Discography Ranked

All Childish Gambino Albums Ranked Best to Worst (2026)

Childish Gambino released five studio albums, and this page ranks all five, from Camp (2011) to Bando Stone & the New World (2024), the record Donald Glover announced as his last under the Gambino name. His mixtapes (including Culdesac, Royalty and STN MTN), his EPs such as Kauai, and Atavista (2024), the reworked version of 3.15.20, are not ranked separately.

Childish Gambino5 albums6 min readUpdated October 2026Hip-Hop

Quick Take

Consensus Peak"Awaken, My Love!"The funk reinvention that produced "Redbone"Best Rap AlbumBecause the InternetHis most inventive and personal rap record The FarewellBando Stone & the New WorldFinal album before retiring the Gambino name

"Awaken, My Love!"

(2016)

“A bold funk reinvention that produced a modern standard”

Glover abandoned rap almost entirely for psychedelic soul and funk, and the gamble paid off. "Redbone" became one of the defining songs of the decade, "Me and Your Mama" builds from lullaby to scream, and the album's warm, live-band sound owes a clear debt to Funkadelic and Prince without feeling like pastiche. Metacritic: 77.

8.6/10

Why it ranks here

Context

His third studio album, released December 2, 2016 by Glassnote. It debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Album of the Year; "Redbone" won the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Highlights

Redbone
Me and Your Mama
Terrified
Zombies
Stand Tall

Weak Spots

Some tracks lean heavily on their influences
"Riot" and "Boogieman" are slighter

Production

Donald Glover · Ludwig Göransson

Influence

Opened the door for rappers to make full genre turns, and "Redbone" reached a wide audience through the film Get Out.

Replay Value

Very high — it plays beautifully front to back.

Because the Internet

(2013)

“A sprawling, anxious portrait of life online”

Because the Internet is ambitious to a fault: a concept album with an accompanying screenplay, split into acts and built around loneliness and online identity. It is uneven, but its best songs are his most inventive rap records. "V. 3005" is a bittersweet hit, "IV. Sweatpants" is sharp and funny, and the production by Glover, Göransson and Stefan Ponce moves freely between trap, R&B and electronic sounds. Metacritic: 64.

8.2/10

Why it ranks here

Context

His second studio album, released December 10, 2013 by Glassnote, recorded largely in a rented mansion owned by Chris Bosh. It debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Rap Album.

Highlights

V. 3005
IV. Sweatpants
I. Crawl
III. Telegraph Ave. ("Oakland" by Lloyd)
II. Zealots of Stockholm (Free Information)

Weak Spots

The concept is hard to follow without the screenplay
Some interludes feel like sketches

Production

Donald Glover · Ludwig Göransson · Stefan Ponce

Influence

Its fragmented, internet-literate style anticipated much of the emo- and alt-rap of the late 2010s, and "V. 3005" became a lasting streaming hit.

Replay Value

High — it rewards repeat listens as the pieces click together.

3.15.20

(2020)

“A cryptic, experimental record that critics loved”

3.15.20 appeared without warning on a website for twelve hours before its official release, with most songs titled by timestamp. It is moody, fragmented and sometimes frustrating, but "Algorhythm", "Time" with Ariana Grande and "12.38" with 21 Savage are among his most adventurous work. Critics were split between acclaim (Metacritic 83) and puzzlement (Pitchfork 6.0).

7.8/10

Why it ranks here

Context

His fourth studio album, released on March 22, 2020 by RCA after first appearing on March 15. In 2024 it was reworked and reissued as Atavista. "42.26" is a version of "Feels Like Summer".

Highlights

Algorhythm
Time
12.38
42.26
47.48

Weak Spots

Feels unfinished in places
Timestamp titles make it hard to navigate

Production

Donald Glover · DJ Dahi · Ludwig Göransson · Chukwudi Hodge · Kurtis McKenzie

Influence

One of the more daring surprise releases of the streaming era.

Replay Value

Moderate to high — best as a late-night, start-to-finish listen.

Bando Stone & the New World

(2024)

“A warm, eclectic goodbye to the Gambino name”

7.1/10

Why it ranks here

Glover had said since 2017 that he would retire the Childish Gambino name, and this soundtrack to his film of the same name is the final album under it. It moves from pop and R&B to rock and rap, and his vocal performances are some of his best. Critics praised the production and the mature songwriting but noted its lack of cohesion. Metacritic: 72.

Context

His fifth and final studio album as Childish Gambino, released July 19, 2024 by RCA. It peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album.

Highlights

Lithonia
Survive
Yoshinoya
Real Love
Running Around

Weak Spots

Sixteen tracks in many styles feel scattered
Some songs work better with the film

Production

Donald Glover · Ludwig Göransson · DJ Dahi · Michael Uzowuru · Kurtis McKenzie

Influence

Closes the Childish Gambino project; Glover now records under his own name.

Replay Value

Moderate to high — rewarding as a playlist of moods.

Camp

(2011)

“An earnest, divisive debut with big orchestral swings”

6.6/10

Why it ranks here

Camp is the work of a writer determined to prove he can rap, and its earnestness divided critics. Göransson's choirs and strings give "Bonfire" and "Fire Fly" real force, "Heartbeat" remains a fan favorite, and closer "That Power" is a moving piece of storytelling. But the punchlines can feel strained, and Pitchfork's notoriously low score became part of the album's story. Metacritic: 69.

Context

His debut studio album, released November 15, 2011 by Glassnote after a run of mixtapes and independent releases. It debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 with 52,000 copies.

Highlights

Bonfire
Heartbeat
Fire Fly
That Power
Sunrise

Weak Spots

Wordplay often feels forced
Self-conscious about his image

Production

Ludwig Göransson · Donald Glover

Influence

Established the Glover and Göransson partnership that shaped everything that followed.

Replay Value

Moderate — the singles and "That Power" hold up.

Essay

The Complete Picture

Childish Gambino's catalog peaks when Glover stops trying to prove he belongs in rap. "Awaken, My Love!" and Because the Internet are the essential records, one a fully realized change of direction, the other a messy but fascinating portrait of a generation online. 3.15.20 is a strange, rewarding late work, Bando Stone is a warm goodbye, and Camp is the sound of a talented writer still finding his voice.

Start with "Awaken, My Love!", then Because the Internet. With the name now retired, these five albums are a closed set.

Childish Gambino Albums in Order

2011CampRanked #5
2013Because the InternetRanked #2
2016"Awaken, My Love!"Ranked #1
20203.15.20Ranked #3
2024Bando Stone & the New WorldRanked #4

Childish Gambino Albums: Common Questions

What is the best Childish Gambino album?: We rank "Awaken, My Love!" (2016) as the best Childish Gambino album, with a score of 8.6/10: A bold funk reinvention that produced a modern standard.
How many Childish Gambino albums are ranked here?: This ranking covers 5 Childish Gambino projects, released between 2011 and 2024.
What is the earliest Childish Gambino album in this ranking?: Camp (2011) is the earliest release in this list. We rank it #5.
What is the most recent Childish Gambino album in this ranking?: Bando Stone & the New World (2024) is the most recent release in this list. We rank it #4.
Which Childish Gambino album is ranked lowest?: Camp (2011) sits at #5 with a score of 6.6/10.