"Feels Like Summer" was written and produced by Donald Glover – aka Childish Gambino - and his longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson, the same creative team behind "This Is America." Over a sweet and dreamy instrumentation, Gambino uses the metaphor of summer to outline a list of things facing the world today that concern him. The second verse is devoted entirely to environmental matters during which he sings about global warming, the growing water scarcity on this planet and the decline of bird and bee populations.
The song's animated music video, directed by Gambino, Ivan Dixon, and Greg Sharp, shows a cartoon Childish Gambino walking through a suburban neighborhood which is populated by well-known black musicians and personalities. The famous artists that make a cameo are in order of appearance: Lil Pump and Trippie Redd running. 21 Savage and Metro Boomin smoking weed. Kodak Black in a house. Migos playing basketball. Birdman, Chance the Rapper and Jaden Smith at a BBQ. Will Smith washing a car. Azealia Banks chilling in a tree. Nicki Minaj, who gets upset when Travis Scott ruins her block tower made with children's blocks.. The Weeknd, Ty Dolla Sign and Frank Ocean playing tug of war with ASAP Rocky, Solange Knowles and Willow Smith. Soulja Boy giving directions. Drake chasing Future on a bike. A solemn Kid Cudi against a black background. A sad Kanye West wearing a Make America Great Again hat, is being consoled by Michelle Obama. Beyoncé referencing Fredo Santana on her T-shirt. Florida governor candidate Andrew Gillum referencing XXXTentacion. Lil Uzi Vert getting his dreads done by Oprah Winfrey and Kehlani by Tiffany Haddish. Lil Yachty and Charlamagne tha God eating popsicles. Gucci Mane lying down on a mat. Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Sean Combs, Wiz Khalifa and Jay-Z dancing behind Gucci Mane. Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball and Young Thug playing video games. 2 Chainz taking a photo of Meek Mill, Pusha T and Lil Wayne. Rae Sremmurd and J. Cole playing water games. Janelle Monáe and SZA skateboarding. Chris Brown, Outkast, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson as Gambino disappears into the darkness.
The video is a celebration of African-American culture. Co-director Ivan Dixon explained to Genius: "It's all these really well-known people doing quite normal family activities. There was a list of what Donald wanted to see and in order. It was up to us to figure it out how to connect all those things."
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