In a revealing conversation with GQ, GloRilla peeled back the layers of her past, exposing the challenges of growing up in a conservative Christian household that limited her exposure to the vibrant world of hip-hop.
“Socially sheltered” aptly describes GloRilla’s upbringing, where mainstream celebrations were off-limits. No Christmas presents, no Valentine’s Day, no Easter, and definitely no Halloween. Only the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving were deemed acceptable. Despite the rigid framework, GloRilla managed to navigate her way through, defying the constraints imposed by her strict upbringing.
“We really couldn’t listen to the radio,” she confessed. “Never got a Christmas present from my mama a day in my life. We didn’t do Valentine’s Day. We didn’t do Easter. We didn’t do Halloween. My mama was strict—but apparently I still ended up doing what I wanted to do.”
Unveiling a remarkable chapter in her journey, GloRilla shared the unconventional method she and her friends employed to access the music that fueled their souls. Their rebellious act involved stealing CDs from Wal-Mart, a daring move that opened the gateway to a world beyond gospel music.
“We’d steal the CDs and download all the songs onto the PlayStation. That was the only way we could listen to other music. We probably wouldn’t have known anything other than gospel music if it wasn’t for us being bad.”
GloRilla’s odyssey from restriction to liberation stands as a testament to her resilience and determination. Her stolen rhythms echo not just as beats but as a powerful anthem of breaking free from societal constraints and embracing the uncharted melodies that define her unique hip-hop journey.
