This Is America ( song ) - wikipedia This Is America ( song ) `` This Is America '' Single by Childish Gambino Released May 5, 2018 ( 2018 - 05 - 05 ) Format Digital download Genre Trap Afrobeat Length 3 : 45 Label mcDJ RCA Composer ( s ) Donald Glover Ludwig Göransson Lyricist ( s ) Donald Glover Producer ( s ) Donald Glover Ludwig Göransson Childish Gambino singles chronology `` Terrified '' ( 2017 ) `` This Is America '' ( 2018 ) Music video `` This Is America '' on YouTube `` This Is America '' is a song by American rapper Childish Gambino. Written and produced by Gambino and Ludwig Göransson, it was released on May 5, 2018, at the same time that Gambino was hosting that day 's episode of Saturday Night Live. The song features background vocals by American rappers Young Thug, Slim Jxmmi, BlocBoy JB, 21 Savage, and Quavo. The song 's music video was directed by Japanese filmmaker Hiro Murai, a frequent Gambino collaborator. According to RCA Records, the song is not the first single from Gambino 's upcoming studio album. `` This Is America '' debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming both Gambino 's first number one and top ten single in the country. Contents 1 Composition 2 Music video 2.1 Critical reception 3 Cover versions and media appearances 4 Chart performance 5 Credits and personnel 6 Charts 7 Certifications 8 Release history 9 References 10 External links Composition The song features a gospel - style choir and background contributions from various American rappers. Young Thug, Slim Jxmmi, BlocBoy JB, 21 Savage and Quavo each deliver an ad - lib. Young Thug returns to supply the song 's outro. The lyrics primarily address being black in the United States and gun violence in the country. It also touches on police brutality. Pitchfork 's Stephen Kearse described the song as a representation of the `` tightrope of being black '', with the song `` built on the sharp contrast between jolly, syncretic melodies and menacing trap cadences ''. Music video In the video, Gambino assumes a stance similar to the Jim Crow caricature. Directed by Hiro Murai, the music video for the song was released on YouTube simultaneously with Gambino 's performance of the song on Saturday Night Live. The video follows Gambino dancing through a warehouse, interacting with a series of chaotic scenes. According to Murai, the video was inspired by the films Mother ! and City of God. Choreographed by Sherrie Silver, Gambino and his entourage of young dancers perform several viral dance moves including the South African Gwara Gwara and `` Shoot '' popularized by BlocBoy JB, who is one of the ad - lib contributors on the song. Gambino 's dancing is contrasted against moments of violence. Only 53 seconds into the video, Gambino shoots a man in the back of the head with a handgun, while assuming a comical stance similar to a Jim Crow caricature. At a later point, he uses an automatic weapon to gun down a church choir, which viewers have interpreted as a reference to the 2015 Charleston church shooting. In both instances, a child appears from offscreen holding a red cloth, on which Gambino gently lays the weapon used, while the bodies are simply dragged away, which viewers have interpreted `` as a reference to Americans ' willingness to protect gun rights over people ''. The first shooting also marks a transition in the music, from an African `` folk - inspired melody '' to a `` dark, pulsing trap. '' Throughout the video, numerous vehicles from several decades ago are featured, many of them with their hazard lights flashing and the driver 's side door ajar, which critics interpreted as representing fatal police shootings during traffic stops, particularly the shooting of Philando Castile, who was shot while in a 1997 Oldsmobile ; others have interpreted that the older model cars represent the relative lack of upward mobility of African - Americans. American singer SZA makes a cameo appearance towards the end of the video, seated atop one of these vehicles. The video ends with Gambino in a darkened portion of the warehouse, fearfully running towards the camera while being chased. Viewers have said this resembles scenes from the film Get Out. The video received 12.9 million views in 24 hours and has over 280 million views. The first person depicted as being shot in the video, a guitarist who had been accompanying Gambino 's singing up to that point, was musician Calvin the Second, but was initially mistaken by many viewers to be the father of teenager Trayvon Martin. Critical reception Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic described the initial reaction on Twitter as `` a gushing river of well - deserved praise '' and the video as `` the most talked - about music video of recent memory. '' Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone commented that the video `` is a surreal, visceral statement about gun violence in America ''. Pitchfork awarded the song the distinction of `` Best New Track ''. Mahita Gajanan of Time quoted music history professor Guthrie Ramsey at the University of Pennsylvania, He 's talking about the contradictions of trying to get money, the idea of being a black man in America. It comes out of two different sound worlds. Part of the brilliance of the presentation is that you go from this happy major mode of choral singing that we associate with South African choral singing, and then after the first gunshot it moves right into the trap sound. Cover versions and media appearances Glover hosted the May 5 episode of the 43rd season of Saturday Night Live, and performed two new songs as Childish Gambino on the same episode, the second of which was `` This Is America ''. Daniel Kaluuya, best known as the star of the film Get Out which the music video reportedly references, introduced the song 's performance. Several artists attracted attention and millions of views for creating covers of the song and music video with altered lyrics and themes, retaining the song 's instrumental and the general structure of its music video. On May 12, Canadian Internet personality Nicole Arbour released `` This Is America : Women 's Edit ''. Arbour intended for the cover to promote women 's empowerment, but was accused of belittling the racial issues addressed by the original video. Nigerian rapper Falz released `` This Is Nigeria '' on May 25, highlighting the nation 's issues with corruption and organized crime among others. The music video also spawned popular Internet memes, particularly those in which the audio was replaced so that Childish Gambino appeared to be dancing in time to another song. Versions using Carly Rae Jepsen 's `` Call Me Maybe '' and Earth, Wind & Fire 's `` September '' were some of the most viewed. Chart performance `` This Is America '' debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the 31st song to do so in the chart 's history. It debuted with 78,000 downloads sold and 65.3 million US streams in the first week. Its music video accounted for 68 % of the song 's streaming total. `` This Is America '' is also Gambino 's first top 10 ; he previously reached number 12 in August 2017 with `` Redbone ''. `` This Is America '' overtook Drake 's `` Nice for What '' from the top position. Gambino is also the second Emmy Award - winning actor to reach number one on the Hot 100, the first being Justin Timberlake, who topped the chart with `` Ca n't Stop the Feeling ! '' in 2016. It topped the Hot 100 for two weeks, and left the top ten after five weeks. Credits and personnel Credits are adapted from Tidal. Donald Glover -- lead vocals ( as Childish Gambino ), production, composition Ludwig Göransson -- production, composition, record engineering Derek `` MixedByAli '' Ali - mix engineering Mike Bozzi -- master engineering Quavo -- background vocals Young Thug -- background vocals 21 Savage -- background vocals Slim Jxmmi -- background vocals BlocBoy JB -- background vocals Alex Tumay -- record engineering Riley Mackin -- record engineering Kesha `` K. Lee '' Lee -- record engineering Charts Chart ( 2018 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) 20 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 30 Belgium ( Ultratip Wallonia ) 7 Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) Czech Republic ( Singles Digitál Top 100 ) 8 Denmark ( Tracklisten ) 13 France ( SNEP ) 19 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 39 Hungary ( Single Top 40 ) 9 Hungary ( Stream Top 40 ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Japan ( Japan Hot 100 ) 45 Italy ( FIMI ) 49 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 21 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 19 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) 10 Portugal ( AFP ) Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) 11 Slovakia ( Singles Digitál Top 100 ) Spain ( PROMUSICAE ) 46 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 9 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 16 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 6 US Billboard Hot 100 US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ( Billboard ) US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) 11 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Australia ( ARIA ) Gold 35,000 New Zealand ( RMNZ ) Gold 15,000 United States ( RIAA ) Platinum 1,000,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone sales + streaming figures based on certification alone Release history Region Date Format Label Ref. Various May 5, 2018 Digital download mcDJ RCA United States May 15, 2018 Rhythmic contemporary radio References Jump up ^ Cornish, Audie ( May 7, 2018 ). `` Donald Glover 's ' This Is America ' Holds Ugly Truths To Be Self - Evident ''. NPR. Retrieved May 9, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Jenkins, Craig ( May 17, 2018 ). `` The Internet Has Already Devoured ' This Is America ' ''. Vulture. Retrieved May 20, 2018. The same night he dropped off the video for `` This Is America, '' a combination trap and afrobeat banger with a beguiling message about race and gun violence. Jump up ^ `` This Is America / Childish Gambino ''. Tidal. Retrieved May 25, 2018... Jump up ^ Arcand, Rob ( May 6, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino Debuts Politically - Charged New Song `` This is America '' on SNL : Watch ``. Spin. Retrieved May 7, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Guan, Frank ( May 7, 2018 ). `` What It Means When Childish Gambino Says ' This Is America ' ''. Vulture. Retrieved May 7, 2018. Jump up ^ Mitchell, Peters ( May 6, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino ' This Is America ' Reactions : The Good, The Bad & The Kanye Bashing ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2018. Lefevre, Jules ( May 7, 2018 ). `` Hello, Childish Gambino Just Dropped The Music Video Of The Year ''. Junkee. Retrieved May 7, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Kornhaber, Spencer ( May 7, 2018 ). `` Donald Glover Is Watching You Watch Him ''. The Atlantic. Retrieved May 7, 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` Childish Gambino Releases New Song And Video `` This Is America '' - RCA Records ``. RCA Records. May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Russell, Scott ( May 6, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino Makes His Triumphant Return with `` This Is America, '' `` Saturday '' ``. Paste Magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Espinoza, Joshua ( May 6, 2018 ). `` Here Are the Rappers Who Contributed to Childish Gambino 's `` This Is America '' ``. Complex. Retrieved May 8, 2018. Jump up ^ Tesema, Martha ( May 6, 2018 ). `` Donald Glover tackles gun violence in powerful video for ' This Is America, ' his new single ''. Mashable. Retrieved May 7, 2018. Jump up ^ Holland, Jesse J. ( May 9, 2018 ). `` ' This Is America ' seals Glover 's rep as protest artist ''. AP News. Retrieved May 10, 2018. ^ Jump up to : France, Lisa Respers ( May 7, 2018 ). `` ' This Is America ' : The Childish Gambino video explained ''. CNN. Retrieved May 8, 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` '' This Is America '' by Childish Gambino Review Pitchfork ``. pitchfork.com. Retrieved May 11, 2018. Jump up ^ Skelton, Eric ( May 6, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino Returns With Video For New Song `` This Is America '' ``. PigeonsandPlanes. Retrieved May 7, 2018. Félix, Doreen St ( May 8, 2018 ). `` The Carnage and Chaos of Childish Gambino 's `` This Is America '' ``. The New Yorker. ISSN 0028 - 792X. Retrieved May 8, 2018. Saturday Night Live ( May 7, 2018 ), Childish Gambino : This Is America ( Live ) - SNL, retrieved May 10, 2018 Jump up ^ `` Childish Gambino releases surprise track ''. BBC News. May 6, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018. Jump up ^ Sharf, Zack ( May 11, 2018 ). `` ' This Is America ' Director Hiro Murai Shares Video Influences : ' City Of God ' Meets the Last 20 Minutes of ' mother ! ' ''. IndieWire. Retrieved May 20, 2018. Jump up ^ Thompson, Desire ( May 7, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino ' This Is America ' Video : 9 Cultural References Explained ''. Vibe. Retrieved May 8, 2018. Jump up ^ Amoako, Aida ( May 8, 2018 ). `` Why the Dancing Makes ' This Is America ' So Uncomfortable to Watch ''. The Atlantic. Retrieved May 10, 2018. Jump up ^ Harris, Aisha ( May 8, 2018 ). `` '' This Is America '' Is What Happens When Childish Gambino and Atlanta Become One ``. Slate Magazine. Retrieved May 10, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Rao, Sonia ( May 7, 2018 ). `` ' This Is America ' : Breaking down Childish Gambino 's powerful new music video ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved May 9, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Miller, Hayley ( May 8, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino 's ' This Is America ' Video, Explained ''. Huffington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2018. Jump up ^ Kaplan, Ilana ( May 8, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino ' This Is America ' : All of the hidden references in hit music video ''. The Independent. Retrieved May 28, 2018. Jump up ^ Penrose, Nerisha ( May 9, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino 's Record - Breaking ' This Is America ' Video Hits 50 Million Views in Mere Days ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2018. Jump up ^ Glover, Donald ( May 5, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino - This Is America ( Official Video ) ''. YouTube. Retrieved May 28, 2018. Jump up ^ France, Lisa Respers ( May 8, 2018 ). `` That 's not Trayvon Martin 's dad in ' This Is America ' ''. CNN. Retrieved May 9, 2018. Jump up ^ Kreps, Daniel ( May 6, 2018 ). `` Watch Childish Gambino 's Caustic Video for New Song ' This Is America ' ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 7, 2018. Jump up ^ Gajanan, Mahita ( May 7, 2018 ). `` An Expert 's Take on the Symbolism in Childish Gambino 's Viral ' This Is America ' Video ''. Time. Retrieved May 24, 2018. Jump up ^ Baumgartner, Scott ( May 6, 2018 ). `` ' SNL ' : Childish Gambino Delivers ' This Is America ' With Intro By ' Get Out 's Daniel Kaluuya ''. Hollywood Life. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` This Is America : Breaking down Childish Gambino 's powerful new music video ''. The Sydney Morning Herald. May 9, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` YouTuber defends Gambino ' women 's edit ' ''. BBC. May 16, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Jump up ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com, The Washington Times. `` Nicole Arbour 's feminist makeover of Childish Gambino 's ' This is America ' sparks backlash ''. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` The hit `` This is Nigeria '' video tackles the country 's worst problems one reference at a time ``. QZ. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Nigerian Rapper Goes Viral With His Take On ' This Is America ' ''. NPR. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Jump up ^ Rosenberg, Adam. `` You ca n't shut down ' This Is America ' memes. That 's what ' This Is America ' is about ''. Mashable. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Childish Gambino 's `` This is America '' x `` Call Me Maybe '' Mashup ``. Highsnobiety. June 4, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Jump up ^ Trust, Gary ( May 14, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino 's ' This Is America ' Is No. 1 On The Billboard Hot 100 ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018. Jump up ^ `` This Is America / Childish Gambino ''. Tidal. Retrieved May 7, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 23, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 1, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America '' ( in French ). Ultratip. Retrieved June 1, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Childish Gambino Chart History ( Canadian Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018. Jump up ^ `` ČNS IFPI '' ( in Czech ). Hitparáda -- Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note : insert 201820 into search. Retrieved May 21, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Track Top - 40 Uge 20, 2018 ''. Hitlisten. Retrieved May 23, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Retrieved May 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 18, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Archívum -- Slágerlisták -- MAHASZ '' ( in Hungarian ). Single ( track ) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 20, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Archívum -- Slágerlisták -- MAHASZ '' ( in Hungarian ). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 26, 2018. Jump up ^ `` IRMA -- Irish Charts ''. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Japanese Top Music ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Top Singoli -- Classifica settimanale WK 20 '' ( in Italian ). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- week 21, 2018 '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 26, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 18, 2018. Jump up ^ `` NZ Top 40 Singles Chart ''. Recorded Music NZ. May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018. Jump up ^ `` VG - lista -- Topp 20 Single uke 20, 2018 ''. VG - lista. Retrieved May 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Portuguesecharts.com -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America ''. AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 6, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 12, 2018. Jump up ^ `` SNS IFPI '' ( in Slovak ). Hitparáda -- Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note : insert 201820 into search. Retrieved May 21, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Canciones -- Semana 20 : del 11.05. 2018 al 17.05. 2018 '' ( PDF ) ( in Spanish ). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved May 23, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Sverigetopplistan -- Sveriges Officiella Topplista ''. Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 18, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 21, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Childish Gambino Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Childish Gambino Chart History ( Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Childish Gambino Chart History ( Rhythmic ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved June 19, 2018. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. May 28, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2018. Jump up ^ `` New Zealand single certifications -- Childish Gambino -- This Is America ''. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 15, 2018. Jump up ^ McIntyre, Hugh ( May 31, 2018 ). `` Childish Gambino 's ' This Is America ' Has Already Been Certified Platinum ''. Retrieved May 31, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Top 40 / Rhythmic ''. All Access Music Group. External links Video on YouTube This Is America on SoundCloud Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics hide Childish Gambino Discography Awards and nominations Studio albums Camp Because the Internet `` Awaken, My Love ! '' EPs EP Kauai Mixtapes Culdesac ROYALTY STN MTN Singles `` Heartbeat '' `` Bonfire '' `` 3005 '' `` Crawl '' `` Sweatpants '' `` Sober '' `` Me and Your Mama '' `` Redbone '' `` Terrified '' `` This Is America '' Featured singles `` Trouble '' `` Bed Peace '' Related articles Clapping for the Wrong Reasons Derrick Comedy Ludwig Göransson Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=This_Is_America_(song)&oldid=846430803 '' Categories : 2018 singles 2018 songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Canadian Hot 100 number - one singles Number - one singles in Australia Number - one singles in New Zealand RCA Records singles Songs written by Donald Glover Songs written by Ludwig Göransson Donald Glover songs Songs about the United States Trap music ( hip hop ) songs Music memes Hidden categories : CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) Articles with hAudio microformats Pages using div col without cols and colwidth parameters Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Wallonia Tip Singlechart usages for Canada Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Czechdigital Singlechart called without artist Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Hungarysingle Singlechart usages for Hungarystream Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Portugal Singlechart usages for Scotland Singlechart usages for Slovakdigital Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardrandbhiphop Singlechart usages for Billboardrhythmic Certification Table Entry usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for New Zealand Certification Table Entry usages for United States SoundCloud ID same as Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano Português Русский Tiếng Việt Edit links This page was last edited on 18 June 2018, at 18 : 59. 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Question: when did this is america childish gambino come out
Answer: May 5, 2018