When did you fall in love with hip-hop? For me, it was the first time I heard “Do you understand the metaphoric phrase ‘Lyte as a rock?’ It’s explaining, how heavy the young lady is…” It was women like MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Left Eye, and yes even Lil Kim who taught me that my voice, and my perspective, are important in every space, including hip-hop. Women, especially Black women, have always had to work twice as hard to prove themselves just as worthy. Whether it’s music or motherhood, from the booth to the boardroom, the effort to make ourselves feel seen and heard is often an uphill battle, but once you get to the top, the view is priceless.
In the mid to early 2000s, we saw the rise of global superstar Nicki Minaj as she curated a lane of her own with few women, or men, at the time who could compete with her talent and her success. Then came Cardi B who became the prototype and the poster child for the reality show to record deal pipeline. Cardi came in hot, confident, and smart with a clear blueprint to success, ushering in a new generation of artists who have created an ecosystem of sisterhood in hip-hop that many of us probably haven’t seen since the 90s.
One of those is GloRilla, rap’s favorite little sister. After Glo came on the scene with the single girl’s anthem of the summer “FNF” or “F*ck Ni$$a Free” back in 2022, she teamed up with Cardi for their song “Tomorrow” which has gone triple platinum in my household. The streets are saying that what attracts people to GloRilla is not only the energy she carries but how her music has a way of speaking life into you while also getting you ready to fight anything in your way. But with a government name like Gloria Hallelujah, are we really surprised? On the heels of the recent release of her debut album “Glorious” the reviews are consistent across the board of it being one of the best solo projects this year. It’s giving street gospel meets ratchet R&B meets hood affirmations, hitting you straight in the chest like Tennessee whiskey.
The album starts with “Ridin round bumpin gangsta music…” or as she would say “Murzick” in the intro which easily sets the tone for the rest of the project. It transitions into “Hollon” and then into the first bad bitch ballad, “Procedure” which features THEE Georgia peach, Big Mama, AKA Latto. Next comes her debut single from the album “TGIF”, and let’s just say, that 7 pm on Fridays hasn’t been the same ever since. I gotta say, even for someone who grew up in the era of Khia, Trina, and some of the raunchiest New Orleans bounce music, I think the grown woman in me wasn’t the biggest Sexyy Red fan at first, although I understood the fact that every artist has their audience, so I get it. But this next song is definitely one of my favorites on the album, and it’s sure to be a dancefloor hit. “Whatchu Kno About Me” feat. Sexyy Red is a sample of Lil Boosie’s “Wipe Me Down” remixed perfectly. It’s the club collaboration we didn’t know we needed.
Speaking of club hits, she teams again with her bestie Megan Thee Stallion for chart-topper “How I Look”, another project that amplifies the current sisterhood within hip-hop that I was speaking on earlier. Like Meg and Cardi, and even Meg and Bey, Meg and Glo make magic together and help set the tone for holding the door for each other in this dog-eat-dog industry. “Let Her Cook” and “Stop Playing” are the songs that can go from my gospel playlist to my workout playlist to me writing the lyrics on post-it notes and hanging them around my house for inspiration. It’s me, looking at myself in the mirror, battling with my alter ego and insecurities like Issa Rae saying, “Stop playing with that girl!!” Don’t get it twisted though, even hood girls have a heart, “I Luv Her” feat. T-Pain is a whole vibe and takes us back to when rapping about love was cool, which is made obvious in the newly released video feat. Haitian American actor Da’Vinchi, most well-known for his roles in All American and BMG: An American Crime Story. Her other R&B mash-up comes as she teamed up with Muni Long for “Don’t Deserve”, another one of my faves, which gives very much Eve “Love is Blind” vs Destiny’s Child’s “Girl” a story about friendship, boundaries, consequences, and unconditional love. In typical Gloria Hallelujah fashion, she linked up with Kirk Franklin, Kierra Sheard, and Maverick City Music for “Rain Down On Me” a play on words from Kirk Franklin and the Family’s “Melodies From Heaven” which has become a staple in Black American households. The album then closes out with “Queen of Memphis” feat. Fridayyy, another inspirational bop that makes you want to roll down the windows and be thankful for the little and the big things on a crisp sunny day.
From beginning to end, “Glorious” is one of the most well-put-together projects of the year, and it makes me excited for what’s to come in women’s hip hop.
