EP Review: GloRilla, ‘Anyways, Life’s Great…’

As is the case with most years in music, 2022 has supplied us with swaths of new artists seeking to turn hit singles into established careers. With the joint successes of the anthemic Grammy-nominated “F.N.F.” and the fiery Cardi B-assisted “Tomorrow 2,” Memphis newcomer GloRilla has made an undeniable and immediate impact quite unlike any of her fellow 2022 breakout stars. GloRilla’s juxtaposition of new-age proverbs (“Every day the sun won’t shit, but that’s why I love tomorrows”) against her gruff tone and cavalier delivery have lifted her songs to the apex of the cultural zeitgeist in a time when the mainstream has never felt more fractured. For her debut EP, GloRilla doubles down on the formula that catapulted her to success while simultaneously offering glimpses at the diversity of her sound.

“No More Love” kicks things off with an energy akin to recent verse-driven album openers like Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares” and Cardi B’s “Get Up 10.” GloRilla simultaneously ruminates on her rocky road to hip-hop’s highest heights while establishing a new archetype for the mainstream female rapper in the current era. To put it plainly, GloRilla doesn’t need a man, but if she happens to bag one, that’s cool. On top of that, she’s probably bagging your man. And she’ll taunt you about it… while she smokes a blunt with her best friends. GloRilla has already established this image, a positioning that differentiates her from the pop star-lite and vixen-rooted looks of some of her peers, with “F.N.F.” and “Tomorrow 2,” but the pensive production of “No More Love” adds some nuance to her musical portfolio.

“Phatnall” follows the rich legacy of female rappers demanding equity in sexual gratification and proper emotional and financial support from their partners, while “Unh Unh” wields its pre-chorus into an earworm that successfully distracts from her flow which, at times, clashes with the beat. A trio of previously released tracks populates the project’s tracklist. “F.N.F.” is still as magnetic as it was when it reigned as one of 2022’s songs of the summer, and “Blessed,” which was written and recorded shortly after GloRilla signed with CMG The Label, remains a beacon of gratitude and optimism. “Tomorrow 2” is, of course, the project’s standout with its pristine balance of Cardi’s brash in-your-face New York attitude and GloRilla’s sinister Memphis aggression.

CMG / Interscope

With “Get That Money,” GloRilla opts for a club-oriented banger where she reminds women that men will not hesitate to exploit them, so they should be sure to demand money in exchange for the ass that they’re throwing. “Don't be scared to ask that nigga for some money / He won't hesitate to ask you for no booty,” she preaches. “Nut Quick” finds her waxing poetic about, well, men who nut quick. The more interesting aspect of this song, however, is how GloRilla enters the canon of women rapping about their abortions with the line “found out I was pregnant, got it gone and I ain't fuck since.” It’s a different approach to the subject than say Lauryn Hill’s “To Zion” or Nicki Minaj’s “Autobiography,” but it’s an approach that feels true to who GloRilla is.

Anyway, Life’s Great… is a delightfully solid project. GloRilla reemphasizes the elements that turned her into one of the year’s biggest stars while also proving that she is far more than a passing fad.

Vote for GloRilla at the 2023 Bulletin Awards.

Key Tracks: “No More Love” | “Nut Quick” | “Tomorrow 2” | “Get That Money”

Score: 60