Childish Gambino, the musical alter ego of Donald Glover, has announced the release date for his highly anticipated single “Lithonia” after an alleged leak. The announcement came during an Instagram Live session on June 26, where Glover expressed his frustration over the premature reveal of the release date by streaming platform Audiomack.
Glover, who has been known for his multifaceted career in music, acting, and writing, did not hold back his disappointment. “‘Lithonia’ is coming out July 2. That got leaked — kinda pissed me off to be honest,” he said. “That’s another reason why y’all don’t get good s–t. For what? It’s not valuable enough, it’s just a single. And I know who did it. Audiomack, f—–g no soup for you. You’re not getting the album now. That’s what time I’m on.”
Audiomack responded to the allegations, explaining that the leak was due to a user correctly guessing the URL for the single. “This morning, we learned that an Audiomack user correctly guessed the URL for Childish Gambino’s already-announced new single, revealing a July 2 release date,” a representative for the platform told Billboard. “The music itself was never playable. We already have a fix in place, which we are rolling out now.”
The single “Lithonia” is part of Gambino’s upcoming album “Bando Stone & the New World,” which is expected to be his last under the Childish Gambino moniker. The album is also slated to be the soundtrack companion to a film, although details about the film’s release date remain scarce.
During his Instagram Live session, Glover also touched on the importance of having fun and the current state of the music industry. He mentioned the ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, suggesting that such conflicts provide a form of entertainment that unites people. “I’m trying to have fun. Because I feel like there’s just people not having enough fun,” he said. “When I was a kid there was, like, big things that would unite us, and I just feel bad for y’all. I feel bad for some of y’all.”
Glover continued, “Even this year, the most fun we had was from a fight. [It] was a song from a fight, from a rap beef, which I enjoyed every minute of. It was very fun. But still kind of negative in a certain light, I guess.”
In May, Glover released “Atavista (3.15.20 reimagined versions),” a revamped 11-track edition of his 2020 project “3.15.20.” The reimagined album received mixed reviews from fans, but it showcased Glover’s ability to reinvent his work and keep his audience engaged.
The leak of “Lithonia” has left fans wondering about the future of “Bando Stone & the New World.” While Glover’s frustration is understandable, it remains to be seen whether this incident will impact the release of the album. Fans are hopeful that the project will still drop this summer as initially planned.
Glover’s reaction to the leak highlights a broader issue in the music industry: the challenge of maintaining control over one’s work in the digital age. Leaks can undermine an artist’s carefully planned rollout and diminish the impact of new releases. Glover’s candid remarks serve as a reminder of the importance of respecting artists’ creative processes and the value they place on their work.
As fans eagerly await the release of “Lithonia” on July 2, the incident has sparked conversations about the ethics of leaks and the role of streaming platforms in protecting artists’ work. Audiomack’s swift response to the situation indicates a commitment to addressing the issue, but it also underscores the need for more robust security measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
In the meantime, Glover’s fans can look forward to the new single and the eventual release of “Bando Stone & the New World.” Despite the setback, Glover’s passion for his craft and his dedication to providing quality music remain evident. As he continues to push boundaries and explore new creative avenues, his work under the Childish Gambino moniker will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the music industry.
Source: Billboard, HotNewHipHop
