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Powfu: The Rising Star of Lo-fi Hip-hop

July 25, 2023

There are always new artists emerging in the hip-hop scene that have unique and captivating sounds. Powfu, born Isaiah Faber, grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and has been gathering a large fanbase...

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How Yoko Kanno Brilliantly Made the Soundtrack of Netflix's Cowboy Bebop

July 21, 2023

When it comes to anime soundtracks, there are plenty of contenders, but one stands tall above the rest – Cowboy Bebop. Released in 1998, this genre-defying space western captivated audiences...

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NewJeans Drop 2nd EP ‘Get Up’

July 23, 2023

NewJeans is a girl-group composed of 5 members, Hanni, Minji, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein. Newjeans debuted in 2022 with their EP 'NewJeans,' bringing a totally new attitude to the K-pop industry...

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Billie Eilish joins ‘Barbie’ hype with new release ‘What was I made for?’

July 21, 2023

The upcoming 'Barbie' film, scheduled for release on July 21st, has captured the hearts of fans who have long admired the animated Barbie films. Greta Girwig's live-action remake of the famous film...

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Songwriting BTS’ Jungkook New Single “SEVEN” ft. Latto

July 21, 2023

BTS, the global sensation, continues to astound the music industry with their incredible music and meaningful lyrics. Among the members, Jungkook, also referred to as the "Golden Maknae," is.....

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How Beyoncé Crafts Her Music

July 19, 2023

Music industry icon Beyoncé is powerful and captivating. She is known not only for her dramatic performances, but also for her outstanding songwriting skills. We will delve deeper into the creative...

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Gunna’s Comeback to the Music Industry Despite Controversy

July 19, 2023

Gunna, a mainstream rapper, just released a new album containing a #1 “Billboard Hot 100” hit song called “fukumean” despite the current controversy around his name. Gunna was arrested back in May....

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Tik Tok is Now a Music Streaming Service

July 19, 2023

Everyone knows Tik Tok as the app that blew up during COVID as a way for people to create and share short videos for others to enjoy. The video’s posted range from funny skits, dances, lip sync.....

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The Shadow of Sour Writing “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo

July 19, 2023

The mastermind behind the overwhelmingly successful album, Sour, the 20-year-old Olivia Rodrigo comes back into the spotlight with a new heart wrenching single, ‘Vampire’ and the...

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Musical Web Reveal: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Music Creation Process

July 18, 2023

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse took the world by storm with its groundbreaking animation, immersive storytelling and captivating visuals . One of the key elements that contributed to the succe...

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Unleash an Icon: What Makes Rihanna's Music Legendary

June 12, 2023

Barbados-born superstar Rihanna has left an indelible mark on the music industry with her iconic sound, versatile talent, and fearless attitude. Her music has become a cultural phenomenon....

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Exploring Harry Styles’ Music Journey

May 31, 2023

Capturing millions with a unique sound and compelling personality in an ever-evolving world of contemporary music. Very few artists have been able to do it....

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GloRilla Goes Gospel: Why Her Kirk Franklin Collab Is Causing a Ruckus

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet

When Memphis rapper GloRilla's October 2024 debut album Glorious, one track left everyone talking;  "Rain Down on Me," featuring gospel heavyweights Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Kierra Sheard, and Chandler Moore.The fusion has sparked intense discussion, and it's the only clean song on an otherwise explicit album.

Church Crowd Shocked, Fans Split

Several Christian critics condemned the collaboration as sacrilege.

“These ‘Christian’ gospel artists need to stop compromising... Kirk Franklin, Kierra Sheard & Maverick City Music being on GloRilla’s album is wild.”

The outrage was especially pronounced among Nigerian Christians, who saw it as absurd and a mockery, for ministry leaders to appear alongside artists known for explicit content.

Yet, defenders countered with compassion:

“People in the church got mad because Glo made a song ft Kirk… She grew up in the church… The judgment is why so many people walk away from the church.”

Fan Forum Take: Divided but Intrigued

On Reddit, fans on both sides voiced strong opinions:

“I really do not understand the backlash at all... Anytime a secular artist makes a Christian song it should be embraced because it will reach the people that need it.”

Others called out the move as jarring:

“The religious turn on Side B was unexpected... That track… felt super corny.”

What does this mean for the Industry

  • Gospel Meets Mainstream Hip-Hop

Gospel musicians are increasingly stepping into secular fields, and vice versa. Rain Down on Me, however, is among the most audacious examples to date.

  •  Faith Outside the Pulpit

Raised in a church and continuing to share her faith on social media, GloRilla treads carefully, striking a balance between unrepentant rap bravado and spiritual sincerity.

  • Changing the Boundaries of Genre

The move demonstrates how contemporary music is not compartmentalized but rather fluid. The influence of gospel is spreading beyond choir rooms and into widely consumed albums.

  • Spotlight on Artist Responsibility

Collaborations like this ask: Are artists accountable for messaging beyond their verses? And can bridges built through music reshape conversations?

Final Take 

GloRilla’s “Rain Down on Me” isn’t just a song, some see faith compromised. Others see hope extended. Either way, GloRilla just changed the game.

GloRilla Goes Gospel: Why Her Kirk Franklin Collab Is Causing a Ruckusglorilla-goes-gospel-why-her-kirk-franklin-collab-is-causing-a-ruckusLienor KatasAug 11, 2025When Memphis rapper GloRilla's October 2024 debut album Glorious, one track left everyone talking; "Rain Down on Me," featuring gospel heavyweights Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Kierra...