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Ed Sheeran Slams “Damaging” Lawsuits Against Songwriters Amidst Copyright Case Victory

April 6, 2022

Over the past month, singer Ed Sheeran has been battling a copyright trial, accusing him of plagiarizing his 2017 hit song, “Shape of You” the song’s resemblance to their song, “Oh Why” Sami Chokri...

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Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open” Wins Record of The Year at the 2022 Grammys

April 5, 2022

If you’ve been on social media for the past few months, odds are you’ve probably heard of the iconic viral hit, “Leave The Door Open” by Silk Sonic on just about every corner of the internet.

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5 Upcoming K-Pop Debuts To Watch For 2022

April 2, 2022

Debut: April 2022 After having competed on the reality survival show, “My Teenage Girl”, the seven-member group CLASS:y was formed, signing a seven-year contract with label, M25. The group was...

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Here’s What You Need To Know About Queendom 2

April 1, 2022

Queendom returned for its long awaited second season (hosted by Girls Generation’s Tayeon) and here’s all you need to know: Queendom is a South Korean reality-survival show in which six girl groups...

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Bobby Shmurda Is Finally Out Of His Epic Deal

April 7, 2022

Bobby Shmurda has finally been released from his deal with Epic Records following his own plea for his release on social media stating, “I did six years in jail trying to get off this label before...

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BIGBANG Make History With “Still Life” Comeback After 4-Year Hiatus

April 5, 2022

Alas, BIGBANG have finally made their long-awaited return to the spotlight with their new single, “Still Life” – a heartfelt ballad about the perils of growing up and learning from your past. As...

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Jack Harlow Samples Fergie’s “Glamorous” in Viral TikTok Snippet

April 5, 2022

Last week, Louisville heartthrob Jack Harlow dropped a 13 second snippet of a new song he’d been working on that samples Fergie’s hit, “Glamorous” and it immediately went viral on TikTok within...

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J-Pop group XGalX debut’s breaking social norms with song “Tippy Toes”

March 18, 2022

After month’s of anticipation Japanese Girl group XGalX debute with new single “Tippy Toes”. The group consists of 7 young empowered women named Jurin, Harvey, Hinata, Chisa, Maya, Juria and Co...

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Shawn Mendez opens up about break up with new song

March 29, 2022

Newly heartbroken singer Shawn Mendez performs his new song “When you’re gone” at South by Southwest. This is the debut song that came out after his break up with fellow singer Camila Cabello after...

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Chaka Khan on Kanye West’s Through the Wire – “I hated it; it was an insult!”

March 16, 2022

Whether you’ve been a fan of Kanye West from the start, or you’ve recently watched his Netflix trilogy “Jeen-Yuhs”, you’ve probably heard his of first breakout single into the rap industry “Through...

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Weeekly Makes 2022 Return With “Play Game: Awake”

March 10, 2022

Weeekly pivots away from their bubbly and upbeat sound and makes a major transformation in their edgy and ambitious first mini album, “Play Game: Awake”.‍“Play Game: Awake” marks Weeekly’s fourth...

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Stray Kids Make 2022 Comeback With Mini Album – ODDINARY

March 10, 2022

Dare I say its, EXTRAODDINARY?‍Stray Kids have returned with the release of their new mini-album, ODDINARY – a collection of seven songs that proclaim the message of embracing all of the things...

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

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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.

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...