Westside Gunn

Westside Gunn’s “And Then You Pray For Me”: What We Know

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Westside Gunn’s next album, And Then You Pray For Me, is slated to be released this coming Friday, June 23. He announced the album’s release date back in April on the third anniversary of his 2020 studio album, Pray For Paris. In that announcement, he referred to And Then You Pray For Me as a sequel to Pray For Paris. He paid tribute to the late Virgil Abloh in that same post, who designed the album’s cover. 

The album’s title refers to a lyric on Westside’s song, “Eric B.” where he raps, “Pray for Paris, then you pray for me.” Since Pray For Paris, Westside Gunn has not exactly slowed down in releasing music. In 2020, he also released the Flygod Is An Awesome God II project and his major label debut for Shady Records, Who Made the Sunshine. Additionally, he released the two-part Hitler Wears Hermes 8 album and, most recently, 10 at the end of last year. 

Additionally, Westside Gunn is releasing And Then You Pray For Me just in time for Paris Fashion Week. This is on-brand for him as he is heavily immersed in the fashion world. Currently, there is limited information available about the details of the album, including the artwork and tracklist. Let’s take a look at what we know about Westside Gunn’s forthcoming album.

Westside Gunn Sets The Bar High For Himself

Pray For Paris featured a stacked tracklist, including features from Joey Bada$$, Tyler, The Creator, Wale, Freddie Gibbs, and Roc Marciano. Of course, the album included Griselda family members Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher. The list of producers on the album was also quite impressive. DJ Muggs, Daringer, Beat Butcha, DJ Premier, The Alchemist, Tyler, The Creator, and more lent their talents. Upon its release, the album was critically acclaimed, and fans held it in high regard among his best albums like Flygod and Supreme Blientele. 

Westside Gunn announced the new album in the Pray For Paris anniversary post. He wrote that his upcoming release will be “a different kind of art piece.” Although he has continued to tease And Then You Pray For Me since the initial announcement, he has a tendency not to stick to album release dates. However, the fact that he consistently promotes the album is a good sign.

Westside Gunn Shared A Snippet

This month, Westside Gunn shared a snippet of an unreleased song from And Then You Pray For Me. The song features his distinctive nasal tone and plenty of adlibs, all backed by a signature Griselda boom-bap beat produced by Jr Swiftz. In the song, Westside Gunn mentions being on the top floor of a penthouse, where he’s recording the video from, and talks about his deals with Roc Nation and Shady Records. He assured fans in the caption that And Then You Pray For Me is “dropping very soon.” If this snippet reflects the sound of the new album, Westside Gunn fans are sure to be satisfied.

A Possible Hall & Nash Song

The most recent update from Westside Gunn about his new album was a post of him and his brother, Conway The Machine. He is pictured posing with Conway, who recently broke his leg. The post’s caption fuels excitement for a Hall & Nash collaboration between Westside Gunn and Conway on the new album. The two often feature each other on their albums along with Benny The Butcher, but a Hall & Nash song often sees the two trading bars back and forth, like on their 2015 collaborative mixtape titled Hall & Nash. Conway The Machine’s latest album, Won’t He Do It, featured Gunn on the song “Brucifix.” Gunn also wrote in his caption that And Then You Pray For Me will continue Griselda’s dominance.

And Then You Pray For Me: One Of Many Announced Albums

Griselda often churns out multiple albums in a single year between all three members and the artists on their label. Last year, Westside Gunn announced many other upcoming projects that remain unreleased. These include the Michelle Records compilation, which he promoted throughout last year, along with Flygod is an Awesome God 3.

He had also been teasing multiple collaborative albums, including WWCD 2 with Griselda, the Madlib-produced Gunnlib project, a full-length sequel to Hall & Nash, and a Griselda album by Just Blaze. Although many of these previously announced albums most likely won’t see the light of day, the imminent release of Westside Gunn’s next album is exciting for fans. Hopefully, And Then You Pray For Me lives up to expectations as a sequel to Pray For Paris.

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Westside Gunn’s “Supreme Blientele” Turns 5

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This year marks the 5th anniversary of Westside Gunn’s second studio album, Supreme Blientele. The album was released on June 22, 2018, via Griselda Records and EMPIRE Distribution. Named after Ghostface Killah’s classic Supreme Clientele album, Westside’s album also received vinyl releases under two other titles: Chris Benoit and God is the Greatest. The alternative titles alluded to Westside’s affinity for wrestling and his Muslim faith. 

Supreme Blientele was the official follow-up to Westside Gunn’s groundbreaking debut album, 2016’s Flygod, despite releasing multiple projects since. Flygod has its cult following, gaining Westside and the Griselda Records label a loyal fanbase that propelled the group to the top. They quickly became one of hip hop’s hardest-working collectives. Westside Gunn had continued to build the Griselda brand, teaming up with Eminem’s Shady Records and starting to play major festivals. Supreme Blientele was the culmination of the growing success of Griselda, showcasing the group’s talent and Westside’s knack for curation. It is widely ranked high among the expansive Griselda catalog by diehard fans. We’re looking back at Westside Gunn’s Supreme Blientele for its 5th anniversary.

An All-Star Tracklist

Since the release of Flygod, Westside Gunn did not hold back from releasing music and merch to help build the Griselda brand and fanbase. He released a compilation mixtape, an EP, and multiple installments of his Hitler Wears Hermes series. All of his releases helped build a name for Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher, who had only just become a part of the label not long before Supreme Blientele. Before mixtapes had become almost obsolete, there was a clear difference between Westside Gunn’s mixtapes and his albums. The mixtapes were often mastered in a lo-fi quality, consisting of dusty Daringer loops, songs without hooks, and features from the Griselda inner circle. Flygod on the other hand, had a central theme, included a variety of producers, and features from Griselda members and well-known artists alike.

Supreme Blientele followed the standard set by Flygod, featuring an all-star tracklist of talented artists and producers. Daringer, Pete Rock, The Alchemist, Sadhu Gold, Harry Fraud, and 9th Wonder contributed beats to the album. Supreme Blientele contained features from Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Crimeapple, Elzhi, and Roc Marciano. Anderson .Paak’s feature on “Wrestlemania 20” was a one-of-a-kind moment for Griselda, making for a show-stopping soulful rap closer. It is not a Westside Gunn album without a killer verse from Conway The Machine or a poem from Keisha Plum. Benny The Butcher’s three guest features built him an even greater buzz than his “Shower Shoe Lords” verse did two years prior. Supreme Blientele is also a quintessentially Westside Gunn album, as it puts his passion for wrestling on full display.

A Rap & Wrestling Fan’s Dream Album

Westside Gunn was not the first rapper to embrace wrestling, but he made it a part of his brand. Supreme Blientele was also not the first time Westside incorporated wrestling into his music, naming many of his biggest songs after wrestlers. Previously, he had made wrestling-inspired songs such as “Dudley Boyz,” “Bob Backlund,” “Summerslam ‘88,” and “RIP Bobby.” Additionally, his duo name with Conway is Hall & Nash, named after the wrestlers Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. 

Out of all of Westside Gunn’s albums, Supreme Blientele is the one most closely associated with wrestling, including many of the songs named after wrestlers, skits from wrestling matches, and the album’s Chris Benoit alternative title. Supreme Blientele makes multiple references to wrestling, with tracks like “Elizabeth,” “Mean Gene,” “Sabu,” “Ric Martel,” and “Brossface Brippler.” There is also an album highlight “The Steiners,” which sees Elzhi and Westside Gunn spitting over a Pete Rock beat. With many quality songs and collaborations that allude to wrestling, the album was made for rap and wrestling fans alike.

The Album That Launched Griselda Into Mainstream Success

By 2018, Griselda had already built a cult following and put Buffalo on the map. They had collaborated with notable names, played sold-out shows, and signed a major label contract with Shady Records. Supreme Blientele was released independently, but the album still gave Westside Gunn and Griselda mainstream recognition. The album’s features and the group’s cosigns helped immensely. The guest verses from Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher also created avenues for their solo careers, especially the latter, who would drop his debut album, Tana Talk 3, later that year. 

Because of Supreme Blientele, 2018 was one of Griselda’s most prolific years and led to their takeovers of 2019 and 2020, where each member released multiple critically acclaimed projects. Supreme Blientele was the ultimate album for Griselda’s core fanbase, meeting the standards set by Flygod. It combined all of the unique elements of Westside Gunn’s style for a worthy follow-up and highlighted what made him unique, setting him and Griselda Records apart from the rest.

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Westside Gunn Argues With Producer On Twitter

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Westside Gunn found himself engaged in a Twitter dispute with a producer over a payment disagreement. The exchange started with a tweet from Ewonee, a beatmaker. He inquired about where to send his invoice for a song by Griselda artist Estee Nack. The beatmaker’s tweet came in response to a post claiming that Westside Gunn pays his producers well. Gunn took offense to Ewonee’s tweet. The rapper accused him of burning bridges by publicly calling him out and saying that Estee Nack had given the impression that the beat had been cleared.

Furthermore, Gunn expressed his disappointment. He went on to highlight his support for artists and emphasize the importance of communication. He mentioned his preference for working only with his team. This is due to what he perceived as a lack of vision and disrespect from others. Gunn concluded by stating that he would no longer accept beats unless he personally reached out to the producers. That is an unfortunate development for other beatmakers who may have wished to work with Westside Gunn.

Westside Gunn Had Time Today

Unfortunately for both Westside Gunn and Ewonee, that was not the end of the discussion. Ewonee responded to Gunn’s tweet. He stated that he was unaware his beat was used on Estee Nack’s album and that he didn’t receive credit. Gunn then assured him that he would remove the song from the project. He further advised him to privately address any future complaints about his work. In a separate tweet, Ewonee emphasized the need to recognize those who speak up and revealed that this was not the first time he had experienced issues regarding credit.

Gunn later reflected on the situation, expressing his frustration at always being portrayed as the “bad guy” despite his efforts to take care of his family, spread art and love, and positively influence others. He saw the backlash as a consequence of his success and acknowledged reaching a new level in his career, expressing gratitude to God. The Twitter spat highlighted a payment dispute between Westside Gunn and a producer, but it is hardly an isolated incident. Many producers complain of the same treatment. However, it does bring up the question of professionalism. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

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Westside Gunn Pays Funeral Costs For Beloved Buffalo Native, “Claire”

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Westside Gunn

A beloved Buffalo woman named Claire, who tragically lost her life in a car chase and crash on May 25, has received a heartfelt gesture of support from rapper Westside Gunn. The Griselda rapper has paid over $10,000 towards her funeral expenses. This act of kindness honors Claire’s memory and highlights the rapper’s dedication to […]

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Westside Gunn’s ‘RIP Claire’ Tweet For The Woman From Griselda’s ‘WWCD’ Cover Caused Confusion On Twitter

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Westside Gunn
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The Buffalo woman featured on the cover of Griselda’s album WWCD has died, prompting an outbreak of #RIPClaire tweets that have caused confusion among users. According to Syracuse.com, Westside Gunn offered a heartfelt salute to Claire Melendez, aka “Claire Mel,” on Twitter, calling the well-known homeless hometown figure “My fav Buffalo kid. You’ll be Loved Forever.” Such was the group’s appreciation for the woman, they even named their 2022 tour after her.

He included the hashtag #RIPClaire, which was picked up by Griselda fans and trended on Twitter, prompting some users to express their confusion.

One Cosby Show fan seemed to think that the tweets were referring to Phylicia Rashad, who played the family’s matriarch, Claire Huxtable.

Others appeared to believe that the tweets might refer to actress Claire Danes, who as of this writing appears to be fine.

Tragically, still others associated the tweets with a 95-year-old Australian woman, Clare Nowland, who was tased to death by police.

However, Buffalo residents who knew the actual Melendez have been sharing some of their favorite memories, calling her “a Buffalo icon.” “Will never forget when all 4 wheels got stolen off of my car and I had to take the bus to work, Claire finessed 5 dollars out of me while I was waiting for the bus over on Elmwood then she cussed me out after I gave it to her,” remembered one Buffalo native.

As for Westside Gunn and the rest of his Griselda compatriots, they continue to truck along despite a few setbacks, although Gunn does have plans to retire at the end of 2023.

Why Griselda Is One Of Hip Hop’s Hardest-Working Collectives

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It seems like every era is Griselda’s season. Almost every quarter of the year, we get at least one release from a Griselda artist. The group comprises Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher. Mach-Hommy, who recently reconciled with Westside Gunn, was involved with Griselda early on. The Griselda Records label also consists of skilled rappers, including Armani Caesar, Boldy James, Rome Streetz, Stove God Cooks, and Estee Nack.

Not even midway through the year, Conway The Machine has released his latest album, Won’t He Do It. Westside Gunn also recently announced that he would be executive producing Estee Nack’s latest album, which is out next Friday. Albums from the Griselda roster have also been teased for 2023, including the highly-anticipated second album from Stove God Cooks and sequels to Hall & Nash and WWCD. On top of that, Westside Gunn’s & Then U Pray For Me is slated for a June 23 release, and Benny The Butcher’s next collaboration with Hit-Boy is out in August. With their stacked roster and constant music output, Griselda is one of hip hop’s hardest-working collectives. 

The Family Connection

The core of Griselda’s foundation is that it stems from family. Westside Gunn and Conway are brothers, and Benny The Butcher is their cousin. Though they are now established in their own solo lanes, they continue moving as a group and family. They have a plethora of songs together, including “Brutus,” “George Bondo,” and “The Butcher and the Blade.” As Griselda, they released their group album, 2019’s WWCD on Shady Records. The album’s title stands for What Would Chine Gun Do?, in reference to Benny’s brother and the cousin of Westside and Conway, who went by “Machine Gun Black.” Conway famously rapped about his passing on “The Cow,” widely regarded as his best verse. Griselda’s family connection has led to their impressive chemistry on a track and unity as a group.

Griselda Put Buffalo On The Map

The story of Griselda, coming up in Buffalo is quite remarkable. From Westside and Benny’s time in prison to Conway’s near-death experience that left him with Bell’s Palsy, they put their city on the map. Their success story is well-documented and can be seen in their Buffalo Soldiers documentary with Revolt. Mixtapes like Westside Gunn’s Hitler Wears Hermes 2 and Conway’s Reject 2 helped establish Griselda’s grimy and tough sound.

Daringer’s production was integral to creating the Griselda sound, producing most of their classic songs like “Rex Ryan” and “Eric B.” His production is minimal, with slowed jazz and rock samples over knocking drum breaks. DJ Shay was also important for their rise and was a mentor for Benny The Butcher and Armani Caesar early in their rap careers. Thanks to Griselda, Buffalo now has its signature sound and is seen as a city of talent.

Quality & Consistent Output From Griselda Artists

One of the main reasons Griselda is one of the hardest-working collectives in hip hop is their constant output of quality music. It is rare for a Griselda artist not to release at least every year. Each member even tends to release multiple albums a year. Westside Gunn has a historic run with his studio albums like Flygod and Supreme Blientele. He also has ten installments of his Hitler Wears Hermes series. Won’t He Do It is only Conway’s third official album, but he has several mixtapes and collaborations, including his Everybody Is F.O.O.D. mixtape series. Benny’s catalog consists of four installments of his Tana Talk series and multiple EPs and collaborations. The other Griselda artists on the label are building their discographies. Boldy James and Rome Streetz have extensive catalogs but have only recently started releasing music under Griselda.

Griselda never lacks when it comes to releasing music. What distinguishes them from other artists that release music at such high volumes is that there is rarely any filler. With an absurd amount of quality music arriving consistently, Griselda is easily among the hardest-working collectives.

In addition to music, Griselda built their empire with their merchandise. They released limited quantities of hoodies and t-shirts with unique designs. The high demand for their merchandise also translated to an even higher demand for CDs and vinyl. Early on, Griselda teamed up with Daupe Media to release limited exclusive vinyl, selling out in minutes, never to be repressed again. Griselda built their brand around their unique approach to releasing music and merchandise.

Solo & Group Success

In a Wu-Tang fashion, the artists have dispersed throughout the music industry. Their dominance in the underground hip hop scene permeated into mainstream audiences, signing with major labels and playing large festivals. Gunn, Conway, and Benny were recognized by hip hop legends early on in their careers, passing the torch for them to wave the flag for street rap. In 2017, the group signed with Eminem’s Shady Records and teamed up with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation for management in 2019. Benny The Butcher also signed with Def Jam last year. He earned Griselda Records its first plaque when “Johnny P’s Caddy” achieved gold status. 

Though not every foundational member is still on the label, Griselda still moves as a unit. Westside Gunn and Conway teamed up on Conway’s latest album for “Brucifix.” One of the hardest working collectives, Griselda is still strong as a group and as a label, signing established artists and putting on new talent.

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Conway The Machine & Westside Gunn Reconnect For “Brucifix” From “WON’T HE DO IT” Album

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The first New Music Friday of May has brought with it several noteworthy singles, including the return of Brent Faiyaz on “Fell In Love” alongside Marshmello and Desiigner’s exploration of his mental health on “Timmy Turner 2.” Aside from that, a handful of new albums and EPs arrived on DSPs too, such as DaBaby’s Call Da Fireman, and Conway the Machine’s WON’T HE DO IT. The latter was preceded by singles such as “Quarters,” “Super Bowl” featuring Juicy J and Sauce Walka, and finally, “The Chosen” with Jae Skeese.

Another title from the 14-song tracklist that got an early debut is “Brucifix.” The three-minute and 10-second long effort includes an appearance from Conway’s frequent collaborator, Westside Gunn. Though it was on DSPs prior to his album’s arrival, it did appear in a visual for “Quarters,” which the Buffalo-born wordsmith shared on YouTube just last month. The minimal beat was produced by Daringer, and it certainly doesn’t distract from either artist’s bold bars.

Conway The Machine and Westside Gunn Show Off Their Lyrical Talents on “Brucifix”

“Cocaine, caviar, and grouper fishes / You see a bunch of rappers, I see a group of bitches,” Conway sets the scene as his verse begins. “No broke n*ggas around me / That shit might rub off, I’m superstitious.” For his part, Westside name-dropped plenty of fashion brands, in his usual style. “Bottega green satchels / Bet I’ll be at you, Tom Ford tracksuit,” the east coast icon rhymes. “Prince Markie D on the stove, wearin’ raccoons / You just got it, I wore this shit Fashion Week last June (Ah).”

Other friends who appear on CTM’s latest effort include Fabolous, Ransom, and Jozzy. Stream Westside Gunn’s latest work with Conway the Machine on YouTube above, or add “Brucifix” to your playlist on Spotify/Apple Music. If you haven’t already, tap into the full WON’T HE DO IT album here. For more HNHH release recommendations, check in later today for our weekly Fire Emoji round-up.

Quotable Lyrics:

Cocaine, caviar, and grouper fishes
You see a bunch of rappers, I see a group of bitches
No broke n*ggas around me
That shit might rub off, I’m superstitious

Benny The Butcher Speaks On Relationship With Griselda

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Buffalo’s biggest names in the game Benny The Butcher addressed the speculation around the relationship between him and his Griselda compatriots. Moreover, there have been rumors of friction between Benny, Conway The Machine, and Westside Gunn. Griselda has always been a “keep it in the family” type of group. In a recent interview with Math Hoffa, Benny The Butcher spoke on the status of his relationship with his older cousins and the Griselda label since the departure of Conway. Furthermore, Benny admitted that he didn’t know where there issues stemmed from.

Not only that, seeing as Conway and West are Benny The Butcher’s older cousins, he felt he wasn’t in position to get at his cousins about their issues. These rumors came to light last year after Conway revealed that he faced financial complications concerning his Griselda contract. Although Benny mentioned he knew the two were talking and having their dispute, he mentioned that’s what brothers do. He told Math Hoffa, “Remind you that these are my cousins. That ain’t the first time, it won’t be the last.” He explained the brotherly nature of the two rappers and that the two have had disputes like this before.

Benny The Butcher Get’s Real About Griselda

Overall, Benny reassured everyone that Conway and Westside Gunn always find ways to work together and iron out all the details regardless of their issues. “Trust me, it’s never nothing where n-ggas ain’t doing business, getting money, ain’t at each other’s crib. It could never be like that,” The Butcher told the outlet. Not only that Tanna Talk rapper mentioned the group was in talks of a follow up to their highly acclaimed record WWCD in 2019. However, they still need to discuss the contractual situation between the three artists since they all have separate record deals.

All in all, despite all the rumors and speculation, Griselda is standing tall and getting ready to put more music out according to Benny. Benny has reassured everyone that Conway and West are brothers who fight (as all brothers do) but ultimately work their issues out at the end of the day. Do you think Griselda is on the outs? Let the HNHH crew know what you think below!

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