Camp
by Childish Gambino
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 1 out of 27
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  1. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Jan 4, 2012
    91
    It's less surefire than Culdesac. But it's more satisfying emotionally.
  2. Paste Magazine
    Nov 15, 2011
    91
    No song seems out of place and every single one will be your favorite the moment you listen to it because of extremely quotable songs.
  3. Alternative Press
    Nov 17, 2011
    90
    Childish Gambino is more than just a rapper, and Camp is more than just an album: It's a stone-cold classic.
  5. Consequence
    Nov 16, 2011
    90
    Gambino can really rap. Scratch that; he can really, really rap, plus sing and emote and put on a show better than 90% of his hip-hop counterparts.
  6. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Nov 14, 2011
    90
    It'll be difficult to find many albums (regardless of genre) that stimulates as many emotions as Camp. Years of hard work and perseverance from Glover has finally paid off and Camp is the culmination of all that, making this one of the best albums of 2011.
  7. Mojo
    May 31, 2012
    80
    The identity-crisis themed Camp trumps through whip-smart intelligence, comic brio and bristling malign intent. [Jan 2012, p.90]
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  8. DJ Booth
    Dec 2, 2011
    80
    Gambino's strength is also his weakness. As a TV writer and a comedian he's naturally focused on punchlines and creating moments, which at his best is enormously entertaining and at the worst forced
  9. The Independent (UK)
    Nov 18, 2011
    80
    Vastly talented, he brings rare articulacy to the thorny subject of black self-image, particularly the problem of breaking down the barrier of ghetto authenticity.
  10. XXL
    Nov 16, 2011
    80
    Taken on the whole, Camp is full of top-tier lyricism, honesty, uncertainty and triumph.
  11. AllMusic
    Nov 15, 2011
    80
    Camp is like the Drake, Cudi, and Kweli camps all offered their best, but it's really just Glover and his overwhelming bundle of talent, taking indie hip-hop to new levels after spending the day working alongside Chevy Chase.
  12. Okayplayer
    Dec 22, 2011
    78
    Camp is powered by the same blend of quirk, wit and vulnerability that drives Glover's comedic endeavors.
  13. Under The Radar
    Jan 19, 2012
    70
    The star here is Glover's malleability, as he can move from a club banger such as "Heartbeat" to something as sensitive as "All the Shine," a plaintive, yearning song about his own shortcomings. [#39, p. 75]
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  14. PopMatters
    Nov 23, 2011
    70
    This album is undoubtedly one of the best records of any genre to come out in 2011, and finally sets Donald Glover up as a "serious" rapper.
  15. Prefix Magazine
    Nov 21, 2011
    70
    CAMP is an imperfect album, to be sure, one that both succeeds on its incongruities and occasionally stumbles on them.
  16. RapReviews.com
    Nov 29, 2011
    65
    It's wholly derivative, self-pitying emo rap that owes everything in its essence to Drake, Weezy, Cudi, and Kanye. That said, Glover is an incredibly compelling and talented rapper.

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Discussed Album of 2011
9
#9 Most Shared Album of 2011

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 235 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 185 out of 235
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 235
  3. Negative: 16 out of 235
  1. matthewsampson
    Feb 2, 2012
    10
    Camp is one of the best debut hip-hop albums that I can recall since possibly Kanye's "The College Dropout." I really don't understand howCamp is one of the best debut hip-hop albums that I can recall since possibly Kanye's "The College Dropout." I really don't understand how Pitchfork can bash this album so hard. Glover's style is truly fresh and unique. One of my favorites of the year.… Full Review »
  2. keep_yr_bias
    Feb 9, 2012
    3
    This is definitely one of the most overrated rap albums in recent memory. The bottom line is that I can't get over the fact that ChildishThis is definitely one of the most overrated rap albums in recent memory. The bottom line is that I can't get over the fact that Childish Gambino's vision of himself is complete B.S. He doesn't have any credibility in his lyrics, and his lyrics are pretty elementary to begin with. Everyone seems to compare this album to Kanye West's College Dropout and it's NOWHERE NEAR the level of that album. That album had a guest artist on just about every track (a smart move), because Kanye was and still is more about production than actual lyrics. The production on that album was light years ahead of this album's production and that album came out 8 years ago. Hearing Cambino rap about, "struggle" and "overcoming his race" is like having a million microscopic dicks penetrating my ears. I would compare Cambino to Drake more than anybody, but at least Drake (as emo as he is) doesn't try and make this persona of growing up in a rough childhood. Gambino is dellusional. He grew up as a Jehovah's witness, with parents who put him through school to get a college degree. I have complete respect for that, but he almost seems ashamed of being privileged growing up, so he creates this phony persona to help him get over his insecurity. He tries to sound gritty, but it's impossible to believe when he's more concerned with being "GQ". A rapper has to be credible, or at the very least not completely phony, but I don't buy anything he says. On that basis alone I can't like this album, and I can't relate to it in any way whatsoever. This album shouldn't have been called Camp... it should have been called Campy.… Full Review »
  3. jaxmcgraw
    Apr 15, 2014
    3
    People who like Childish Gambino usually do not understand that there is more to music than subject matter, emotion, and talent. Sure GambinoPeople who like Childish Gambino usually do not understand that there is more to music than subject matter, emotion, and talent. Sure Gambino brings so much to the table when it comes to the talent and reaching on deeper subject matters. This album is similar to a teenager's diary. There are some lessons to learn from camp, but there are so many issues with camp. First of all it sounds like Nickleback produced this album. The beats are artificial, weak, and simple. There is no doubt that the strings are maximized to create beautiful moments, but there is no texture in the beats. Also, there is no texture in his lyrics. He throws simple lines that are weak, underwhelming, and easy to understand. Gambino is funny at times, but every time he is about to make lyrical jabs, he drops a line like “I got a girl on my arm dude show respect/ something crazy and Asian: Virginia Tech." To be honest, I really do not want to continue on the abundance of lines that make me want to massage my temples. Gambino is different, but not as different as he thinks. What I cannot stand is that he only looks at the surface when it comes to music and race. Gambino and his fans are the type of people that listen to mainstream alternative bands and look at all rap the same. This album is a complete joke and I do not want to explain more, but I will credit this album with teaching the concepts of maturity and hatred in a tense and bittersweet way that can be beautiful at times. But in all honesty I do not enjoy listening to this album. I have mad respect for Donald Glover and everything he does, but he needs to have more of an understanding on race, humanity, life, and music to make a product that has sustainable quality.… Full Review »
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