Source: Warner Bros. TV / Getty
Rapper GloRilla always had plans to have the no. 1 spot on your playlist but hip hop was not her first genre of choice.
On a recent visit to the Tamron Hall Show, GloRilla, 25, revealed she originally had plans of becoming a gospel singer. Influenced by her strict Christian upbringing, the artist whose real name is Gloria Hallelujah – yes, Gloria Hallelujah – imagined that creating gospel hits would be her claim to fame.
GloRilla’s love for music started in the church where she and her nine siblings sang in the gospel choir. “Amazing Grace” and “Encourage Yourself” were her go-to selections. Music from the ministry shaped her perspective as the artist admits she spent much of her time in church and was not allowed to listen to secular songs.
“Both my mom and dad were Christians, and we were in church all the time,” the Memphis-based artist said. “If church could’ve been open seven days a week, we would’ve been there every day.”
Fans were curious to know how and when she made the switch to mainstream hip-hop. She shared how the transition to public school from homeschool paired with her growing affinity for the musical style prompted the change.
The Memphis native says though her style has changed, her faith in God remains.
“I always have to put God first in whatever I do,” she said. “I just don’t let too much negativity get to me.”
She also shared that she and her mom are still close and pray for one another.
“One thing about my mom is that she always asks, ‘What can I do? Do you need me to be your stylist?’” she joked. “And I’m like, ‘Mom, the only thing I need you to do is pray for me. Keep me in your prayers.’”
Gospel music’s influence on GloRilla is also still prevalent. Her new album, Glorious, features popular gospel artists Kirk Franklin, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, and Maverick City Music.
Though the artist has been rapping since 2019, her big break came after releasing “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” in 2022, one of her most recognizable songs to date.
In 2022, she won the BET Hip Hop Award for Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist. The following year iHeartRadio Music Awards named her Best New Hip Hop Artist and nominated for BET Hip Hop Award Best Female Hip Hop Artist.
Her other accolades include a Grammy nomination for “F.N.F (Let’s Go),” Billboard Hot 100 and Top 40 placements for her singles “Yeah Glo!” and “Wanna Be,” and Top 10 placement for her single “Tomorrow,” which also reached double platinum status.
Her debut EP, Anyways, Life’s Great, entered the Billboard 200 at no. 11, and her debut commercial mixtape, Ehhthang Ehhthang, peaked at no. 18.
RELATED: 20 Hip-Hop and R&B Songs Giving God His Props
In May of 2024, Glo signed to Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group record label, a subsidiary of Interscope Records. And this past September, the decorated performer was presented with the key to Memphis, Tennessee during her hometown’s 901 Day Celebration in Downtown Memphis. She’s the third artist to receive the key including Drake and her label boss, Yo Gotti.
Watch her explain her Christian roots below:
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The post Gloria Hallelujah: GloRilla Shares How Her Christian Upbringing Shaped Her Hip-Hop Career appeared first on Elev8.