last 10 years was done by someone who legally owned the weapon they used. Personally I just think that we shouldn't allow large capacity weapons and automatic weapons in the hands of civilians, but pistols seem perfectly reasonable.

[@LGDrunk]

Never apologize for rewinding and being thorough sir, your commentary and observations are why we're here

[@Citizenesse8]

I'm genuinely perplexed as to where you've been that you didn't hear this song considering the controversy it kicked up and its handling of America's racism.

[@plantsim]

Spain

[@Citizenesse8]

@@plantsim I'm aware that he is in Spain but Spain is a well internet connected modern country with international ebb and flow, not the remote dwindling Amazon or Antarctica.

[@stupidsminkle]

This is one of those videos where it's definitely encouraged and necessary to rewatch and catch everything

[@MrLoloGugu]

Interesting to hear your interpretation. I think I still remember how I felt hearing this song when it first came out. The gun versus victim argument wasn't how most people saw it at the time. It was more the disconnect between contemporary black culture being siphoned by the entertainment industry while ignored or worse when those same black communities expressed disdain for their real life experience. Strangers really got angry about these people expressing their grief over unnecessary deaths in their communities. The sense of otherness grew during this time. At least from where I was watching. This video was kind of a slap in the face because childish gambino was pop rap and funny. This was a bit of a middle finger from him. I will say the video is better than the music but the music is better without the video. Too many cut scenes and interludes to shrug your shoulders to. A recommendation from me would be Anderson Paak's Lockdown. It came out during the George Floyd protests. Paak is from my town, and we were experiencing the cathartic comradery of protests and the overwhelming isolation of lockdown in similar ways. I'd like to hear your thoughts on Jay Rock's excerpt but the song itself is groooovy! You might also recognize Syd from The Internet in the video but she's just hanging out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipispZ6AeNJjb8U Ps. say what you will about Young Thug but he was huge at college parties for half a decade. A testament to the video's message perhaps.

[@troywestover3887]

There is so much to unpack in this video. youre going to love it when you get a chance to dive deep into it

[@mickymoist]

Almost everything in this video represents or is paying homage or making a specific point. Many video break it down and explains most of it.

[@Avrysatos]

"I think he's a distraction" Good catch. This song is extremely unique for all the layers and symbolism in both it and the video. And I hope it's never forgotten.

[@rork75]

The first minutes is how the world sees America, probably, it's pretty beautiful - and here's boom, violence, social inequality ... I like how you break down everything into prime factors +

[@Uthgardloki]

Have you seen Guava Island?

[@rork75]

@@Uthgardloki no why?

[@Uthgardloki]

@@rork75 the song comes from the movie, and besides that it's a great movie on its own merit. Check it out, you may enjoy it.

[@werewolf2003002]

Literally everything in this video is symbolic in some way, from the pants he's wearing right down to the way he stands and moves.

[@mrfeenicks]

Good reaction, you picked up on a good amount of the themes in the video. I think towards the end you got a little bit too much in your 2A bag when I believe, and I can be wrong, the message was more about how America value guns more then people. The first incident shows it real well where after he shoots the person, the gun is remove as a precious item, RED carpet treatment almost, and the human is just dragged away with no dignity. Just my two cents and thoughts. Good job. Check out anything from awaken my love

[@punkrocker1377]

If I’m not mistaken the 17 seconds of silence are for the 17 people killed in the Parkland school shooting.

[@bellenber]

Should really check out his entire discography. It really transitions from hardcore rap to nerdcore, to almost gospel/spiritual by the end. I had the fortune of seeing one of his final performances and it was straight up religious.

[@patrickmantonio]

Impressive, Mr. Lloyd. Upon its initial release I saw a lot of reactors un-pack it after multiple viewings. You pretty much nailed most of it during your first run-through.

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[@KL-lt8rc]

The overwhelming majority of mass shooter events were carried out by people who owned their guns legally. Between 1982 and 2021 there have been about 120 mass shootings (some say more, some say less, based on different criteria). In ~85 of those shootings, the gun was legally obtained. In ~15 of those shootings, the gun was obtained illegally. In ~20 of those shootings, the legality couldn't be determined one way or the other.