GloRilla's debut album 'Glorious' is set to release this Friday, and the rapper sits down to discuss it in detail. She shares her preparation for the album, the mentorship she received from J. Cole, her friendship with Megan Thee Stallion and possibility of a joint album, her friendship with Damian Lillard, and more!
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00:00each other about this because like this gonna make the other I want to talk. She facetimed me
00:04yesterday while I was getting on the plane. He was the goat of his time. He's still a goat.
00:10Hey, what's up guys? It's Glorilla and you're watching Billboard News.
00:16Today's a glorious day. Yeah. Because we got Big Glo, Miss Glorilla, and the bell that in New York
00:24City with us. The way you've been wrecking shit. Might as well say that. How you feeling?
00:29I feel great. I feel glorious. Your album comes out. I'm super excited. Never been so excited in
00:33my life. I mean, you put out two dope projects, obviously. Everything, everything. Talk about
00:41how that project specifically had you ready to go for your debut album. Okay, so actually last year
00:48I posted drop my debut album, but I was just still, you know what I'm saying? Getting used to
00:52stuff and working a lot and trying to figure out, you know what I'm saying? When the top of the year
00:57came, I had the project basically done and I'm like, okay, I gotta get him a mixtape before I get
01:03him the album because I went a whole year really without dropping anything. So that's why I said,
01:08I'm gonna give him the mixtape first, get him back used to me, give him a feel of me and then
01:12that's gonna prep me for the album. Mixtape did good and it did what it's supposed to do, which
01:16prepped me for my album. I mean, listen, we're talking about three surefire bangers this year,
01:22T.J.I. Yeah. It's 7 p.m. Friday, it's 95 degrees. Yeah, Glow. Two-tone cardio master nails, ho.
01:31Wannabe. Go me, go me, go me, go me, go me. Did you anticipate this kind of success? That's still
01:38the three top tens on the Billboard R&B hip-hop charts. I was praying for it. I didn't, you know
01:43what I'm saying? Know if it was gonna come or not. I was praying for it though and manifesting it. I
01:48know you had a little rough patch. You had put out the Cha-Cha record, which kind of brought your
01:51confidence down a little bit, but then you just resurged. Talk about that period trying to find
01:56your swag and your stride back in. So I really like this one. Yeah. I really love this one.
02:05When people didn't like it, it did fuck with my confidence a little bit. I'm like, wow, so do I
02:08not like what y'all like no more? Like, do I not got a good taste in music? Yeah. Yeah, when I had
02:14dropped this one and everybody just hated it so bad, it just really made me go back to the
02:19drum board and it pushed me to go ten times harder. When you made Yeah Glow, because that
02:23came out top of the year, when did you realize you had a hit on your hands? Because I know you
02:28said like you had teased it. I know Cole had hit you and said, yo, this is a banger. When did you
02:31know you had one on you? Actually, when I first made it, when it was in the studio and all the
02:36people was in the studio, everybody liked it. And every time I played for somebody, they'll like it.
02:44They'll be like, wow, this young hard, this the one. Yeah. And when I previewed it and it went up,
02:49that's how I knew too. I don't know if you caught this. Those are the little mix caps
02:52we're playing with online. I think they put like your vocals on Yeah Glow to the 50
02:57Wangsta joint. You ever thought about doing a little New York flip on that or? I thought about
03:03it. I'm kind of scared to do a New York beat. 50 would let you rock on that. I know that. Yeah,
03:07I know he would, but I'm just scared of New York beats. Don't do that. Don't do that. We don't
03:13Big Glow can walk on a New York beat. I'm gonna try it again. What was a bigger moment for you
03:18this year? Seeing RiRi rap TGIF or you hanging out with Miss Beyonce Knowles? Both of them
03:25like was incredible. Like RiRi asking for the album and dancing to the song. RiRi don't be
03:31dancing to people's songs. She don't be rapping to people's songs. For real, like she don't do
03:35that. And when she did that, I was like, wow. Because, you know, people always say that that's
03:39my twin. They be hating on me. But yeah, I hate it because I love RiRi. I'm a big fan of RiRi.
03:46And Beyonce, I'm the biggest fan of Beyonce. Yeah, that was my third time meeting her and
03:50she always so sweet every time. I love her. I love that. I love that. I mean, listen,
03:55I had spoke to Meg. I told her flat out because I put the idea in your head when we spoke a couple
04:00months ago and I brought it to her. I said, you and you and Glow need to do a joint album together.
04:06When I spoke to her, she was like, oh, fuck, yeah. And you had said it would be crunk as shit.
04:09Did y'all speak about it ever since? Is it something you could entertain maybe later in
04:14the future? Oh, yeah, for sure. You see how I be manifesting? You see how I be manifesting?
04:28It's just me and Meg, like I never really thought like I really don't have a lot of
04:32industry friends. You know what I'm saying? Like I got associates, you know, they cool,
04:37blah, blah, blah. But like me and Meg really didn't get cool. Like, you know, I didn't expect
04:42it. Yeah, but she FaceTimed me yesterday while I was getting on the plane. Just talking crazy
04:48and funny. Like we really didn't gain like a bun. One time we went out in New York,
04:54out here. We were playing a game. I can't think of the name of the place. It was some type of
04:58gamer place with some liquor in it. Yeah. And so we went there and we was playing Mario Kart.
05:03Me and my brother, we was talking. And so she said, y'all over there cheating. Y'all over there
05:08speaking Mephonese and shit. Mephonese. Like, oh my God. Like I be thinking about that and just
05:13busting out laughing. I didn't know Mephonese was a thing. Right. I guess it's a strong old
05:18accent we got. And so she couldn't understand what we were saying. So she was like, yeah,
05:21y'all over there speaking Mephonese. Y'all cheating. Let me find out how Glo got busy
05:25on the Mario Kart 2. Yeah. Who you run away with a Mario Kart? We weren't even on teams on there,
05:30but you know, I actually sucked playing that first time because I ain't played in so long.
05:34Right. But back when I used to play, that used to be my favorite game. I love that. I love that.
05:38You mentioned in New York, I'm assuming was this the same night that Cardi came out? It was you,
05:43Cardi and Meg. That was a freaking moment. Probably one of my favorite moments this year.
05:48What did that moment feel like for you on stage at the Mecca, the Garden? Y'all three together
05:52sharing the stage. Well, it was actually so crazy. I really like my, like, I don't know what it's
05:59called. Did I get something? Did I fumble my words and shit? Like, like, it's like my mind be telling
06:03me one thing and my mouth tell me another. But I had made a mistake and announced the remix to
06:08Wannabe by mistake. And I was like, oh my God, I feel so bad. Like I went to the back. I want to
06:13say nobody bring it back up. I want to forgive these people. Cause I remember that shit like
06:1610 minutes later started going all over IG. Yeah. Like I was like, fuck, fuck, fuck. Like,
06:22because no, like I was throwing up because it was Cardi. She couldn't hear in her ears. Like
06:26her ears weren't working. Every time I look over to her, she was mouthing something to me. She was
06:30like, so I'm like, I don't know what she's saying. And so I was like, is she talking about the
06:35remix? Like, so I just, something in my head said, fuck it, say it. And so I said it, but
06:42they didn't have the song. I'm like, oh shit. I don't know. I was so embarrassed that night.
06:49I mean, y'all played it all pretty well. I don't think cats really caught it because
06:52the energy was so high. Yeah. I don't think they caught it, but I feel so bad. I was like,
06:56oh my God. I mean, listen, it worked out. Wannabe remix ended up being a top 15
07:03record on the hot 100. So congratulations. Thank you. But now J Cole, I know he's been a dope,
07:08dope person to just bounce back ideas from. Talk about that relationship you've got with him.
07:13I love J Cole. He's a wonderful person. He has a, he has a beautiful spirit and stuff.
07:18And he just always, he gives me a hundred percent, his honest opinion about everything. Like he don't
07:23sugarcoat nothing. And that's what I can appreciate about him. He always tells me
07:27what he feels like, you know what I'm saying? Like it's him being the goat that he is,
07:31the goat that he is. He always tells me like what he feels is good or what I need to fix.
07:36And so I can talk to him anytime. Like if I, if he don't answer the phone, he gonna call me back.
07:41I love that. So like, especially going into glorious, your debut album,
07:45like how receptive were you to constructive criticism? Obviously you love receiving it,
07:50but for this album, knowing that this is your baby, talk about that.
07:53I realized he had a lot of criticism this year because you know, everything just been going.
07:59But like I said, I do love criticism because criticism is put a battery in my back. So I
08:03ain't bad as people always make it. So maybe they right. You know what I'm saying? You got
08:08to listen to the people sometime and take heed to what they want to hear. Blah jay, blah jay.
08:13And so yeah, everything just, it just flowed like so well into the album. Like it wasn't
08:19really nothing super strategic. Literally everything just flowed together.
08:23You this year got a big, big key to the city from Memphis. How did that feel for you?
08:29I feel legendary already. Like I feel like a living legend, a young living legend. Like a
08:35lot of people ain't got the key to the city of Memphis yet. And so for me to be like two years
08:40into my career and get it, I feel like very appreciative and that's what I'm gonna continue
08:45to put on for the city. Yeah. I know it had to be a dope homecoming for you, especially
08:49going back to Memphis when you and Meg did the tour together. How was that night specifically?
08:53It was lit. They turned up. Like I was like, wow, Memphis lit. Cause sometimes Memphis like,
08:58you know what I'm saying? That'd just be cool. But that night the energy was through the roof.
09:03Like they turned up. Like I wanted to cry on stage. Like I love Memphis man.
09:09You know, I went to the show, uh, at MSG, you and Meg, you were talking about New York,
09:15casting New York, you know, when it comes to performing, they not scared
09:18to let them know what time it is. You did your fucking thing that night.
09:24Thank you. At MSG. I feel like a whole new level of confidence, especially as a performer.
09:29What have you taken away from this tour in regards to your ability as a performer?
09:34You know, I feel like every tour, cause that was my third tour. I feel like every tour,
09:37every tour I get better and I get, I've just gained my confidence throughout the years. And then
09:43I had just started going to the gym at the top of the year. That built my confidence,
09:47you know, I'm on stage flexing. I see you. Yeah. So I was just like, I was just more confident
09:54cause you know, I was exercising, eating right, stretching before everything. So they just made
10:00it better. And of course I was smoking my dope, you know what I'm saying? There you go. And
10:04sipping my little, you know, my little liquor to get me ready before the shows and stuff. So
10:10that actually was one of my favorite, best tours. Like I had so much fun. I wish we could redo it.
10:15It was so fun. I heard somebody is a Steelers fan. That's right. What's up? I mean, I can't say
10:21cause I'm a Giants fan and we, we suck right now. Y'all sucked for the last how many years?
10:26Y'all was all right with Odell Beckham. Bring Odell back. I'm saying bring Odell back,
10:31but y'all killing it right now. Um, talk about when you first met coach Mike Tomlin,
10:36hanging out with him in the facilities. What was that vibe like for you? You know, I'm a,
10:40I always been a Steelers fan since I was three years old. And so growing up, just playing Madden
10:45and watching the games, like, cause my family big on sports. I just used to love Mike Tomlin
10:50cause he was our coach. He just gave off a good, real vibe. Like, you know what I'm saying? And so
10:55I always wanted to meet him. And so when I opened to meet him in real life, when I just went to the
11:00camp, they were like, oh, she here. I'm like, he is like, I'm a big fan of him. Like he probably
11:06one of my top five people. I'm a big fan of him. Wow. Yeah. And so I was like, oh my God,
11:10oh my God, I don't got what I'm gonna do. Cause you know, like sometimes you think people fake,
11:14you love them so much. You think they fake. Like when you meet them in real life, you like,
11:17so this, I was a coach to you, but every time I go to the game, he always show love. He always
11:23makes your arm straight. You had a good time. Cause I saw you were kicking it with CC with
11:26Sierra at the game. Yeah. And y'all got the W shot to Justin Fields. Just been
11:31after him. He doing the time. I got to ask too. Uh, this came up during a media day, brother
11:37Dame Lilly. I know y'all were able to kick it. You know, what's the vibe with you and Dame?
11:44He cool. And I just want people to stop asking us each other about that because like,
11:49they're going to make the other niggas not want to talk. And then it might be the other females
11:54might want to talk to him cause they think we got something going on. We ain't got nothing going.
11:57Okay. He cool though. Oh yeah. You never know. Cause we got a bucks game too. We'll see.
12:01Um, I got to ask you this too. Brother Rod Wave also comes out. I know a lot of people
12:06tried to make it a thing on Instagram. Like, oh shit glow. What's up with you and Rod?
12:12I feel like it's just a competitive thing. Cause you brought up sports too. Talk about
12:15that competitive drive you have when it comes to music and just wanting to kill it next week.
12:20Well, I'm a fan of Rod Wave. I'm a big fan of him. And everybody know Rod Wave drop. He got
12:25crazy fans. I'm like one of the fans. So I know how people live on Rod Wave drop. It's like the
12:31whole music world shut down and everybody listen to Rod. So I'm like, fuck, why are you dropping
12:35my day? But I actually fuck with him. We cool. Like I was just playing. He knew I was just
12:38playing. It was a playing thing, but I was just like, fuck, fuck. I was trying not like,
12:42I didn't want nobody to drop on my day. Like I wanted today to be special, but it's okay.
12:46We can share it. Shout out to Rod. I love that. I know you keeping it tight to the vest. Can you
12:52give us maybe one feature that you're excited about for this album? Your debut? My favorite
12:58feature is because it may be the newest is T-Pain. Oh, Uncle Teddy. Yeah. Why? Why Teddy
13:04Pain? Teddy P. Yeah. Cause like it's refreshing to hear his voice. Like he was a goat of his time.
13:10He's still a goat. Like he's somebody who music can never get old. Like, and to hear his voice
13:15again, like I just like, he got one of them angelic voices. And so I'm excited about that one.
13:21I really love this song. I can't wait for the people to hear the album, but after this album
13:26drops, you know, there's been a lot of conversations, you know, about the best rapper of 2024.
13:33Why do you feel like Lorelai is, if you feel that way, the best rapper in 2024?
13:39Well, what you've been able to do this year is running it up. Because I feel like I had like
13:43the engine behind me. Like I ain't never had to like stop at the gas station because I went all
13:49the way on E. I always been filling it up at the half tank. Like I never let nothing run out. I've
13:54been constantly getting it to them back to back. Yeah. I've been working hard like a lot. Like I've
13:59been putting it in and the people been loving it. So I was like, that's why.
14:05Let me pose you this before we go. Is being the best rapper, because I know what I'm supposed to
14:11make. She's like, I'm cool off it. If people like me, they like me. Is that something that you want
14:15or that you covet? Like that, that recognition? Uh, not at all. It's cool if it, you know,
14:20if they feel like that. But I just want to be the best to my fans. Like, you know what I'm saying?
14:25To the people who do love me, I want to be the best to them. I want to keep giving the music
14:29to them because that's who I'm reading for. The people who relate to me. And then lastly,
14:33one word to, I mean, I don't want you to use glorious because it's easy. That's a cheat code.
14:39One word to describe your debut album. Glorious. I say number one. Okay. Well,
14:46there's two words. We'll say uno. Yeah. Uno. We'll say uno. Why uno? Number one. Okay.
14:52We going to manifest that. Yeah. On a 200 and just rap period. Big glow. Glow-rella. Billboard
14:59News. We out. So glow, this is going to be like a quick, like 60 second dish of that kind of thing.
15:05Okay. Real short fire type joint. Do I get a prize? You ready? Drums or flats? Flats. Tattoos
15:13or piercings? Tattoos. LA or New York? LA. Gold or platinum? Platinum. Brains or beauty?
15:21Both of them. Beer or liquor? Liquor. TikTok or reels? TikTok. Sneakers or high heels? Sneakers.
15:29Staycay or vacay? Vacay. Extra or demure? What's the first word? Extra. Extra. Nose rings or toe
15:37rings? Nose rings. Hot sauce or soy sauce? Hot sauce. Driver or passenger princess?
15:42Passenger princess. Unicorns or dragons? Dragons. Girls night or date night? Girls night. Silk or
15:48leather? Leather. Online or IRL? IRL. Public or private? Private. Cardio or weights? Cardio.
15:57Cardio or weights? Cardio. Past or present? Present. Podcast or series? Series. Dine-in or
16:05takeout? Takeout. Winter or summer? Summer. Text or FaceTime? FaceTime. Video games or mind games?
16:11Video games. Guest or host? Oh, we have one more. We have one more. Fuck.