Two years ago, Memphis native, GloRilla released “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” and it became a viral sensation from YouTube to TikTok. Eventually peaking at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, earning a Best Rap Performance nomination at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, and landing a record deal from hip-hop veteran and fellow Memphis native, Yo Gotti.

Since her breakout success, GloRilla has released her EP, Anyways, Life’s Great that included the hit “Tomorrow 2” featuring Cardi B and her mixtape, Ehhthang Ehhthang the hit, “Yeah Glo!.” Both followed by her being a guest on Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer Tour.

With a consistent run of releasing music and doing shows, GloRilla carefully and patiently took her time to craft her debut album. Back in July, GloRilla shared a March 2023 DM from Rihanna that read, “I know dis wild hypocritical, but when the album drop?”

1. INTRO

On the first track from Glorious, GloRilla takes us down memory lane from the last three years. Reminiscing about her days of driving a Buick and working at Checkers. She also reflects on where she is right now in her life and career and address making headlines for a DUI arrest. “Police pulled me over, caught me slippin’ but I’m sober now/Sh** feel like a dream, I’m overseas with the team,” she raps.

At the end of the song, GloRilla uses an audio clip taken from one of her IG lives that address how she was feeling after criticism she received from her single “Cha Cha”, which was suppose to be the lead single from her debut album.

Y’all made me feel real crazy
And I want y’all to know that
So I came back with a, with a vengeance, you feel me?
But you know, I love criticism
You know what I’m sayin’, learn from your mistakes and you do better
I’m really here to tell y’all I’m on that, I’m back on that
I’m never getting off of that, you feel me?
It’s always gonna be what it is
At the end of the motherfuckin’ day, the day gonna motherfuckin’ end
On the gang

The production, lyrics, and outro audio clip on the opening track really set the time for the album.

2. HOLLON

The official second single from Glorious is “Hollon.” The track heavily samples DJ Unk’s “Hold On Ho” from 2007. On this club banger, Glorilla raps “Ho, you must not know what you just started/Me and my bit**** go gnarly/Give a f*** about this party/We gon’ step on sh** regardless.” This is one that is guaranteed to amp you up. Or at least make you bop your head, move your shoulders, or move a foot from side to side if there is breath in your body. The nostalgic vibes from the track take you back to the crunk era that lived from 2003 to 2008ish.

3. PROCEDURE featuring Latto

“Procedure” starts with GloRilla asking “what’s the procedure when a bad b**** walk in the room”, followed by an audio clip from Vivica Fox’s character Frankie in the movie, Set It Off. The track features Latto and finds both GloRilla and Latto going back and forth on the hook, making it one of the standout deliveries on the album.

4. TGIF

The empowering single ladies anthem and first official single from the album, “TGIF” keeps the albums rolling with its pumped up production and energetic vibes. The heavily quotable track was highly teased and previewed before being released and had all the ladies singing along all summer.

“It’s 7pm Friday (yup) / It’s 95 degrees (woo) / I ain’t got no n***a / And no n***a ain’t got me / I’m about to show my a** / These n***s love a freak / How the f*ck is that your man? (huh) / If he right here with me,” she raps on the track.

5. Whatchu Kno About Me featuring Sexxy Red

The hyped set of the album continues with the Sexxy Red featured, “Whatchu Kno About Me.” The official third single from the album samples the 2007 hit “Wipe Me Down.” Sexxy Red flows effortlessly and relaxed on the second verse rapping “ratchets bit**** shaking to the beat, shake that a** for Glo and me”.

6. Stop Playing

The album transitions into more mellow vibes with “Stop Playing.” This track is a self affirmation record. Glo raps “her problems, she smoke ’em/ they slept, she woke ’em/
she did it, she showed ’em/ ayy, stop playin’ with that girl.”

7. Don’t Deserve featuring Muni Long

“Don’t Deserve” is a collaboration with r&b heavyweight, Muni Long that puts you in the mind of “Love Is Blind” by Eve. A women empowerment record addressing domestic violence happening towards a best friend. Long delivers on the chorus singing, “That nigga don’t deserve my friend. He don’t know what to do with a bad bitch. That nigga don’t deserve my friend. Ghetto niggas treatin’ you like you average. Don’t ever let him cheat on you. Don’t ever let him beat on you. No tellin’ what a fuck nigga will do. He ain’t a real man. That nigga don’t deserve my friend”.

8. Rain Down On Me featuring Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Kierra Sheard, and Chandler Moore

The sound of piano and organ keys that take you to a southern baptist church and commentary from Kirk Franklin starts “Rain Down On Me”. A gospel track that’s in the center of the album where Glo raps, “it’s hard to talk about my blessings, they be saying I’m acting cocky. Always and forever humble, they just don’t wanna see me pop it”. Kierra Sheard sings to Glo on the record with “Mama ain’t call you Glo for no reason. Go on and glow it up, girl, it’s ya season. No matter where you go, you can still grow. No matter where you go, you can still glow”.

9. Glo’s Prayer

“Glo’s Prayer” continues with mellow production and finds GloRilla talking to The Lord and praying for guidance and help on how to leave a man alone. A more vulnerable side of Glo as she states that the only man that showed her love correctly was her father.

10. How I Look featuring Megan Thee Stallion

After toning it down on the last five tracks, Glo brings back the foot stomping and sh** popping vibes on “How I Look” featuring frequent collaborator, Megan Thee Stallion. The two minute record find the two holding themselves to a higher standard than with all of the cockiness. Megan raps, “How I look confessin’ to these nig*** ’bout my bodies?
When he a ho too, and he still gon’ give me sloppy”.

11. I Ain’t Going

Just like track 7, “I Ain’t Going” finds GloRilla addressing domestic violence, but this time with a hard hitting production and a not so mellow flow and approach. She lets it be known that there is zero tolerance for physical abuse and warns that she can hold her own and protect herself. On the hook she raps, “I ain’t goin’ for all that ruff me up and grab me by the neck. Nig** put his hands on me, we gon’ be smokin’ on him next.”

12. Step featuring BossMan Dlow

On “Step”, GloRilla describes what she needs in a man and talk about she’s coming in with her other half. She raps, ” Don’t want nothin’ soft, I need a stepper, baby, stomp the yard.
I’m rubbin’ on his chest soon as he show me he got heart.” BossMan Dlow matches the energy on this track with boasting about how he will spoil whoever he’s dealing with.

13. Let Her Cook

One of the catchiest productions on the album is from “Let Her Cook.” It samples Isaac Hayes’ “Ike’s Mood.” The fun and energetic song is delivered with care free vibes and miscellaneous lyrics.

14. I Luv Her featuring T-Pain

You can’t go wrong having T-Pain singing on a hook. GloRilla once again takes us back to 2010ish days and bring nostalgic vibes with the T-Pain assisted “I Luv Her.” This song finds GloRilla letting us in on her mushy and vulnerable side. She raps, “It’s the fact that I’m hard on nig***/ But no lie, you makin’ me feel different.”

15. Queen of Memphis featuring Fridayy

The album’s outro is as perfect as the album’s intro here. “Queen of Memphis” ends Glorius with Glorilla stating how she’s grateful, still real, how she want all of her friends and family to elevate, and how she is the queen of Memphis with no debating. On the chorus, Fridayy sings, “Too many gone, I’m all alone now. But I thank God, I found away, I’m finally here now. Standing strong. Same ones who saw you come up, they wanna see you down. But I knew I was a chosen one when I made it out”.

On Glorious, GloRilla definitely showed us all of her. She took us to the club, took us to church. She sat us down to talk about the good and bad in relationships. She talked about success, thriving, and making it out while giving affirmations. It was a Glorious debut.