Donald Glover Shouted Out Migos At The Golden Globes And I’m Salty About It

Lemme preface this post by saying I'm not a journalist. I'm just a guy with a domain and some thoughts.

That said...

Look. I love Migos. LOVE THEM. To be completely transparent, I only discovered them shortly after the success of their single "Fight Night" but, ever since, I've religiously supported their music and their movement. They have a sound that is uniquely their own and they shed light on a lifestyle that, quite frankly, I am not about. However, as a Black man, their lyrical storytelling about said lifestyle resonates with something in my spirit, on many levels -- something that I don't believe would be the case if I weren't Black. While it's possible, I know I can't be the only one that feels this way.

At last week's 74th Golden Globe Awards, FX's new hit series Atlanta took home two statuettes: one for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy and the other for Best Actor (Donald Glover) - Television Series Musical or Comedy. Granted, this was an amazing accomplishment to behold. As a fan of the show, I felt like part of the win. However, I couldn't help but wince in the midst of joy when Donald (a.k.a. Childish Gambino), after thanking the city of Atlanta, decided to specifically give a shoutout to Migos for their most recent single, "Bad and Boujee."

That juxtaposition may confuse you a bit, so let me explain...

On the most basic of levels, Donald's shoutout to the Migos was awesome. He showed them some unsolicited love, they subsequently got an influx of downloads for their amazing single and so everybody seemingly walked away winning.

Thank You Donald Glover! #Culture 01.27.17 pic.twitter.com/BzSwDZdEPi

— MIGOS™ (@Migos) January 9, 2017

However, on a slightly deeper level, the majority of people who rushed to iTunes to get the damn song probably never even gave a f*ck about Migos, before then, and that bothered me. Why? Well, because I know the target demographic of the Golden Globes (from the winners to the viewing audience) probably won't even understand the song until pulling up lyrics in an attempt to crack a code of Blackness that, quite frankly, was not intended for them to crack. When asked why Donald loved the song enough to mention it during his speech, he claimed, "Honestly, that song is just fly. There's no better song to have sex to." Valid. That's not what led the masses to download it, though. #They just want to be "on the inside" of what WE (✊🏾) deem trendy and I'm sick of that sh*t. Everything is not for everybody, which is an ideology shown to Black folk on the daily and, while I applaud the success of "Bad and Boujee" making it to the Billboard number one spot, I absolutely HATE how it happened.

When you get into the lyrics and context of "Bad and Boujee," it's not necessarily something that WE (✊🏾) need to be inclusive with, especially when it comes to the gratuitous use of the word "n*gga." I don't mind the use of the word by my peers, but SOME (*cough*) people tend to get way too comfortable with hiding behind hip-hop as an excuse to use it and I'm not here for that or any similar behavior. Y'all inclusive folk keep giving out these "passes" and the rest of us gotta deal with it, in real life. We see it in fashion and a plethora of other creative avenues. Pop culture continues to use hip-hop culture more and more as this convenient badge of coolness, while simultaneously excluding everything that comes with it from their day-to-day living...and...nah. F*ck that.

Don't get me wrong. I understand that there are genuine hip-hop fans that are not Black and may have come across the song organically because they are indeed Migos fans. This is not referring to them. This is referring to those that almost broke their finger in a race to open the music app, download the song and learn the lyrics word for word JUST to say they know "the best song ever", according to the gospel of "that Black guy from Community that won the Golden Globe."

All that to say, I'm not upset with Donald. Not at all. I, honestly, just wish his shoutout came in the form of an Instagram post or a personal note or some other method that didn't just invite all of these strangers to the cookout. Sure, that's hard to do, but Migos are the epitome of "for the culture" and, as selfish as it may sound, I'd prefer for them to stay that way.

</rant>