LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� has gone from choir girl to husky-voiced rap queen, climbing the hip-hop ranks so high that she鈥檚 earned a trip to the White House.
The Memphis-born performer has become one of industry鈥檚 most promising voices with her genuine character, rap flow and unmistakable Southern drawl. She established herself this year as a proven hitmaker with 鈥淲anna Be鈥� featuring Megan Thee Stallion and the breakout hit 鈥淵eah Glo!,鈥� which earned two nominations at
The rapper鈥檚 mentality this year has been to 鈥減ut your foot on the gas and don鈥檛 let up,鈥� she told The Associated Press.
In 2024 alone, she's been a guest performer on the domestic leg of Megan's Hot Girl Summer Tour, gaining more confidence performing in sold-out arenas. She's performed at a star-studded party in front of celebrities ranging from to , and met with President Joe Biden during a women's history month event.
All of this came before the October release of her critically acclaimed debut album 鈥淕lorious,鈥� whose 鈥淭GIF鈥� had dancing in a social media post, earning GloRilla a spot as one of
鈥淒on鈥檛 ever get too comfortable,鈥� said the rapper, who burst onto the hip-hop scene in 2022 with 鈥淭omorrow鈥� and the Grammy-nominated 鈥淔.N.F. (Let鈥檚 Go).鈥� 鈥淭ake advantage of everything that comes your way. If you drive and apply yourself, it鈥檚 going to happen.鈥�
GloRilla's humble beginnings served as a driving force to chase bigger horizons. Born Gloria Hallelujah Woods (the stage name was a cousin's suggestion), the 25-year-old credits her mother and her church-centered upbringing for preparing her for this pivotal moment in her life.
鈥淢y momma always told me to be humble and grateful,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 come from nothing almost. My mom is well mannered. My mom taught us right, like, internally, have a great spirit. My personality and spirit come from my momma.鈥�
GloRilla is still adjusting to her rising fame while dealing with some controversies. She was left 鈥渉eartbroken鈥� after three women were killed in a toward the end of a 2023 concert in upstate New York in which investigators found no criminal wrongdoing. She faced backlash for using a disability-related slur in her lyrics and was charged with this year.
Despite that, her profile has grown in recent months to become one of rap's biggest names 鈥� thanks to something rapper Yo Gotti spotted when he signed her to his Collective Music Group label in 2022.
鈥淚t's the authenticity,鈥� said Yo Gotti, a fellow Memphis native. 鈥淓ven when she talks about the struggles throughout this journey, it鈥檚 refreshing. I don鈥檛 think many artists do that. Everybody wants to play perfect. I think that鈥檚 why so many people gravitate to her. She relates to real people.鈥�
While she enjoys snapping photos with fans, she opts for incognito mode on her more casual days: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like to tell people 鈥楴o.鈥� I don鈥檛 want to be mean to my fans. That's probably the worst part. I hate taking pictures when I'm not prepared.鈥�
Seeking a career role model, GloRilla often examines the work ethic of who called the rapper one of her favorite young artists.
鈥淪he鈥檚 a businesswoman. She multitasks a lot,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I have to get better at. She鈥檚 a super hard worker. Her work ethic is crazy.鈥�
GloRilla could follow Beyonc茅's footsteps as an actor. Since childhood, she's dreamed of starring in a film or TV show 鈥� though she's bracing herself for the marathon days on set that come with it.
鈥淭hink I鈥檓 still going to do it,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 not going to lie. When I鈥檓 on those music video sets, I be like 鈥業 don鈥檛 know if I can do acting.鈥� I can only imagine how many times I got to say the script and memorize in my head. I don鈥檛 know. ... But I'm going to still try it.鈥�
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Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
