Instagram/@glorillapimp
Rapper Glorilla’s upcoming single, ‘March & Special’ is set to drop this Friday, December 5th. Apart from a short statement that featured a teaser image of an HBCU marching band, this is enough to create a stir and guesswork around her music. On the other hand, the action indicates a revamp to the music of the artist and has thus opened up a show of support and curiosity.
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Glorilla straight talk to the point. The announcement post was as brief as ‘March and special dis Friday 🔥 12/05’ with no other words. However, the visual context did most of the interpretation work. The image which accompanied the caption not only showed the gorgeous and vibrantly colored uniforms but also a group of probably HBCU students that seem to be part of the band. This became the unplanned center of attention for many.
The reaction was of course immediate and very supportive, along with a lot of hope. ‘I have been waiting for this song,’ was one user’s comment and many others came to speak about their feeling of relief that finally, new material was going to be released. ‘This is all I wanted for Christmas,’ was a comment of another user who evidently expressed the high demand for the Memphis rapper’s content through his words.
However, the most-discussed opinion in the conversation was not about the music but rather about the band. The presence of the HBCU musicians led to a number of others to voice their grudging admiration through a wave of recognition and pride. Several users in quick succession began to identify the band, while some mentioned the ‘WU Hounds of Sound’ from Wilberforce University specifically. Comments like ‘HBCU proud!!!’ and ‘I KNOW THAT BAND!!!!’ were so numerous that they completely took over the comment section, turning the announcement into a celebration of Black college culture.
‘Swear to god on yo mama that’s the WU band,’ one person said with confidence. Someone else came in, ‘YOOOOOO, is that a HBCU band I see?’ This section of the teaser really got a lot of attention as it linked Glorilla’s music release to a wider cultural appreciation.
While everybody was going crazy, there were still some minor aspects that got noticed by a few people and led to some small debates. A user literally zoomed in and interjected, ‘Who’s that next to her on that R????’ suggesting that another person’s silhouette might be there in the image. The next comment opened up the topic of industry ties, implying that ‘Gotti must of told her to get back on the music’ and mentioning her label boss, Yo Gotti.
A matter concerning another rapper, JT, who was seen popping up with a like on the post was more a subtle and nuanced discussion that came up. This flood of likes was initially JTs which naturally led to a discussion about past conflicts and relationships in the hip-hop world. ‘Oh shit @thegirljt showing love. I love this for my girls,’ was the comment made by someone noticing the interaction. The exchanges in this thread even went so far as to discuss the generosity and history behind the support, yet, one person was quick to announce that there was no drama and simply stated, ‘i just like seeing the vibes, fuck the drama.’
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The announcement does a great job of clearing the noise already made. By associating a simple release date with a culturally vibrant picture, Glorilla has been able to attract attention that is not only limited to her core fans but also includes the HBCU community and band lovers. This strategy mirrors her connection to her origins and the understanding of what her audience craves. The signal is very loud: new Glorilla music is coming and it will be full of very strong and community-based energy. The comment that the streets indeed need it is very correct. In a recent bold move, Glorilla declared herself “dat bish.”