Donald Glover Calls Son Legend, 8, a 'Performer,' Despite Not Wanting His Kids to Join the Music Industry: 'He's Really Good'

The actor is dad to three sons — Legend, Drake and Donald Glover III — whom he shares with wife Michelle White

Donald Glover is opening up about his views on his children joining the music industry, recalling the moment he discovered his 8-year-old son was born to be in the spotlight.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal for their cover story published on Thursday, Sept. 12, the Mr. and Mrs. Smith actor, 40, shared that "in a perfect world," none of his three sons  — Legend, Drake and Donald Glover III — would follow their dad's footsteps into the music business.

However, the proud dad couldn't pass up on releasing a duet with Legend on his new album after hearing his "really good pitch" and passion for the industry.

Glover recalled the moment during Legend's soccer game when he realized his son was "a performer" at heart. “In the middle of bringing it down the field, he grabbed his chest and falls to the ground, pretending he’s dying," he shared with the outlet. "I remember thinking, ‘Oh, he’s a performer.’ He’s not going to be Messi. He’s an artist on some level, he values experience.”

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Related: Donald Glover Jokes His Three Sons Have Taught Him 'So Much About' Needing to Take a Break (Exclusive)

Still, allowing Legend to join him on the album with their duet "Can You Feel Me" was a tough decision for Glover. “He has really good pitch, and he was always interested in what I was doing,” he told the outlet of his 8-year-old.

“In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have my kids in the business,” he shared. “I don’t love the industry, it does something to people…. So it was hard, but he’s really good and I was super proud of him."

He continued, "I wanted to share that joy with people — which is scary, because in general, when a large group of people sees something beautiful, they want to destroy it.”

Glover shares all three sons with his wife Michelle White.

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In February, the rapper chatted with PEOPLE ahead of the premiere of his television show Mr. and Mrs. Smith, where he was asked if his own parenting experience informed his acting choices throughout the series.

"My brother had just become a new father as well so a lot of it was like the parenting stuff of like, 'You're driving me up a wall, but you're the most important thing right now.' " Glover told PEOPLE.

"'I need to take a break.' They teach you so much about, 'Oh I need to take a break.' And the world is brand new to them which also gives you such a big joy in another way."

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