Listen To Childish Gambino's Surprise Mixtape In Full

Community alumnus (possible repatriate) and multi-talented performer Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, has become the latest artist to join the growing conga line dropping "surprise" releases with minimal lead-in, with the rapper and comedian putting out a new mixtape, STN MTN/Kauai, for full streaming and download early this morning (AEST).

The mixtape was first hinted at back in August, but — other than some consequent dribs and drabs in the ensuing time — this is the first full look and listen we've had at the swiftly maturing rhymesmith's new goods.

To get specific, Gambino describes the release as part Gangsta Grillz mixtape (the realisation of a dream he makes explicit in the final line of the opening third of first track Dream/Southern Hospitality/Partna Dem), and part EP. "They go into each other," Gambino told Complex. "It's one complete project, but you can download the mixtape [STN MTN] and you can go buy the EP [Kauai]. The money from the EP goes to help keeping Kauai clean, and … also to pay for mixers and stuff."

Lyrically, the mixtape finds Gambino arguably at his most candid to date, addressing everything from his Georgian heritage (specifically his home town of Atlanta, landmarks and identities from which are referenced throughout — STN MTN is shorthand for nearby geographic icon Stone Mountain) to his family and quest for identity/acceptance. Instrumentally, the mixtape shows a great deal of growth, too, with Glover edging further away from the undeniably cookie-cutter qualities of his earlier work to demonstrate a broadening appreciation of vintage southern hip-hop and sonic roads less travelled. As he sings in No Fucks Given, Gambino "came here to do [his] own shit", and he seems to have pretty successfully stuck to his guns in creating the mixtape/EP.

Listen to STN MTN/Kauai in full below, and, if you're into it, head on to download it here.