GloRilla is putting her faith and fire on full display — and she’s not letting the critics dim her shine.
Fresh off winning a gospel award at the 2024 BET Awards, the Memphis rap star teamed up with gospel legend Kirk Franklin for the video release of their soul-stirring collaboration, “Rain Down On Me.”
The track — which also features powerhouse vocals from Kierra Sheard, Chandler Moore, and Maverick City Music — dropped alongside a visually stunning video directed by hip-hop vet Benny Boom, and it’s sending shockwaves through both the gospel and hip-hop communities.
🙌 Grit Meets Grace: The Gospel-Rap Fusion
“Rain Down On Me” is a sonic collision of gospel warmth and GloRilla’s raw Southern energy — a fusion some are calling groundbreaking, others controversial.
The visual opens with the artists gathered under a towering cross, a symbolic centerpiece surrounded by spiritual imagery, rhythmic dance, and moments of heartfelt worship. GloRilla’s verses carry her trademark grit, but the message is pure elevation and soul.
“This one meant a lot,” GloRilla shared in a behind-the-scenes livestream. “I grew up in the church, and it’s still a part of me.”
👏 Winning Big at the BET Awards
The video follows GloRilla and Kirk Franklin’s surprise win at the 2024 BET Awards, where “Rain Down On Me” earned them a gospel category win — a first for GloRilla, who’s known more for anthems like “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” and “Tomorrow 2.”
The moment drew applause… and side-eyes.
⚠️ Not Everyone’s Praising the Pairing
While fans have mostly rallied behind the collaboration, not all voices in the gospel world are on board. Veteran gospel singer Deitrick Haddon voiced his concern to TMZ, clarifying that his issue isn’t with GloRilla personally — but with the gospel industry’s constant spotlight on Kirk Franklin.
“There are so many amazing contributors to gospel music that don’t get the same shine,” Haddon said. “It’s not just about one name.”
Still, the backlash hasn’t rattled the duo — if anything, it’s emboldened them.
🎶 From “Glorious” to Glory
“Rain Down On Me” originally appeared on Glorious, GloRilla’s debut album released earlier this year. The project showcased a more layered version of the rapper — mixing brash confidence on tracks like “Procedure” and “Yeah Glo!” with vulnerable moments of self-reflection.
It was on Glorious that fans first saw Glo dabble in spiritual themes, laying the groundwork for a moment like this.
🎥 A Benny Boom Vision: Sacred Meets Cinematic
The video’s aesthetics aren’t just pretty — they’re purposeful.
Benny Boom, known for his iconic work in hip-hop, crafts a striking atmosphere that blends street visuals with sacred symbolism, placing GloRilla in the center of a genre-bending moment.
“This is about transformation,” said a rep from Mercedes-Benz’s Class of Creators campaign (which also featured Ice Spice this year). “It’s about pushing boundaries — in music, style, and faith.”
👀 GloRilla’s Next Chapter: “Something Different”
GloRilla’s not stopping at gospel.
During a recent livestream, she teased that her next album is already in the works, though she’s staying tight-lipped on the release date.
“My next album…I’m working on [it],” she said. “I can’t tell y’all exactly when it’s coming, what year it’s coming, but I’m doing something different.”
That “different” may already be unfolding. Earlier this month, Glo dropped “Typa”, featuring a Keyshia Cole sample and even a video cameo from the R&B star herself. The softer, more emotional vibe hinted at a new direction for the rising rap star.
💬 Gospel, Rap, or R&B — GloRilla Just Moves Different
What makes GloRilla so compelling isn’t just her gritty lyrics or bold delivery — it’s her authenticity. Whether she’s tearing up a club beat or delivering bars at the foot of a cross, she shows up fully herself.
Her growing discography now includes club bangers, gospel fusions, and heartfelt slow jams — proving that she’s not locked into any one lane.
🎤 Final Word: “I’m Not Here to Follow, I’m Here to Move People”
That quote, from a recent Instagram Live, may sum it up best.
GloRilla isn’t trying to meet expectations — she’s disrupting them, and if that shakes things up in both the rap and gospel worlds? So be it.
💬 What Do You Think?
Is GloRilla’s gospel move bold or too far?
Should more rappers explore spiritual themes in their work?
And are you here for her genre-hopping glow-up?
Drop a comment below and stay locked to The Pop Radar (TPR) for more on GloRilla’s next move, music drops, and culture-shifting collabs.
🙏 This isn’t just a moment — it’s a movement.
