Wanna Be (with Megan Thee Stallion)

"Wanna Be" is a fierce and unapologetic anthem of female empowerment, independence, and self-assertion. The core message revolves around rejecting traditional relationship dynamics where women are expected to "save" or fix their male partners. GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion position themselves as dominant figures who prioritize their own happiness, careers, and well-being above catering to toxic or non-committal men. The song champions the idea of setting firm boundaries, recognizing one's own value, and refusing to settle for less than deserved.

Lyrically, the track dissects modern dating with brutal honesty. GloRilla's verses focus on her desirability and her refusal to be played, while Megan Thee Stallion takes aim at "wannabe" rivals and fake friends, celebrating her own authenticity and success. The recurring line, "He don't wanna be saved, don't save him," serves as the song's central thesis, encouraging listeners to detach from partners who are not willing to mature or commit. This theme of self-preservation is extended to all aspects of life, promoting autonomy and agency. Ultimately, "Wanna Be" is a celebration of financial independence, sexual liberation, and the unshakeable confidence of women who are in control of their own destinies.

The narrative unfolds as a powerful declaration of self-worth, independence, and dominance in the modern social and romantic landscape, delivered by two confident women, GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion. GloRilla initiates the story by establishing her high value and allure. She boasts about men being so infatuated that they get her name tattooed on them without ever having been intimate with her, highlighting her magnetic appeal. She paints herself as the "main platter," the ultimate prize that everyone desires. She quickly pivots to a more aggressive stance, warning other women that their partners are not safe from her charm and admitting she keeps a roster of men on the side, even if her primary partner claims to be faithful. This isn't out of malice but as a form of self-preservation, a lesson learned from past experiences of being too emotionally invested. She expresses disgust for men who are reckless and disrespectful, showing she has no time for those who don't know how to treat a woman properly. The core message of her verse is a complete rejection of the savior role; she questions why she would ever "save" a man, mocking the idea of being a superhero for someone who is not worth her time or effort.

The chorus, primarily driven by Megan Thee Stallion, reinforces this theme of detachment and self-preservation. It's a catchy, chant-like set of rules for navigating relationships with emotionally unavailable or non-committal men. The lyrics advise against trying to "save" or "claim" a man who doesn't want to be saved. It paints a picture of a man who is lost in partying, ignoring calls, and behaving recklessly—likened to "White boy wasted, Channing Tatum." The advice is blunt and practical: if he doesn't want to be kept, don't keep him. This extends to serious life decisions, with the stark line, "He don't want the baby, then, bitch, don't keep it." The ultimate power move is to be the one who leaves, not the one who gets left. The chorus establishes the artists as figures who are admired and desired, much like pop icons.

Megan Thee Stallion's verse amplifies the song's energy with her signature bravado and sharp-tongued delivery. She proclaims herself the "B-A-D-D-E-S-T" and dismisses her haters as former friends who are now just wannabes. She uses a powerful metaphor, "You can get your wig turned like Effie," to threaten those who cross her, asserting that she is invulnerable to their attempts to bring her down. Megan criticizes those who imitate her style, comparing them to a "discount me on Etsy," a clever jab that highlights her originality and their lack of it. She further elevates her status with a reference to the anime "Attack on Titan," calling herself the "female Titan" who steps on her competition. Her verse is a whirlwind of confidence, where she flaunts her sexuality, financial independence, and refusal to be tied down by anyone. She embraces a dominant role in her relationships, making it clear she won't wait around for anyone and is in complete control of her romantic and personal life. The narrative concludes with both artists uniting in a powerful outro, chanting each other's names in a show of mutual support and solidifying their status as dominant forces who refuse to be played, saved, or controlled.

"Wanna Be" was released on April 5, 2024, as the second single from GloRilla's mixtape, Ehhthang Ehhthang. This track marks the first collaboration between Memphis rapper GloRilla (Gloria Woods) and Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion (Megan Pete). The collaboration was a natural fit, as GloRilla was scheduled to be an opening act for Megan's 2024 "Hot Girl Summer Tour". The song was teased in the days leading up to its release, building anticipation among fans who saw studio session clips of the duo.

The production team includes Ace Charisma, Payday, MKMentality, and Yo Gotti. The song's distinctive beat is built upon prominent samples from two Southern hip-hop classics: the instrumental from Soulja Boy's 2010 hit "Pretty Boy Swag" and vocal elements from Project Pat's 2001 track "Don't Save Her". The use of these samples pays homage to a previous generation of Southern rap while grounding the track in a familiar, energetic sound.

A popular remix featuring Cardi B was later released on May 31, 2024, which further boosted the song's popularity and chart performance. The music video, directed by Benny Boom, was released alongside the single and features GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion crashing a fraternity party.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Wanna Be" are central to its energetic and confrontational feel. The song is built on a trap beat with a driving tempo, heavily influenced by the sample of Soulja Boy's "Pretty Boy Swag." This provides a bouncing, club-ready foundation for the rappers' flows.

Both GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion utilize complex rhyme schemes that go beyond simple end rhymes. They employ internal rhymes, assonance, and consonance to create a dense, textured lyrical fabric. For instance, in GloRilla's verse, the rhyming of "tatted" and "ratted" is followed by the near rhyme of "platter" and "jacket," creating a chain of connected sounds. Megan's verse is similarly intricate, rhyming "B-A-D-D-E-S-T," "besties," and "Effie."

The rhythmic delivery is syncopated and confident. The rappers often play with the beat, sometimes falling slightly behind it or pushing ahead, which adds a conversational yet assertive quality to their verses. The chorus has a more straightforward, chant-like rhythm, making it highly memorable and anthemic. This interplay between the complex verses and the simple, powerful chorus is a key structural element that contributes to the song's effectiveness as both a lyrical showcase and a party track.

"Wanna Be" showcases a blend of literary and musical techniques that create its aggressive and confident tone.

• Sampling: The producers prominently sample Soulja Boy's "Pretty Boy Swag" for the beat and Project Pat's "Don't Save Her" for vocal hooks. This technique of interpolation grounds the song in Southern hip-hop history while creating a modern party anthem.
• Ad-libs and Call-and-Response: Both artists make extensive use of ad-libs ("Ah," "On the gang") that punctuate their bars and amplify the track's energy. The outro features a call-and-response chant ("Go Meg, go Meg!" / "Get 'em, Glo, get 'em, Glo!") which creates a sense of camaraderie and mutual hype, reinforcing their united front.
• Braggadocio: The lyrical content is steeped in braggadocio, a cornerstone of hip-hop. Both rappers deliver boastful, assertive punchlines about their success, desirability, and superiority over competitors and unworthy men. For example, GloRilla's "Never got the cookie but got my name tatted" and Megan's "I'm the B-A-D-D-E-S-T."
• Vocal Delivery: The artists employ a "cutthroat" and aggressive vocal delivery. Their flows are sharp and rhythmic, riding the beat with precision and attitude, which enhances the confrontational and empowering message of the lyrics.

"Wanna Be" made a significant cultural impact upon its release, primarily as a powerful collaboration between two of the leading women in contemporary hip-hop. The song debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking GloRilla's second-highest debut and her biggest first-week sales for a single at the time. The track became the week's top-selling song overall, hitting number one on the Digital Song Sales chart.

The song's success was amplified by a remix featuring Cardi B, which gave the track a second life and a significant boost in sales and streaming, helping it climb the charts again. "Wanna Be" eventually secured the #1 spot on the Mediabase urban radio chart, showcasing its widespread appeal and radio dominance. The collaboration was strategically released ahead of GloRilla joining Megan Thee Stallion on her "Hot Girl Summer Tour," serving as an anthem for the tour. The song also sparked a popular twerk challenge on social media, initiated by Megan Thee Stallion. However, the track also became embroiled in a copyright dispute, with rapper Plies alleging that the "Pretty Boy Swag" sample it uses originally infringed on his 2008 song.

"Wanna Be" is rich with imagery and metaphors that reinforce its themes of authenticity and dominance.

• Discount Me on Etsy: Megan Thee Stallion's line, "You look like a discount me on Etsy," is a sharp metaphor for imitators. Etsy, a marketplace for handmade and unique items, is used here ironically to imply that her rivals are cheap, unoriginal copies of her superior, authentic self.
• Female Titan: Referencing the popular anime series Attack on Titan, Megan declares, "I'm the female Titan, I'm steppin' on bitches." This metaphor casts her as a colossal, unstoppable force, literally and figuratively trampling her competition and asserting her larger-than-life status in the rap game.
• Superwoman: GloRilla sarcastically asks, "Do I look like fuckin' Superwoman?" when rejecting the idea of saving a man. This rhetorical question serves as a powerful symbol, rejecting the archetype of a woman as a selfless savior who must fix a flawed man. It dismantles the expectation for women to carry the emotional labor in a relationship.
• Wig Turned Like Effie: This line is a cultural reference, likely to Effie White from the musical Dreamgirls, symbolizing a dramatic and sudden downfall or exposure. It's a threat that conveys Megan's ability to completely upend her rivals.

The most significant recurring phrase in the song is the chorus's central command: "He don't wanna be saved, don't save him." This line, directly referencing the Project Pat sample "Don't Save Her," is repurposed to become the song's core thesis on male-female relationships. It acts as a powerful, repeated mantra of detachment and self-preservation.

Another key recurring phrase is "That is not my nigga, don't claim him." This line reinforces the theme of setting boundaries and refusing to take ownership of a man who is not committed or respectful. Its repetition in both the chorus and GloRilla's verse solidifies it as a rule for maintaining independence.

The title itself, while not explicitly repeated often in the lyrics, points to the central motif of authenticity versus imitation. Megan Thee Stallion directly addresses this by rapping about haters who "used to wanna be besties," framing the song as a message to all the "wannabes" who try to copy her. This motif establishes a clear dichotomy between the genuine success of the artists and the inferiority of their imitators.