Ever since the Philadelphia Eagles embraced “Dreams N Nightmares” by Meek Mill for the 2018 Super Bowl run two things have happened; 1.) Philadelphia sports teams have grown to embrace local hip-hop, and 2.) there has been a need to attach a theme song of sorts to any type of championship run.
The Phillies pushed and pushed to make “Dancin’’ On My Own” a winning anthem for their World Series run, only to leave the city feeling betrayed by the song. The Phillies haven’t gotten this right.
The Eagles on the other hand differed to Philly’s hip-hop scene for guidance in this area. Gillie Da King, formerly known as Gillie Da Kid is not the most commercially successful hip-hop artist that Philly has ever had, however he is one of the most beloved internet personalities in the city and a constant ambassador for Philly culture. Gillie is responsible for the integration of “Blow the Whistle” into this current Eagles Super Bowl hunt.
Gillie’s advocacy for the song even led to notable Philly-native Kevin Hart ironically recruiting “Too Short” to join him in a video supporting the Eagles.
Beyond that, the Philadelphia Eagles chose budding star and Philly rapper Armani White to perform at halftime of the NFC Championship game on Sunday. “I used to sell waters outside the stadium with my dad, so to be the entertainment for the stadium is an unreal moment,” White told the Philly Plain Dealer.
White debuted his new song Cut The Lights followed by his hit song “BILLIE EILISH” which is a multi-platinum record in multiple countries, followed by Goated, Silver Tooth, and Thanksgiving. White said the experience was “Crazy, I could hear the stadium even thru my IEMs (In-Ear Monitors) and I usually can’t hear shit in my IEMs.”
After the game White could be spotted celebrating in his suite with other notable Philly rappers “Gillie started crying and I was eating wagyu potstickers,” White said while laughing.
Philly’s hip-hop scene is robust, multi-generational, and musically diverse. In that suite at Lincoln Financial Field was: 2Raree, a young rapper known for making party hits; Armani White, a burgeoning star and chart topper; Meek Mill, the name most synonymous with Philly rap; and Gillie and Wallo, Gillie a one-hit wonder Philly rapper and Wallo his podcast co-host, comedian, and anti-violence advocate. All of those artists carry themselves differently and make songs that you could not mistake for one another.
The Philadelphia Eagles have successfully integrated the local hip-hop scene into their biggest moments and everyone is better off because of it. We now have 13 days until the Super Bowl and you should expect to see more of 2Raree, Armani White, Meek Mill, Gillie and Wallo.
Philly Plain Dealer 
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