The underground scene is filled with an abundance of talent and I believe newcomer G.L.A.M. has what it takes to leave a lasting stamp on the industry. From Oakland, California, the 23 year old emcee has rapping in her blood. Her mother was a rapper named Nic Nac, who worked with powerhouses such as Eve, The LOX, Too $hort, and 2Pac.
Her first mixtape, New Curriculum was released in 2008 but was a short introduction as it only accompanied three songs. Her second tape, FBGM, was released in 2012 and was much longer showcasing a remix old school classic “808” by Blaque and Tyga’s “Faded”. Her most recent mixtape, The Feel, was released in 2014 and was my first introduction to the budding rapper. G.L.A.M.’s lyricism and skills shine through on songs like “Feel” and “M0bb1n” and her topics range from introspective to braggadocio. Her creativity also shines through as she embodies Cleo from the infamous Set It Off in her song “Cleo’s Reprise”. This project lives up to its name as it feels good, sounds good, and each song offers a different feeling.
Though the first half of the mixtape is a bit more up-tempo, it starts to dial down and become more relaxed towards the end. Yet, what really sets G.L.A.M. apart from her adversaries is her production. She produces all of her work, which is a skill set that is rarely, if ever seen by rappers in general. Not only is she free creatively, but it offers longevity. Even after she’s retired as a rapper she still has producing to fall back on. With a stamp of approval from Sway, a familial hip hop influence, and lyricism, G.L.A.M. has what it takes to infiltrate and dominate.
