12.38

Last updated
"Psilocybae (Millennial Love) (12.38)"
Single by Childish Gambino featuring 21 Savage, Ink and Kadhja Bonet
from the album 3.15.20 and Atavista
ReleasedApril 14, 2020
Length6:32
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Childish Gambino singles chronology
"Time"
(2020)		"Psilocybae (Millennial Love) (12.38)"
(2020)		"Sweet Thang (24.19)"
(2020)
21 Savage singles chronology
"Immortal"
(2019)		"Psilocybae (Millennial Love) (12.38)"
(2020)		"Secret"
(2020)

"12.38", also known as "Psilocybae (Millennial Love)", is a song by American rapper Donald Glover, performed under the stage name Childish Gambino, from his fourth studio album, 3.15.20 (2020). The song features guest vocals by rapper 21 Savage, American singer-songwriter Atia "Ink" Boggs, and American musician Kadhja Bonet. It was written by the artists and DJ Dahi who produced it with Gambino.

Contents

Glover sings about a psilocybin-induced trip with a girl, while 21 Savage raps about police harassment. Critics praised the song's comedic narrative and 21 Savage's guest appearance. "12.38" peaked at number 22 on the NZ Hot Singles published by Recorded Music NZ.

Background and recording

"12.38" is the third collaboration between Glover and 21 Savage after their 2018 tracks "This Is America" and "Monster". 21 Savage 2018.jpg
"12.38" is the third collaboration between Glover and 21 Savage after their 2018 tracks "This Is America" and "Monster".

Producer DJ Dahi called the creation of the song an evolving process. [1] Dahi had an initial beat with chords provided by Ely Rise. [1] Kadhja Bonet's vocals were for another track, but were chopped and reused for "12.38". [1] Dahi described the track as having "funky, odd, but feels good" energy. The song was momentarily put to the side, but Gambino continued writing his verse. [1] Rapper 21 Savage recorded his guest verse and American singer-songwriter Atia "Ink" Boggs was invited to co-write on the song. [1] Glover and 21 Savage previously collaborated in 2018 on the former's single "This Is America" and the track "Monster" from the latter's second studio album I Am > I Was . [2] [3]

Composition and lyrics

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"12.38"
Audio sample of "12.38". Glover sings about a girl feeding him psilocybin, though he is unaware of the drug's effects.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Noah Yoo of Pitchfork described the production of "12.38" as a "sensual, minimalistic bounce." [4] The song interpolates André 3000's song "Vibrate". [4] In the song, a girl feeds Glover psilocybin, who is unfamiliar with the psychedelic drug. [5] Sexual tension builds up as his girlfriend keeps texting him, causing his phone to vibrate. [5] Glover uses humorous lines such as "Why your cat looking at me sideways?" in place of a hook and chorus. [4] His verse continues as a beat-by-beat breakdown of the psilocybin use, until he wakes up alone. [6] He name-checks multiple female artists, including Toni Braxton, SZA, and Chaka Khan. [4]

21 Savage raps about police harassment; he was previously detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in February 2019. [7] 21 Savage also raps about Popeyes' chicken and cartoon character Popeye's spinach. [8] By the end, the song "devolves into spirals of vocal echoes" as a result of the psilocybin trip kicking in. [4]

Release and promotion

The song originally surfaced under the unofficial title "Vibrate" when Glover streamed 3.15.20 on his website on March 15, 2020. [9] The track was titled "12.38" upon the album's official release on March 22, 2020. [10] Only the tracks "Algorythm" and "Time" have proper names; the rest, such as "12.38", are marked by their respective timestamps. [10] "12.38" was released as a single to urban adult contemporary radio on April 14, 2020, along with "Sweet Thang (24.19)". [11]

Critical reception

Kitty Empire of The Guardian called the song excellent and described it as having "the feel of narrative fiction". [5] Empire stated that the song "could be an episode of Atlanta ," an American comedy-drama television series created by Glover. [5] Rowan5215 of Sputnikmusic called the song hilarious and wrote that Glover "[weaponizes] his full range to spin some The Love Below -style seduction." [6] Okla Jones of Consequence of Sound called the song witty and sonically-pleasing as Glover "taps into his prowess as both a writer and a comic." [8] Jones wrote that 21 Savage's verse had Southern charm and was must-needed. [8] Noah Yoo of Pitchfork praised 21 Savage's "particularly on point" guest appearance. [4] Yoo wrote that as the song ends in spiraling echoes, "it's 21's lyrics you’re left thinking about." [4]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [12]

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Glover</span> American actor, writer, rapper and singer (born 1983)

Donald McKinley Glover Jr., also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, is an American actor, comedian, rapper, singer, writer, director, and producer. While he studied at New York University and after working in Derrick Comedy, a comedy group, Glover was hired by Tina Fey to write for the NBC sitcom 30 Rock; he was 23. He gained fame for portraying college student Troy Barnes on the NBC sitcom Community from 2009 to 2014. From 2016 to 2022, he starred in the FX series Atlanta, which he created and occasionally directed. For his work on Atlanta, he won various accolades including two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

<i>Camp</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Childish Gambino

Camp is the debut studio album by American recording artist Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was released on November 15, 2011, by Glassnote Records. After releasing four mixtapes and three independent albums, Gambino signed a deal to Glassnote, making Camp his first album on a major record label. The album was co-produced in its entirety by Gambino's longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartbeat (Childish Gambino song)</span> 2011 single by Childish Gambino

"Heartbeat" is a song by American rapper Childish Gambino. It was released on November 15, 2011, by Glassnote Records as the second single from his debut studio album, Camp (2011). The song was written and produced by Gambino himself along with Ludwig Göransson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Childish Gambino discography</span>

The discography of American hip hop recording artist Childish Gambino comprises four studio albums, fourteen mixtapes, and four EPs. After releasing his first five mixtapes and EP independently, he signed to Glassnote Records and released Camp (2011), his first album on a major record label.

<i>Because the Internet</i> 2013 studio album by Childish Gambino

Because the Internet is the second studio album by American recording artist Donald Glover, under the stage name Childish Gambino. It was released on December 10, 2013, by Glassnote Records. The recording process began in 2012 and ended in October 2013. Recording primarily took place at a mansion owned by basketball player Chris Bosh, which Gambino rented. The album features guest appearances from Chance the Rapper, Jhené Aiko, and Azealia Banks, with production primarily handled by Gambino himself, Stefan Ponce, and Ludwig Göransson, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3005 (song)</span> 2013 single by Childish Gambino

"3005" is a song by American rapper Childish Gambino from his second studio album Because the Internet. The song was released on October 22, 2013 as the first official single from the album. It peaked at number eight on the UK R&B Chart and 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<i>STN MTN / Kauai</i> 2014 mixtape / EP by Childish Gambino

STN MTN / Kauai is the combined release of the seventh mixtape and second extended play (EP) by American recording artist Childish Gambino. The STN MTN mixtape was released on October 2, 2014 as a free download from DatPiff, while the Kauai EP was made available the following day through online music stores by Glassnote Records. They are each considered dual sides of a concept album that are unified by a cohesive story line, and come ten months after Glover's second studio album, Because the Internet.

Dacoury Dahi Natche, known professionally as DJ Dahi, is an American record producer, songwriter, disc jockey and singer from Inglewood, California. Working primarily in hip hop and R&B music, he has been credited on commercially successful singles including "Money Trees" by Kendrick Lamar, "Worst Behavior" by Drake, and "I Don't Fuck with You" by Big Sean—the latter rose to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. He made his vocal debut on Lamar's 2018 single "Loyalty", which he also produced.

<i>"Awaken, My Love!"</i> 2016 studio album by Childish Gambino

"Awaken, My Love!" is the third studio album by American recording artist Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was released by Glassnote Records on December 2, 2016. Consisting of tracks being sung rather than rapped, its fusion of psychedelic soul, funk and R&B influences was considered a bold departure from the predominantly hip hop style of his prior work. The album was produced by Glover and his longtime collaborator, Ludwig Göransson.

"Me and Your Mama" is a single by American rapper and singer Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was released on November 10, 2016 worldwide, and is the first single from his third studio album "Awaken, My Love!"

"Redbone" is a song recorded by American rapper and singer Childish Gambino, the stage name of Donald Glover. It was released on November 17, 2016, and serves as the second single from his third studio album "Awaken, My Love!" The song received three Grammy Award nominations including Record of the Year at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, eventually winning the award for Best Traditional R&B Performance. In 2021, it was ranked No. 383 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is America (song)</span> 2018 single by Childish Gambino

"This Is America" is a song by American hip hop artist Childish Gambino. Written and produced by Gambino and Ludwig Göransson, with additional writing credits going to American rapper Young Thug, it was released on May 6, 2018 at the same time that Gambino was hosting an episode of Saturday Night Live. The song features background vocals from Young Thug alongside fellow American rappers Slim Jxmmi of Rae Sremmurd, BlocBoy JB, Quavo of Migos, and Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage. The lyrics and accompanying music video, reflecting the core of the Black Lives Matter movement, confront issues of ongoing systemic racism, including prejudice, racial violence, the ghetto, and law enforcement in the United States, as well as the wider issues of mass shootings and gun violence in the United States. Originally, Gambino intended it to be a diss record towards fellow rapper Drake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feels Like Summer (Childish Gambino song)</span> 2018 promotional single by Childish Gambino

"Feels Like Summer", also known as "42.26", is a song by American recording artist Childish Gambino. The song was released by Wolf+Rothstein, Liberator Music and RCA Records on July 11, 2018. It was written and produced by Gambino and his longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson. The song was made available for digital download and streaming along with "Summertime Magic" as a part of the extended play Summer Pack. It is featured on the FIFA 19 soundtrack. It later appeared on his fourth album, 3.15.20, under the title "42.26". The song received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonfire (Childish Gambino song)</span> 2011 single by Childish Gambino

"Bonfire" is the debut single by American rapper Childish Gambino. It was released on September 17, 2011, as the lead single from his debut studio album, Camp (2011), after its music video was released in July 2011. The song was produced by Gambino and Ludwig Göransson, and debuted on Funkmaster Flex's HOT 97 radio station.

<i>I Am Greater than I Was</i> 2018 studio album by 21 Savage

I Am > I Was is the second solo studio album by British-American rapper 21 Savage, released on December 21, 2018. I Am > I Was features vocals by J. Cole, City Girls, Offset, Post Malone, Gunna, Lil Baby, Schoolboy Q, Project Pat, Childish Gambino, and Savage's cousin Young Nudy. The deluxe edition was released three days later, featuring one more song, which features an additional guest appearance from Travis Scott.

"Monster" is a song by British-American rapper 21 Savage from his second studio album I Am > I Was (2018). The song features actor and rapper Childish Gambino, and was produced by DJ Dahi, Axl Folie, Dave Sava6e, and Tiggi. The song was first previewed on December 16, 2018 on 21 Savage's Instagram and was eventually sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on May 7, 2019.

"Sacrifices" is a song released by record label Dreamville, performed by American rappers EarthGang and J. Cole featuring fellow American rappers Smino and Saba. The song was released as the final track on the label's compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers III.

<i>3.15.20</i> 2020 studio album by Childish Gambino

3.15.20 is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Donald Glover, under his stage name Childish Gambino. It was initially uploaded to the website donaldgloverpresents.com on March 15, 2020, before being taken down 12 hours later. After a countdown, it was released to streaming and download services under the title 3.15.20 on March 22. It is therefore interchangeably referred to as both 3.15.20 and Donald Glover Presents.

"Time" is a song by American rapper Donald Glover, under the stage name Childish Gambino, from his fourth studio album 3.15.20 (2020). It was re-recorded and rereleased on the album Atavista (2024). The song features guest vocals by American singer Ariana Grande and background vocals by American gospel musician Brent Jones and his backing group The Best Life Singers. It was produced and written by Glover and Grande, along with DJ Dahi, Ludwig Göransson, and Chukwudi Hodge. Australian songwriter Sarah Aarons is also credited for writing and British producer Jai Paul provided miscellaneous production.

<i>Atavista</i> 2024 studio album (reissue) by Childish Gambino

Atavista is the fifth studio album and reissue of American rapper Childish Gambino's fourth studio album, 3.15.20, described by Gambino as a "finished version". The album was released on May 13, 2024, five days after 3.15.20 was removed from streaming platforms. The album maintains the same guest appearances from the unfinished version, while incorporating new guest appearances from Young Nudy and Summer Walker.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Elias Leight (March 24, 2020). "Donald Glover's Surprise Album Is a Mystery. DJ Dahi Has (Some) Answers". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Here's Everyone Who Features On Childish Gambino's 'This Is America'". Cool Accidents. May 7, 2018. Archived from the original on June 4, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ Matt Miller (December 21, 2018). "Childish Gambino's Verse on 21 Savage's 'Monster' Explains Why He Wants to Retire From Music". Esquire . Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Noah Yoo (March 24, 2020). ""12.38" by Childish Gambino Review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Kitty Empire (March 28, 2020). "Childish Gambino: 3.15.20 review – a deep-dive made for self-isolation". The Guardian . Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Review: Childish Gambino - 03.15.20". Sputnikmusic. March 30, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  7. ↑ Eddie Fu; Tia Hill; Joe Ali (March 22, 2020). "21 Savage Raps About Police Harassment On Childish Gambino's "12.38"". Genius . Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 Okla Jones (March 23, 2020). "Childish Gambino's 3.15.20 Revels in Its Perfect Timing". Consequence of Sound . Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  9. ↑ NavJosh (March 15, 2020). "Donald Glover Releases New Album Through Live Stream". HipHop-N-More. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. 1 2 James Rettig (March 22, 2020). "Stream Childish Gambino's New Album 3.15.20". Stereogum . Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Ubran/UAC Future Releases". All Access. April 9, 2020. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Credits / 3.15.20 / Childish Gambino – TIDAL". Tidal . Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  13. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 30, 2020. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  14. ↑ "R&B Music: Top R&B Songs". Billboard . May 25, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.