Description

Introduction that I wrote about Gloria Boateng in 2019: Gloria Boateng is an emcee, producer & singer-songwriter from Ghent, Belgium. I got put onto @gloriaboatengg last month, through IG, when I stumbled across a video clip for an all-too-real, conscious song, called “Politics Suck”. Gloria spits (in English, typically) with purpose, precision, & loads of charisma through songs that are honest, reflective, powerful, & fun. She harnesses skill in displaying multiple speeds of rapping, different vocal weights in her deliveries, spitting effortlessly over different styles of beat, & penning strong, insightful lyrics that are easy to digest. That said, I think she has music for (damn near) everybody, because she pulls influences from soul, R&B, & dance/electro music (which can be heard over her bass-synth beats & hypnotic hooks – side note: her singing is beautiful), & that she has a wide range of lyrical subject matter. She raps about family, striving for equality & unity, political/societal issues, living a good life & partying, & more. Some of my favorite songs of hers: “Ego Trippers”, “Kumasi”, “Politics Suck”, & her cover of Boney M.’s “Ma Baker”. Despite writing her first lyrics at age 13, Gloria Boateng will be releasing her debut EP soon! Some other things? She has been a supporting act for Macy Gray, The Roots, Nneka, Selah Sue, & more; she won Studio Brussel’s Vi.be On Air competition; & she will be in a play, called Dear Winnie, about Winnie Mandela (opening night in November). Don’t sleep. Go give her a follow!

FYI: Gloria has released new music since I wrote that intro; be sure to listen to “Let The Letters Puzzle”.