Childish Gambino's surprise gift for graduating high school students

  • Published
Childish GambinoImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Childish Gambino is the musical alter-ego of Donald Glover, who stars in the TV show Atlanta and the recent Star Wars spin-off Solo

Chance the Rapper gave a group of high school students a surprise graduation present on Monday - in the form of Childish Gambino.

Chance was hosting one of his regular charity shows for students in Chicago when he brought Gambino onto the stage.

"My next guest needs no introduction," he said. "So let's try it."

As the first notes of Childish Gambino's politically-charged single This Is America played over the PA, the audience rushed the stage.

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post by BLACK POWER ranger

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post by BLACK POWER ranger

The song, which reached number one in the US, tackles issues such as police brutality and gun control - while its shocking and violent video has been praised for challenging viewers and raising questions about black identity, violence and the entertainment industry.

Childish Gambino, the musical alter-ego of actor Donald Glover, had not been billed to appear at the event in Chicago; and students who got to see the performance were overwhelmed.

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 2 by Franchika🇨🇲

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 2 by Franchika🇨🇲
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 3 by JAMESTYLERS

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 3 by JAMESTYLERS
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 4 by €K

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 4 by €K

The surprise came during Chance The Rapper's 30th "Open Mike" event in Chicago, which is part of his mission to support and reinvigorate the city's public schools.

The star's SocialWorks charity has so far raised $2.2 million (£1.65 million) for the Chicago Public Schools' arts programmes; and is launching an awards show recognising "teachers, parents, principals, and students that convey leadership" in Chicago-area schools.

Earlier this year, Chance hinted that his long-rumoured collaborative project with Childish Gambino "probably will" happen this year.

"We perpetuated that rumour for a long time without recording anything," Chance admitted to Pitchfork in March, external.

However, he said, the pair have since hooked up in the studio and cut some "amazing" new tracks.

Follow us on Facebook, external, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, external, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents, external. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk, external.

Around the BBC