When Tyler, The Creator dropped CHROMAKOPIA on that random Monday morning in late 2024, he didn’t put a single feature name on the tracklist. No brackets. No "feat. Lil Wayne." Nothing. It was a total ghost town of credits, leaving fans to scramble like detectives with a magnifying glass.
Everyone was looking for the big names. But the one people kept asking about—the one that felt like a long-overdue reunion—was Donald Glover. Specifically, people kept searching for what song is Childish Gambino on Chromakopia because his voice is so distinct, yet so buried under Tyler's frantic, lush production.
The short answer? He isn't just on one song. He’s on two.
Glover officially lent his vocal cords to "I Killed You" and "Judge Judy." If you were expecting a full verse where Gambino comes in and raps about his existential dread or his kids, you might’ve been a little disappointed. This wasn't a "The Worst Guys" situation. This was much more subtle. It was about the texture.
The Mystery of "I Killed You"
This track is heavy. It's tribal, it’s percussive, and it’s layered with so much noise that it's easy to miss the legendary contributors hiding in the mix.
Childish Gambino provides background vocals here. He isn't the only one, though. Daniel Caesar is also floating around in the atmosphere of the track, and Thundercat is literally holding down the low end on bass. Basically, it’s a supergroup disguised as a solo Tyler song.
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You can really hear Donald toward the tail end of the song. It’s that soulful, airy harmonizing that he’s perfected since the Awaken, My Love! era. He isn't fighting for the spotlight. He’s just a piece of the furniture, which is honestly a very "late-stage Gambino" move. He’s done with the "look at me" bars; now he just wants to be part of the art.
Why "Judge Judy" is the Standout
The second—and arguably more noticeable—spot where you’ll find Childish Gambino on Chromakopia is "Judge Judy."
This track feels like a direct descendant of the sounds Tyler and Donald have been playing with for the last five years. It’s melodic. It’s a bit weird. It’s deeply narrative. Glover’s backing vocals here add a certain "euphoria," as some critics put it.
There’s a hilarious irony in the song title, too. Fans of Atlanta—Glover’s brainchild—immediately linked the song title to the final episode of the series. While there isn't a confirmed narrative link, the coincidence of Glover appearing on a song called "Judge Judy" after that finale is the kind of meta-narrative his fans live for.
The Long Road from Hate to "Urn"
To understand why this collaboration matters, you have to remember that Tyler used to publicly "hate" Childish Gambino.
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It’s a famous bit of hip-hop lore now. During his Coachella set in 2024, Tyler stood on stage and admitted to the crowd that he used to be a hater. He said he didn't know why, maybe he needed therapy for it, but he just didn't rock with Glover.
The turning point? A song called "Urn" from Because the Internet.
Tyler said the song was so "undeniable" that he had a conflict with himself. He couldn't understand how someone he hated could be that good. Fast forward a decade, and now Donald is the one barely returning Tyler's calls (according to Tyler's stage banter), and they’re making music together.
Spotting the Voices: Who Else Is Hiding?
If you're already diving into the credits to find Gambino, you should probably keep an ear out for the rest of the guest list. Tyler really went for "uncredited prestige" on this album.
- Daniel Caesar: He’s everywhere. He’s on "St. Chroma," "Take Your Mask Off," and contributed writing to "Tomorrow."
- Lil Wayne, Sexyy Red, and GloRilla: All of them are on "Sticky," which is probably the loudest, most energetic moment on the record.
- Schoolboy Q: He brings the grit to "Thought I Was Dead."
- Doechii: She absolutely kills her spot on "Balloon."
It's a weird way to release an album in the streaming age. Usually, you want those feature names for the "playlist juice." But Tyler’s at a point where the mystery is more valuable than the clicks.
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How to Listen for Him
If you still can't quite pick him out, go back to "I Killed You" around the 2:10 mark.
Listen for the higher-register harmonies. That’s the Gambino sweet spot. It’s less about the words and more about the "oohs" and "aahs" that fill the gaps between Tyler's verses.
On "Judge Judy," pay attention to the melodic stretches. Glover’s voice has a specific vibrato that’s hard to fake. Once you hear it, you can't unhear it. It’s like a "Where’s Waldo" for your ears.
Honestly, the fact that we’re even talking about what song is Childish Gambino on Chromakopia proves that Tyler's "no-feature" gimmick worked. It forced people to actually listen to the music instead of just scanning a list.
What You Should Do Next
Go back and listen to "Urn" by Childish Gambino first. It’s only a minute long, but it’s the reason this collaboration even exists. Once you’ve got that melody in your head, throw on "Judge Judy" and "I Killed You" back-to-back.
If you’re a vinyl collector, check the liner notes of the physical CHROMAKOPIA copies. Tyler often hides even more specific credits (like who played the triangles or the synth patches) in the fine print that doesn't make it to Spotify or Apple Music.
This isn't just a guest appearance; it's a full-circle moment for two of the most influential "weird kids" in music history.