Childish Gambino Reps Atlanta with New Mixtape, STN MTN
Childish Gambino might not echo Atlanta’s musical aesthetics. But the rapper/actor (a.k.a. Donald Glover) puts on for his city with his surprise mixtape STN MTN, an abbreviated nod to his native Stone Mountain, Georgia. Hosted by the most Atlantan hip-hop DJ out there, DJ Drama, the 11-song project remakes A-Town hits like Usher’s “You Don’t Have to Call,” Ludacris’s “Southern Hospitality” and Future’s “Move That Dope.” The free ’tape, Gambino’s first project since dropping his Because the Internet LP in December, is a prelude to a complimentary EP titled Kauai, “coming soon” to iTunes (according to Gambino’s site).
Questlove and Captain Kirk Do a Hilarious Acoustic Taylor Swift Cover
Black Simon & Garfunkel—that is, The Roots’s “Captain” Kirk Douglas and Questlove—are back to make yet another Taylor Swift song tolerable. The funky, funny duo—a parody of folk rock legends Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel—took to The Tonight Show stage Wednesday night (October 1) in all-black turtlenecks, deadpanning through an acoustic version of Swift’s bubbly hit, “Shake It Off.” (Peep Questlove’s shoulder shimmy!) Black Simon & Garfunkel has previously spoofed Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”
Big Sean Gives Anti-Bully Speech in Toronto
Anyone who’s ever been dragged on Twitter or watched A Christmas Story knows: No one likes a bully. But for those who need a refresher, Big Sean trekked up to Toronto to speak to 20,000 students and educators at We Day, a youth empowerment event. On behalf of his non-profit Sean Anderson Foundation, the Detroit rep promoted positivity alongside Selena Gomez, Katie Couric and a surprise performance by Kendrick Lamar.
“Whether it’s talking down on your peers, family members, gossiping on the Internet, or teasing people, there are so many ways you can become a bully without even realizing it,” said the 26-year-old MC. “You never know how your words or your actions can help or push someone over the edge.” Sean somehow forgot to mention his new song “I Don’t Fu*k with You,” a scathing, true-to-its-title ode to ex-girlfriend Naya Rivera.
