February 23, 2023
Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece
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February 23, 2023
HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.
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February 21, 2023
Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe
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February 21, 2023
Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...
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February 20, 2023
Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im
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February 23, 2023
Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z. In honor of Hip-Hop’s
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February 18, 2023
Kaytranada (Louis Celestin) is a Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. He is a highly acclaimed electronic artist, having earned two Grammys and countless other awards for his work. Kaytranada has
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February 17, 2023
What happens when a famous music producer takes an interest in self-help books? The Creative Act is your answer. But who is Rick Rubin? Without a doubt, Rubin has an impressive track record in the
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February 14, 2023
The music industry is a place full of musicians, producers, and creators who have the magical ability to make those perfect sounds we hear everyday through our digital devices. We want to listen close
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February 14, 2023
What do popular video games franchises Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox all have in common? They were all produced and published by Nintendo, and the iconic music themes that you hear in...
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February 8, 2023
Being a successful woman in the music industry is no easy feat. Not only do they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of being a musician, but there are also gender-specific challenges.
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February 8, 2023
“Is it just me, or are songs getting shorter these days?” This is a question I have often pondered, especially in the last few years. It appears that in the era of social media, attention spans are
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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.
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.”
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.”
Gospel musicians are increasingly stepping into secular fields, and vice versa. Rain Down on Me, however, is among the most audacious examples to date.
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.
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.
Collaborations like this ask: Are artists accountable for messaging beyond their verses? And can bridges built through music reshape conversations?
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.
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