Last night the 60th Grammy’s were aired live on CBS Network. Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino was nominated for multiple awards this year including the venerated Album of the Year. I’ve grown up watching and listening to Glover’s artistic and creative display over the years. Some of those highlights include:
Writer on 30 Rock
Stand Up Comedian on Comedy Central
5+ mixtapes
3 Full albums
Grammy Nominations
NBC’s Community actor
Multiple feature’s in major movies
Executive Producer for FX’s television Show Atlanta
(many more I’ve not included)
He’s a modern day Renaissance Man, in my opinion, based on his catalog AND success within the widespread genres he’s worked within. Every time he completes one of these projects I’m eager for the next one. I’m encouraged by his creativity and work ethic. I’m hungry for more.
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Last night Glover took home his first Grammy for “Best Traditional R&B Performance” with the record Redbone. He also performed an incredible rendition of his song Terrified. The pre-show and Grammy’s themselves were huge for Donald Glover. But it was after the show that is largely representative of the career he has charted over the last 10 years.
Upon interviewing him after the Grammy’s Glover had this to say about his music career as Childish Gambino: I’m really appreciative of this [Grammy Win], and I’m still making one project now, but I like endings. I think they’re important to progress… Endings are good because they force things to get better.”
This is important.
It towers above a lot of what media, television, music, and movies are doing right now. Paired with over saturation there is also a need to have extended runs. I’m not talking about celebrating one-hit wonders. Or people who randomly create and invest in a bunch of different projects.
This isn’t about cherishing brevity.
As much as others and I might enjoy long winded, 10-plus seasons of your favorite network television I believe there should be a greater desire to see things end. This is something I see in sports when we talk about athletes who retire gracefully or when they’ve achieved as much as they can, instead of playing until the bones in the body begin to crumble.
I believe it is important to make and invest in work that has a consistent and high quality as a opposed to a high quantity.
I see this in my personal life. In my well-intended attempts to preserve a relationship, a job, or even a hobby I find myself stagnant and looking around like I haven’t really gone anywhere.
It’s easy to look around from the same window in the same room all the time.
I get used to everything there even when I look at differently. Maybe this morning I used a camera, other times binoculars, or even brought friends with me to look. The metaphor weans. But, the point is that’s great and I think it’s important to cultivate quality in the places that you are: whether that’s creatively, education, or a specific industry you work for.
But what if leaving one venture after a decided time or goal is met to try something new, leads you somewhere better? What’s to say you can’t even come back after a while?
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Donald Glover released two full length LPs with Camp and Because the Internet. The latter got a Grammy nomination. The next year he ended his five Seasons with the television show Community. He released a mixtape and EP. Then starred in three or four movies culminating now with a role in the upcoming Star Wars Film. He executive produced and starred in a TV show. Immediately after he created a genre bending album with Awaken, My Love! Then he won his first Grammy.
Donald Glover put music aside to pursue other interests and passions. In the process he returned to it this past year. He was recognized and honored for this success. But, last night he also told us “Endings force things to get better.” What makes Donald Glover special isn’t so much that he was successful at various things like rapping, acting, or comedy. But that he continued to express who he was and his talents through various mediums without hindered by any one genre
Donald Glover looks the same across 16 bars in a rap verse, as he does executive producing and starring in a television show, as he does making jokes about a black Spider-man. It’s always been him. But he’s been content to end something when feels room to grow.
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Maybe leaving that job to get the next one makes you better.
Maybe breaking up with that significant other improves the lives of you both, so much you return to one another two year later.
Or maybe you leave and none of it works. You’re lost and it hurts.
But it’s probable that staying anywhere too long and getting sucked into the moment makes you believe that’s all you’ll ever do.
I think you’re wrong.
I also think you’d can do better. So close the book. Open another and another. Somewhere along the way you’ll find something good, create something better, and do something else even bigger. Even if you don’t, what’s wrong with saying you at least tried?
