George Clinton Praises Childish Gambino’s ‘Awaken, My Love': ‘I’m Proud He’s into the Funk’

Upon first hearing Childish Gambino's new Awaken, My Love! album, there's a good chance that images of P-Funk raced in your head and possibly Prince, as well as Sly & The Family Stone.

In actuality, songs on the project sound so much like P-Funk's material, the groups leader George Clinton spoke about it and instead of calling Gambino a copycat, he praised him. The 75-year-old also said he was thrilled that the singer and rapper was keeping his brand of music alive.

"I just heard it one time, and I like the songs," he said in an interview with Hip-HopDX. "I'm aware of his music and know he's into P-Funk so I know it's going to be some good music. I haven't had a chance to get all the way into it. When I did hear it, it sounded like a cross between P-Funk and Prince influence. I'm proud that he's into the funk and glad him and others are bringing some new funk back."

When the Awaken, My Love! album was released earlier this month, the Atlanta star said he didn't plan on exchanging singing for rapping, it just happened. Gambino also said that he enjoys shocking people with his art.

"I like sucker punches," he told the hosts of Australia's Triple J Breakfast. "I like being what you're not expecting. The feeling of expecting water and getting lemonade. Your brain kind of flips."

Surely, the 33-year-old had to be flipping out himself after he heard George Clinton's comments, since he made a funk album and received props from arguably the most beloved funk musician in the world.