Childish Gambino has shared his video for Because The Internet single, ‘Sweatpants’ which is either a solipsistic view on finding himself or some type of perspective-shifting art statement. Knowing him, it’s got to be on some creative echelon that we’re not ready to bandwagon yet, so just pretend that you get it next time it comes up in a pub conversation.
The clip shows him strolling through a diner, apparently getting stood up by a friend, and while walking through some type of loop it gets meta when he realises he is everyone in the diner. The last quarter of the clip jumps to a R&B-centric scene in a field somewhere that includes vocals not found in the album version of ‘Sweatpants’.
After the video’s release Gambino took to Twitter to seek refuge from his label, saying “someone buy me out of this contract.” The plea seems to come from how the video was shared, as he tweeted “So this Sweatpants video and blog was important to us […] And it wasn’t handled correctly.” In true Gambino style, a torrent of internet venting followed:
so this sweatpants video and blog was important to us.
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
and it wasnt handled correctly.
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
we were told a lot of things were gonna happen and they were all lies. so im done. someone buy me out of this contract.
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
a lot of people came around after our first week sales. all those people are welcome now. def jam, atlantic, whatever.
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
i dont like record companies. but im not having another project go through this.
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
i said “i know how the internet works tho” my record company laughed on the phone and said “oh really?”
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
dont lie to me
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
i know im not loud, or outrageous, or a white girl with a big ass, but im fuckin honest.
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
my team is honest. ur not on my team if ur not honest. dont lie to me.
— Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) April 14, 2014
More Gambino
Listen: Childish Gambino – ‘What Kind of Love’
Listen: Erick Arc Elliot’s demos ft. Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino for CR Fashion Book