It’ll be difficult to top ‘This Is America’ for the Video of the Year mantle in 2018, but with his ‘Feels Like Summer’ clip Childish Gambino has managed to compete against himself.
Whilst not as instantly-iconic as its predecessor, ‘Feels Like Summer’ is just as enthralling, engaging and – quite frankly – baffling. It features bewildering animated cameos of everyone from Beyonce to Migos. There’s even a scene where Kanye gets hugged by Michelle Obama and Azealia Banks is stuck up a tree.
But what does it mean? Well, we’ve tried our very best to figure all the cameos out…
Lil Pump and Trippie Redd
What happens: The mumble rappers are depicted as children running past Gambino’s character.
What it could mean: That the pair represent a new generation of rap – perhaps one that Glover himself doesn’t truly understand.
21 Savage and Metro Boomin
What happens: 21 and producer Metro smoke in a car, as Pump and Redd bang on their window before being turned away by Savage.
What it could mean: Gambino might be sending a message about young and upcoming rappers being dismissed by their older and more established counterparts.
Kodak Black
What happens: After being shooed off by 21 Savage, Pump and Redd then go knock on Kodak’s door. They again get rejected.
What it could mean: Same as the above really.
Migos
What happens: Migos play basketball, with Takeoff and Quavo battling for the ball to the slight annoyance of Glover.
What it could mean: Well, Migos are known to love basketball, with Quavo recently being named MVP in the NBA All-Star Celebrity game. Perhaps it’s as simple as that.
Chance The Rapper, Jaden Smith and Birdman
What happens: Birdman cooks at the grill, watching on as Chance shows support for a child-like Jaden, who is dressed as a superhero.
What it could mean: Well, Jaden did dress as Batman for Kim and Kanye’s wedding, so that sort of explains the superhero outfit. Chance, meanwhile, is known for supporting the youth of today with his charity work. Birdman at the grill? He does have a history of beef. Or maybe it’s a reference to how the Cash Money mogul recently ditched his famous diamond grill for a new set of teeth.
Will Smith
What happens: Will Smith rocks some dad clothes and washes his car.
What it could mean: Definitely a reference to Smith’s hit Summertime, in which he raps: “You just finished wiping your car down”.
Azealia Banks
What happens: Azealia Banks is, quite literally, stuck up a tree.
What it could mean: Maybe it’s a metaphor for Banks’ increasingly isolated position in the music industry, following her very many controversies.
Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott
What happens: Minaj plays with building blocks, which Scott then topples over.
What it could mean: Clearly a reference to their recent beef, sparked when Nicki accused Travis of “using” his girlfriend Kylie Jenner to increase his album sales, beating Minaj’s own ‘Queen’ to US number one in the process. It’s telling how Glover has depicted the feud as a very child-like affair.
The Weeknd, Ty Dolla $ign and Frank Ocean vs A$AP Rocky, Solange and Willow Smith
What happens: The Weeknd Ty Dolla $ign and Frank Ocean engage in a game of tug of war against A$AP Rocky, Solange and Willow Smith.
What it could mean: It beats us. None of these stars have been embroiled in notable beefs with one another. Perhaps it’s a message about the media constantly pitting great artists against one another.
Soulja Boy
What happens: Soulja Boy gives a grand speech to Lil Pump and Trippie Redd.
What it could mean: Soulja Boy is seen as the first true viral rappers and, like Pump and Redd, faced a lot of criticism from rap’s older generation. This can be seen as Soulja passing on the torch, or perhaps signals their own futures as simply flavour-of-the-months.
Drake and Future
What happens: Future flees the scene on a bike as Drake chases after him, before solemnly accepting his fate.
What it could mean: Did Future steal Drake’s bike IRL? Unlikely. It’s more probable that it’s about the two rappers’ roles as fathers. Both were labelled as “deadbeat” dads this summer: Drake by Pusha T and Future by Ciara. It was Drake, however, who was forced to take responsibility by owning up to having a child on ‘Scorpion’.
Kid Cudi
What happens: Kid Cudi stands in the dark, with a light radiating from him.
What it could mean: Cudi is known for opening the dialogue about mental health in hip-hop and has seen a career revival as of late. Gambino could be alluding to Cudi’s inner triumph against his personal darkness.
Kanye West and Michelle Obama
What happens: A crying Kanye West gets hugged by Michelle Obama.
What it could mean: Glover could be making reference to Snoop Dogg’s comments that Kanye “needs black women in his life”. It could also be showing the former First Lady as compassionate, a trait not commonly shared by West’s current political allies.
Beyoncé
What happens: Beyoncé is depicted wearing a t-shirt that pays tribute to the late rapper Fredo Santana.
What it could mean: Like Michelle Obama, Bey is shown as a person of compassion and honourable causes.
Andrew Gillum and XXXTentacion
What happens: Although many took the suited man to be OJ Simpson, it’s probably more likely to be the Democratic candidate for Florida governor, Andrew Gillum, who is sat eating a melting ice cream.
What it could mean: Many online commentators have taken the ice cream to represent late Florida rapper XXXTentacion (with the scoops representing his famous hairstyle). Glover could be commenting on race relations in the state.
Lil Uzi Vert, Zendaya/Kehlani, Oprah and Tiffany Haddish
What happens: Oprah and Haddish braid the hair of Lil Uzi and someone who the internet thinks is either Zendaya or Kehlani.
What it could mean: If the person depicted is indeed Zendaya, then Glover could be referencing when the US actress/singer was criticised for wearing braids to the Oscars. Lil Uzi, meanwhile, is likewise breaking down boundaries in the music world.
Lil Yachty and Charlamagne Tha God
What happens: Yachty and Charlamagne enjoy ice lollies in the sun.
What it could mean: Charlamagne and Yachty have exchanged heated words in the past, but hey, you can’t be mad when you’re enjoying an ice lolly in the sun!
Gucci Mane
What happens: A trim and toned Gucci Mane soaks up some sun.
What it could mean: Probably just a simple reference to Gucci Mane’s recent transformation. Here he is living his best life.
Dr Dre, Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa and Jay-Z
What happens: All five rappers perform a pretty great dance routine.
What it could mean: Glover wants a new rap supergroup to form? Really, we have no idea.
Young Thug
What happens: Young Thug plays video games alongside young basketball stars Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball.
What it could mean: The interconnected nature between hip-hop culture and the sports world? Maybe!
2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Pusha T and Lil Wayne
What happens: 2 Chainz takes a photo of Meek, Wayne and Pusha.
What it could mean: It might show Meek’s higher status in the rap game after his release from jail. But also worth noting that 2 Chainz and Meek Mill were on a DJ Drama song, while Lil Wayne and Pusha T have actual drama going on between them.
Rae Sremmurd and J Cole
What happens: Rae Sremmurd attack J Cole with Super Soakers, he responds by hosing them down.
What it could mean: J Cole is known for being easily annoyed by rap’s current crop and Glover could be saying that with his new album, Cole showed that he has more than enough water power to match their might.
Janelle Monaé and Tessa Thompson
What happens: Janelle skateboards by with a person that some think is SZA, but is probably more likely to be Tessa Thompson.
What it could mean: Monaé and Thompson have long been rumoured to be dating but have never confirmed such reports. In Gambino’s clip, they are seen nonchalantly – and very cooly – doing their own thing and going about their business.
Chris Brown
What happens: Chris Brown sobs in the dark.
What it could mean: It’s hard to not see this as a reference to Brown’s 2009 assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna and his perceived failure to rehabilitate since.
OutKast
What happens: Andre 3000 and Big Boi stand back to back.
What it could mean: OutKast have long been repping the South, but haven’t released an album since 2006, despite Atlanta being a hub for hip-hop at the moment. Their detached stances could be saying that we shouldn’t expect a reunion any time soon.
Rihanna
What happens: Rihanna sits still and crosslegged.
What it could mean: The latter part of the video runs through a few musical greats: from Michael Jackson to Whitney Houston. By preceding them with Rihanna, Glover could be saying that RiRi is up there with the best of all-time.
Whitney Houston
What happens: A young Whitney Houston stands glowing and radiant.
What it could mean: It could be a simple tribute to a musical great, or Gambino could be arguing that artists should be remembered at their peak – unlike as depicted in Pusha T’s recent album artwork.
Michael Jackson
What happens: A youthful MJ laughs and smiles.
What it could mean: Like with Houston, Jackson is depicted early in his career, before the troubles that would follow later. Also, by paying homage to Michael last, Gambino could be saying that he’s been his biggest musical influence of all.
Watch the ‘Feels Like Summer’ video in full below: