GloRilla emerges as the people's champion with 'Glorious'
GloRilla's debut studio album release, 'Glorious', had moments for everyone to enjoy as the Memphis rapper spotlights faith, family and Friday.
Dancing to a custom song starring the Jennifer Hudson production crew, GloRilla two-stepped down a homemade soul train line, tossing in a signature dance here and there as staff celebrated her arrival. Once on stage, GloRilla gushed over JHud about as much as the audience was enamored with her. “Your energy, your light is just so infectious,” Hudson explained to Glo. And I think that’s the word that describes GloRilla’s career thus far. Infectious. The release of Glorious, the Memphis rapper’s debut studio album, unfolded a new wave of energy and excitement behind her with good reason.
In 2022, F.N.F. sparked a swift movement. A turnt Gloria Hallelujah Woods took to the neighborhood with friends by her side to have a good old time twerking on headlights. She wasn’t some overnight sensation who hadn’t participated in the grind, though. Three years prior, she released Most Likely Up Next. It wasn’t an industry-polished project but tracks like “Steph Curry” and “GMFU” showed a young woman with a developing pen and the determination to tell the stories she’s lived.
Glorious presents as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Throughout the debut, GloRilla chronicles her faith, relationships and growth with a substantial focus on empowerment. She communicates her ideals with such fervor that it feels genuine and relatable. Glo has a tight grip on the pulse of the people and keeps an entire audience on the line until track 15.
GloRilla is known for club bangers, but Glorious is a body of work complete with explorations of freedom, love and fame. Initially, “Intro” comes on and we listen to her talk about her professional and personal glow-up. She pulls back the curtain with swift mention of a viral DUI arrest at the hands of Suwanee police officers by saying, “Police pulled me over, caught me slippin’ but I’m sober now.” GloRilla also makes sure to let us know that she heard the “one hit wonder” whispers.
At the end of 2022, after the initial spark that F.N.F. became, GloRilla and the CMG Label released Anyway, Life’s Great, Grammy-nominated single included. With the exception of songs like “Blessed” and “Tomorrow 2”, none of the project’s tracks carried too far into 2023. A slew of commercially unsuccessful melodies and a Fivio Foreign collaboration later, Gloria was left questioning herself. “Anytime I put out a song, they weren’t really feeling it,” she lamented as she spoke with AP News. “I lost a little confidence. But I knew I could get it back. That’s why I didn’t give up. I took it as motivation.” It’s a belief in herself that comes from more than confidence, yet from a faith that’s deep-rooted in her upbringing.
“Hallelujah” as a middle name should have been the great identifier. If the audience had yet to recognize how instrumental GloRilla’s spirituality was in her life, “Rain Down on Me” featuring Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Kierra Sheard and Chandler Moore was the bible in the glove compartment. An unlikely collaboration turned into a soulful Memphis hymn spotlighting how grateful she is for her success and a call to shield those she loves from harm. Glo’s family background is rooted in religion, as she’s one of 10 children who were each prominently active in the church and prohibited from listening to secular music.
In an article with Relevant Magazine, she emphasizes how important God is to her journey. “I always have to put God first in whatever I do, you know what I’m saying?” she said. “I just don’t let too much negativity get to me.”
GloRilla moves throughout Glorious with clarity and poise. I credit much of the project's cohesion and seamless transition throughout to the producers featured on the debut studio album.
And there were a lot of them. I feel like I have to preface this with the fact that I love the music. I understand how collaborative the industry has become, and it has contributed to its growth. I also am starting to miss the connection that producers and artists developed as more of a pair than a squad.
I am impressed at how cohesive the album felt even in the presence of so many creative minds in the room. In Glo’s case, several of the producers have collaborated previously, which I’m assuming creates an air of familiarity even in the studio with a new artist. For “Intro”, producers Go Grizzly and B100 met again after creatively connecting previously on songs like “Truth Is” for Detroit singer Queen Naija and “Yeah, Glo” while meeting up again for GloRilla’s “How I Look”, a back-and-forth snipe-session between Glo and Megan Thee Stallion. Grammy Award-winning London Jae joined the two on both Glorious tracks as well.
The transitions, like the one hosted by Keelondn on the Bossman Dlow-featured “Step” that slides into “Let Her Cook” are (chef’s kiss). The good part about having so many creative hands on the project is the variety of drum patterns and schemes throughout the album. “I Luv Her” was sent over by T-Pain’s longtime friend and show DJ, DJ Montay, and the deep basslines swarmed by an auto-tuned T-Pain and GloRilla’s gritty tone create a melodic rap dream. The layered synths and atmospheric sounds from South Carolina’s Supah Mario on “Procedure” build a dynamic landscape for the Southern trap elements he sprinkles all over the track. Linked with Gotti’s ability to arrange the songs to carry the album through, the producers GloRilla dialed up delivered masterfully.
The conversations she had on her album about allowed her to authentically align with all of us. Who can’t relate when Muni Long sings, “That nigga don’t deserve my friend”? “Don’t Deserve” is an anointed anthem for any friend that has watched someone they love give their all to a person who everyone else knew didn’t earn it. Glo spends just under 4 minutes uplifting homegirls around the world to discover themselves again, separate from a man.
“I Ain’t Going” digs even deeper into a similar tone, as the Memphis rapper addresses hypothetical domestic violence by warning anybody willing to try. “Nigga put his hands on me, we gon’ be smokin’ on him next.” GloRilla is so boisterous and direct throughout, but the message isn’t diluted. It feels like a major directive she had for this project was to connect and inspire. Whether it was by speaking truth to another woman’s pain or putting the stamp of approval on Friday, the audience is hanging onto her words because she presents as one of us. One of all of us.
Glorious showed up in October with a tracklist that will cascade well into 2025’s playlist. GloRilla’s ability to absorb criticism and pivot has allowed her to emerge as the people’s champion. Arenas screamed Glo’s name as Megan Thee Stallion hyped her new bestie up on the “Hot Girl Summer” tour.
GloRilla is headlining the GLORIOUS tour soon. She sat down with Ebro and Apple Music to break down the project and admitted to being excited about new music. Another chance to give the audience what we’re looking for. G
loRilla has learned how to tell our stories in ways that engage, entertain and empathize with us. We can’t help but love her for it.