Childish Gambino

Solo Artist

Photo: david_hwang · CC BY 2.0
Active 2010-present
Origin Stone Mountain, Georgia
Albums 6
Tracks 83
Most frequent collaborator Ludwig Göransson · 56 tracks
Genres Hip HopR&BNeo SoulFunkPsychedelic soul
Complete Artist
99%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 82 of 83 tracks

Did Childish Gambino write his own songs?

Yes. Childish Gambino is the music project of Donald Glover, who holds a writing credit on effectively every track, around 99% of his catalogue. He rarely writes alone, though: he co-writes almost everything with producer Ludwig Göransson, from 'Redbone' to '3005.' His biggest song, 'This Is America,' was also co-written with Göransson and Young Thug.

By the Numbers

6
Studio Albums
83
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
16
Years Active
109
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 82 / 83 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 83 tracks: how many Childish Gambino wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Childish Gambino has a writing credit99%
4%
95%
1%
Sole author3tracks4%
Co-written79tracks95%
Outside writers1tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Childish Gambino's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 83 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)99%
Composer (music)99%
Producer78%
Performer99%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Childish Gambino's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 99%
100%
100%
100%
100%
94%
100%
2011Camp
2013Because the Internet
2016"Awaken, My Love!"
20203.15.20
2024Bando Stone and the New World
2024Atavista
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 96% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
2010s
Camp, Because the Internet +1 more
98%
2020s
3.15.20, Bando Stone and the New World +1 more

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Childish Gambino sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Childish Gambino
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
The Jacksons24%
Michael Jackson51%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
John Legend83%
Chris Brown91%
99%Childish Gambino
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

V. 3005
Because the Internet
Written by Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson, Stefan Ponce
Co-wrote
Redbone
"Awaken, My Love!"
Written by Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson, William Earl Collins, George Clinton, Gary Cooper
Co-wrote

Discography 6 albums

Covers all 5 studio albums.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Childish Gambino83 tracks
56Ludwig Göransson, 56 tracks DD24DJ Dahi, 24 tracks CH10Chukwudi Hodge, 10 tracks RM9Riley Mackin, 9 tracks MU9Michael Uzowuru, 9 tracks KM8Kurtis McKenzie, 8 tracks ER7Ely Rise, 7 tracks JF5James Francies Jr., 5 tracks D5Dahi, 5 tracks JF5James Francies, 5 tracks SS3Sam Sugarman, 3 tracks AG3Ama Genfi, 3 tracks TJ3Tyler Johnson, 3 tracks SP2Stefan Ponce, 2 tracks CH2Chris Hartz, 2 tracks GC2George Clinton, 2 tracks EG2Eyobed Getachew, 2 tracks KG2Keir Gist, 2 tracks on Naughty by Nature's page RN2Reneé Neufville, 2 tracks AB2Abdullah Bahr, 2 tracks LW2Leon Ware, 2 tracks ZG2Zane Grey, 2 tracks AG2Ariana Grande, 2 tracks SA2Sarah Aarons, 2 tracks JP2Jai Paul, 2 tracks SB2Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, 2 tracks on 21 Savage's page AB2Atia Boggs, 2 tracks KB2Kadhja Bonet, 2 tracks CM2Carlos Muñoz, 2 tracks CK2Curtis Kirk, 2 tracks LG2Legend Glover, 2 tracks BO2Brittney Orinda, 2 tracks MM2Max Martin, 2 tracks BF2Brittany Foushée, 2 tracks A2Amaarae, 2 tracks DW2Dylan Wiggins, 2 tracks TH1Taiwo Hassan, 1 track KH1Kehinde Hassan, 1 track CR1Christian Rich, 1 track CT1Chance the Rapper, 1 track T1Thundercat, 1 track KM1K. Muhammad, 1 track RJ1Rochelle Jordan, 1 track JM1Jason Martin, 1 track JL1Jonathan Levi, 1 track PL1Pop Levi, 1 track MP1Miguel Pimentel, 1 track LR1Lakisha Robinson, 1 track SS1Sam Spiegel, 1 track JA1Jhené Aiko, 1 track AB1Azealia Banks, 1 track ZR1Zac Rae, 1 track RS1Ray Suen, 1 track EH1Edward Hazel, 1 track CH1Clarence Haskins, 1 track WE1William Earl Collins, 1 track GC1Gary Cooper, 1 track GC1Gary Clark Jr., 1 track DR1Denise Renee, 1 track E1EY, 1 track L1Loshendrix, 1 track EH1Erwin Henderson Jr., 1 track PM1Peaches Monroee, 1 track CB1Chloe Bailey, 1 track SG1Stephen Glover, 1 track C1Chlöe, 1 track SL1Steve Lacy, 1 track TC1Tamia Carter, 1 track FM1Flo Milli, 1 track LC1Luther Campbell, 1 track HW1Harry Wayne Casey, 1 track RF1Richard Finch, 1 track KF1Keith Flint, 1 track on The Prodigy's page LH1Liam Howlett, 1 track on The Prodigy's page M1Maxim, 1 track on The Prodigy's page JB1Jordan Brown, 1 track JC1Juan Contreras, 1 track JD1Jayla Darden, 1 track TW1Tierra Whack, 1 track JS1Jorja Smith, 1 track SM1Scott M. Carter, 1 track VD1Vanessa D. Wood, 1 track TP1Triangle Park, 1 track JR1Joseph Raposo, 1 track JL1John Legend, 1 track KW1Kamasi Washington, 1 track NS1Noah Smith, 1 track CW1Caroline Whitaker, 1 track Y1Yeat, 1 track F1Fousheé, 1 track LL1Laura Lee Ochoa, 1 track MS1Mark Speer, 1 track DR1Donald Ray Johnson Jr., 1 track EO1Eddie Okwedy, 1 track K1Khruangbin, 1 track OH1Oscar Holter, 1 track E1E.Y., 1 track 2S121 Savage, 1 track I1Ink, 1 track SW1Summer Walker, 1 track LH1Los Hendrix, 1 track QT1Quantavious Tavario Thomas, 1 track IH1Irwin Henderson, 1 track YN1Young Nudy, 1 track CF1Christopher Franke, 1 track EF1Edgar Froese, 1 track JS1Johannes Schmoelling, 1 track IN1Ira Nathaniel Smith, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. DD DJ Dahi · CH Chukwudi Hodge · RM Riley Mackin · MU Michael Uzowuru · KM Kurtis McKenzie

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Donald Glover writes and produces nearly his entire catalog himself, frequently collaborating with composer Ludwig Göransson on production and arrangement. His authorship score approaches 95-100% across all studio albums, making him one of the highest-scoring artists in this database, a reflection of genuine artistic control from lyrics to final mix.

Quick Facts

  • GrammysFive Grammy Awards, four of them for 'This Is America'
  • This Is AmericaFirst hip-hop song to win both Record of the Year and Song of the Year (2019)
  • Also Donald GloverThe music alias of the actor and Atlanta creator Donald Glover
  • Key collaboratorCo-writes and produces almost everything with Ludwig Göransson
  • RedboneWon Best Traditional R&B Performance and is certified multi-platinum

Creative Fingerprint

A co-writer with one main partner: Donald Glover writes on nearly every Childish Gambino track, but rarely alone, shaping the music hand-in-hand with producer Ludwig Göransson across almost the entire catalogue.

The Story

Childish Gambino is the musical project of actor, writer, and multi-hyphenate creative Donald Glover, who began releasing music in 2008 and signed to Glassnote Records for his debut studio album Camp in 2011. His catalog spans multiple genre shifts, from introspective hip-hop to Afrofuturist funk and ambient soul, while maintaining consistent creative control as primary songwriter and producer. His 2018 single 'This Is America' became a cultural phenomenon, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Awards & Recognition

Five Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for 'This Is America' (2019)
'This Is America' was the first hip-hop song to win both Record of the Year and Song of the Year, a Guinness World Record
'Redbone' won the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance
'Awaken, My Love!' reached number 5 on the Billboard 200 and is certified platinum
'This Is America' debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100

Frequently Asked Questions Childish Gambino

Did Childish Gambino write his own songs?
Yes. Childish Gambino is the music project of Donald Glover, who holds a writing credit on effectively every track, around 99% of his catalogue. He rarely writes alone, though: he co-writes almost everything with producer Ludwig Göransson, from 'Redbone' to '3005.' His biggest song, 'This Is America,' was also co-written with Göransson and Young Thug.
Is Childish Gambino the same person as Donald Glover?
Yes. Childish Gambino is the musical stage name of Donald Glover, the actor, writer, and creator of the TV series Atlanta. He uses the Gambino name only for his music.
Who wrote 'This Is America'?
'This Is America' (2018) was co-written by Donald Glover with Ludwig Göransson and Young Thug. It won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2019 Grammys, the first hip-hop song ever to win both.
Who wrote 'Redbone'?
'Redbone' (2016) was co-written by Donald Glover and Ludwig Göransson. It won the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance and became one of his signature songs.
Who is Ludwig Göransson?
Ludwig Göransson is a Swedish composer and producer who is Childish Gambino's most frequent collaborator, co-writing and producing the large majority of his music. He is also known for film scores like Black Panther and Oppenheimer.
How many albums has Childish Gambino released?
This catalogue covers 5 of his studio albums, from Camp (2011) to Bando Stone and the New World (2024).
How many Grammys has Childish Gambino won?
Five Grammy Awards, four of them for 'This Is America' and one for 'Redbone.'
What genre is Childish Gambino?
He moves across hip-hop, R&B, funk, and psychedelic soul. His early work like Camp is rap-focused, while 'Awaken, My Love!' is a funk and soul record with almost no rapping.
Is 'This Is America' on an album?
No, it was released as a standalone single in 2018, so it is not on the studio albums covered here. It remains his most awarded and most talked-about song.
What was Childish Gambino's biggest album?
'Awaken, My Love!' (2016) is his most acclaimed and commercially successful, reaching number 5 on the Billboard 200 and home to the hit 'Redbone.'

Sources

Wikipedia: Childish Gambino