LOS ANGELES — GloRilla, who entered the hip-hop arena with notable tracks such as “Tomorrow” and “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”, has been making waves in the rap industry since her emergence a few years back, even receiving a Grammy nomination. However, alongside her rapid rise in fame, she also had to contend with mounting pressures and scrutiny within the industry.

She began to overanalyze her decisions and felt affected by some of the criticisms she faced. “They started downing me. It was kind of getting to me,” remarked the Memphis native. Recently, she unveiled her first studio album titled “Glorious,” featuring an impressive lineup of artists, including Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Sexyy Red, Kirk Franklin, T-Pain, Kierra Sheard, and BossMan Dlow. GloRilla aimed to demonstrate her versatility in this new project by merging themes of romance, gospel, and crunk-infused melodies.

However, before she could manifest her artistic vision through this new album, GloRilla had to reconnect with her artistic instincts. “Anytime I would put out a song, they weren’t really feeling it,” shared the 25-year-old star, whose Hitkidd-produced track “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” earned a Grammy nomination for best rap performance in 2023. “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.”

Transforming from a choir girl to a commanding rap figure, GloRilla relied on her faith. She spent more time in the studio, practiced positive affirmations, kept her mind clear, established a consistent exercise routine, and allowed her creativity to flourish. This productive phase led to the release of her mixtape “Ehhthang Ehhthang,” featuring popular songs like “Wanna Be” with Megan Thee Stallion and the viral hit “Yeah Glo!”, which garnered buzz and recognition from celebrities such as LeBron James and even President Joe Biden.

“I was shocked,” she recounted. “I knew it was a good song. Every time I played it for people, they loved it. I didn’t know it would go as crazy as it did.” While GloRilla was pleasantly surprised by the reception of the hit, Yo Gotti had long recognized her potential. He was drawn to her authenticity and unique rap style enhanced by her distinct Southern accent.

“It’s the authenticity,” explained Yo Gotti, the rapper and music executive responsible for signing GloRilla to his Collective Music Group label in 2022. Gotti, known for chart-topping tracks like “Down in the DM” and “Rake It Up,” praised GloRilla’s ability to connect with her audience. “Even when she talks about the struggles throughout this journey, it’s refreshing… I think that’s why so many people gravitate to her. She relates to real people.”

With Gotti’s guidance, GloRilla discovered a reliable mentor. “Anytime I have a problem, he’s always giving me great advice,” she shared. “He’s already been through the mistakes, so he tries to steer me away from that. He’s always telling me the right thing to do.” Last year proved particularly challenging when a tragic incident during one of her concerts in upstate New York resulted in the deaths of three women due to a stampede. The incident left her “heartbroken,” although investigations showed no wrongdoing on her part.

Despite this tragedy, GloRilla’s reputation remained intact, and her profile has soared recently, establishing her as one of the most promising new talents in rap. “She’s a star,” noted Yo Gotti. “Not just in music creation — she understands how to work, her honesty, and dedication to the art. Some desire to be stars but lack understanding of the effort required. She embodies it all.”

This year, GloRilla participated as a guest performer on the U.S. leg of Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer Tour, which bolstered her confidence as she entertained in sold-out venues. She was also featured at an exclusive event hosted by entrepreneur Michael Rubin, where she performed in front of stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian. Adding to her accolades, Rihanna recently shared a video of herself enjoying GloRilla’s single “TGIF,” which debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In March, GloRilla marked Women’s History Month with a visit to the White House, where she interacted with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, even playfully changing her song “Yeah Glo!” to “Yeah Joe!” during the occasion. Last month, Beyoncé praised her as one of her favorite up-and-coming artists. Additionally, GloRilla was honored by the Memphis mayor with a key to the city for her accomplishments and got the chance to meet players and head coach Mike Tomlin at a Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

Overall, GloRilla is living her aspirations. “Sometimes I think I’m going to wake up and this is not going to happen no more,” she confessed. “It hasn’t hit me all the way. I’m living it and going through the motions, but it still doesn’t feel real sometimes.”