NEWS
Busta Rhymes applauded GloRilla for her “unfiltered” authenticity during a recent panel talk, describing her energy as “a different type of beautiful.”
Last week, Rolling Stone held a ‘Musicians On Musicians’ event in New York City where the two rappers were a part of a talk moderated by music journalist Touré at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. There, the legendary Brooklyn rapper made sure to publicly praise the 25-year-old before she “evolves to her Beyoncé level”.
According to Revolt, Busta began by reflecting on his position in hip-hop as an authority figure wanting to “walk in [his] purpose” and “pour into the souls of the new artists and make sure that they get that information.”
He made it clear that he doesn’t do that with every rising star, stating they must be “worthy of the blessing” before explaining what draws him to the Memphis hitmaker: “Me and Glo connected. Her energy is a different type of beautiful.
“What I love about GloRilla – and I hope that we can hold on to this GloRilla as long as possible before she evolves to her Beyoncé level – but the GloRilla that we love is the GloRilla that we see ourselves in,” he continued. “Like, we see [ourselves] in her. She is unfiltered, she is not politically correct and she is the truth. And the beauty is, when you are untainted by the industry. Her music speaks to my soul like that.”
Busta Rhymes is the latest superstar to sing GloRilla’s praises. Last month, Rihanna said she would want the ‘F.N.F’ rapper to create the theme song for her lingerie line Savage X Fenty, calling her “a young lady who’s still grounded in who she is and where she came from, and I love that.”
The ‘Pon De Replay’ singer shared her support for GloRilla before by posting a video of her dancing to the rapper’s viral song ‘TGIF’ in front of her partner, A$AP Rocky. She ironically recited the track’s lyrics: “It’s 7 pm Friday / It’s 95 degrees / I ain’t got no n**** and no n**** ain’t got me.
Last month, GloRilla dropped her long-awaited debut album ‘Glorious’, earning three stars from NME. “As a body of work, ‘Glorious’ is uneven – there are a handful of certified hits and a bunch of questionable additions that suggest better quality control was needed here,” the review read. “But, with her undeniable energy and beautiful message of girl power, it’s still worth a listen, even if it doesn’t live up to the expectations that her attention-grabbing singles previously set.”
Pop-country megastar Jelly Roll expressed his interest in collaborating with Glo after the release of ‘Glorious’, tweeting: “Your album is amazing – please put me on the next one […] So happy for you and your success. You deserve all the good coming your way. Praying for y’all and sending love.”
The former President of the United States Barack Obama even added her and Megan Thee Stallion’s party anthem ‘Wanna Be’ to his 2024 Summer Playlist.
NEWS
In a major setback for the UK summer festival season, global drinks brand Pepsi has confirmed it is ending its relationship with Wireless Festival. The move comes after strong political criticism and public reaction to the festival’s decision to book American rapper Kanye West, who is now legally known as Ye, as a headliner.
The situation intensified this week after Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke out against the booking, according to reporting from The Guardian. Starmer described the decision as "deeply concerning," pointing to the artist’s past antisemitic comments and his open praise of Nazi related figures as being at odds with the values of the United Kingdom. His remarks reflect a wider position within the government that antisemitism must always be challenged firmly to protect the Jewish community and maintain public safety.
Recent releases from the rapper have added further controversy. In the previous year, he drew global criticism after putting out a song called Heil Hitler and attempting to sell products displaying swastika imagery. Although West later apologized in the Wall Street Journal and said his actions were connected to a manic episode, many critics believe his influence still presents serious concerns.
The event, which is planned for July at Finsbury Park in London, is now dealing with growing uncertainty. Aside from losing a key sponsor, there are also questions about whether West will even be able to enter the country. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the power to refuse entry if someone is considered not beneficial to the public good. These rules allow the Home Office to refuse visas to individuals whose behavior or connections could increase social tensions or encourage hate.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has already urged officials to impose a ban on his entry, while organizations such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews have described the booking as "deeply irresponsible." With a major sponsor stepping away and increasing calls for government action, organizers of Wireless Festival now face significant challenges in keeping the event moving forward.
