Westside Gunn

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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Westside Gunn Hints At New Virgil Artwork For New Album

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Westside Gunn is no stranger to complementing great music with extraordinary art. Whether he’s making statements through his clothing or within his music, The Fly God always puts the art at the forefront. Albeit, the Buffalo native plans to retire next year, he still has one last hoorah for the fans. Currently, the Griselda co-founder is working on the follow-up to his wildly acclaimed tape Pray for Paris. Not only that, but he also revealed on Twitter that he was putting out another project called & Then U Pray For Me. Both tapes are set to drop soon. Pray for Paris 2 releasing Friday during Fashion Week and & Then U Pray For Me dropping on June 23rd.

Furthermore, in an interview, Westside Gunn attributes his artistic journey to his relationship with close friend cultural architect Virgil Abloh. The renowned designer passed away on November 28, 2021, proceeding to a private battle with cancer. “Virgil changed my life. He was the turning point for me. I’m going to be honest, and for many reasons,” Westside Gunn told AllHipHop.com. It was Virgil who invited the rapper to Paris. Gunn was hesitant to go overseas due to his history as a hustler. He thought that once he applied for a passport, his checkered past would surface, landing him in prison. “He was like, ‘Yo, come to Paris with me.’ And I was like, I don’t know about all that, man,” The Fly God explained.

Westside Gunn Announces “Pray For Paris 2”

Nevertheless, Virgil got Westside Gunn out to Paris and helped him get a passport. Despite only communicating via text, the two met face-to-face for the first time in the City of Light. Later, after their meeting, Abloh went on to design Gunn’s album cover for Pray for Paris using Caravaggio’s David with the Head of Goliath. Once they got to the topic of the sequel the Griselda rhymer gave a few extra details.

“What people don’t know is, quiet as it’s kept, that Virgil was so ahead of his time that he had already designed s### for two to three years ahead of time,” Gunn explained. The Fly God also noted that before the cultural icon left us, he already had collections of stuff already designed. “What people don’t know about me, and Virgil, is he already designed four album covers for me,” detailed the Buffalo native. Additionally, he said, “Pray for Paris was the first one. There’s still more that we got coming.” Westside Gunn’s Pray for Paris 2 is releasing during Fashion Week with one of Virgil’s most iconic designs. Let us know if you’re ready for some new music from The Fly God below!

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Westside Gunn Songs: Rapper’s Best Collabs

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Westside Gunn has accumulated a multitude of songs in his discography. The Griselda artist treats each one of his albums as a piece of art. This includes ones he released himself or others he executive produces. He has often spoken of taking pride in bringing artists together. Since he is into visual art, too, it’s only fitting he uses the term “curator” in his list of titles.

Over multiple projects, Westside has gotten features from expected and unexpected artists. Several names make multiple appearances even if years pass between them. Westside has built a reputation for himself and gained respect from multiple names in the rap world from the past and present. We’ve gathered some of the best collaborations across his continuously expanding discography.

“Gorilla Monsoon” feat. MF DOOM (2017)

This is a Westside Gunn song that needs no introduction. MF DOOM is respected, praised, and loved, and his legacy continues to shine despite his passing. Westside Gunn released a two-track pack with him, appropriately named WestsideDOOM. This is the first track in the pack, and Daringer produced it. The title comes from the wrestler of the same name. Any Westside Gunn listener knows he’s been referencing and sampling WWE/WWF his whole career. The eerie string, big loop, and dusty drums allow Westside and DOOM to deliver slower-paced flows. However, this makes their words stick, especially DOOM’s. His flow is even more calculated and delivered almost matter-of-factly. Rhymes are found at the beginning and end of several of his bars. Listeners praised Westside for crafting a verse that pairs well with DOOM’s, making this a universally celebrated track.

“Good Night” feat. Slick Rick (2020)

This Westside Gunn song has a legendary artist on it: Slick Rick. This track comes from Westside’s album, WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE. Additionally, this is Slick Rick’s second feature on the album. In this track, both Westside and Slick Rick are in their storytelling bags. Naturally, this stems from Slick Rick’s classic track “Children’s Story,” which Westside references in the final bar of his verse. The two tell vivid stories filled with imagery and a sequence of events that showcase their pen games. The fact each of their verses is part of the same story makes the track even more special. Producers Beat Butcha and Daringer provide a sparse eerie and grimy beat that enhances the mood of the stories they tell. Listeners were delighted to hear Slick Rick after all these years and they praised Westside for being able to secure a feature from him.

“Free Kutter” feat. Jay Electronica (2021)

This is one of the shorter songs in Westside Gunn’s discography. Though that doesn’t stop its impact on listeners. Jay Electronica is one of the most elusive rappers in the game. His features are rare but have become more common since he finally released his album A Written Testimony in 2020. Jay Versace is on production on this track and samples a xylophone which makes it worth listening to based on that alone. Jay Electronica’s verse not only references other rappers but also pop culture subjects like Star Wars and actors. His delivery is effortless as he drops double entendres and wordplay techniques with smoothness and ease. Listeners have zoned in on the ones that resonate with them most. They also praised Westside for securing a feature from him and how each of their verses truly gave the song a ’90s feel.

“GODS Don’t Bleed” feat. Benny The Butcher & Jadakiss (2018)

This song brings Westside Gunn and his labelmate Benny together with another New York native, Jadakiss. At just under five minutes, it is one of the longest songs on this list but it’s worth the runtime. When this was released in 2018, many hailed it as Benny’s best verse or even the best verse of the year. The way his flow complimented the eerie sample loop from producer Daringer causes listeners to not even realize his verse is around two minutes long.

Additionally, Benny’s verse shares info on his past and present in both the rap and drug games. Jadakiss’ addition is just as cold and straightforward. He even throws in a flow switch in his verse’s final moments without comprising the grime of his delivery and subject matter. Westside’s verse is last on this one which shows him prioritizing his features, something that he is known to do.

“716 Mile” feat. Boldy James (2021)

This is another Westside Gunn song where he lets the featured artist have their time to shine. Boldly’s lyrical content outshines his significantly. He weaves in biblical references and punchlines with his usual coke rap subject matter. This is a testament to his skill as a writer and also shows he either was heavily exposed to the Bible growing up or he still reads it regularly today.

This is easily one of the more unique beats on this list as well. Camoflauge Monk provides a sample loop that’s not exactly melodic but still has percussion. Additionally, the percussion is not even from drums but from what sounds like cymbals clashing. He paired these with some guitar strums and an eerie synth. The fact the two of them could rap over it shows they have mastered the art of unique beat selection and listeners can attest to this.

“Forest Lawn” feat. 2 Chainz and Armani Caesar (2021)

This Westside Gunn song has been praised for two reasons, both of which are the performances from the features. Listeners have praised 2 Chainz for several of his features across the years and cited this one as an example. Listeners also praised Armani Caesar‘s feature and saw it as solidifying her place on the Griselda label. Hers is the unique verse on the track because of a special arrangement. It has background vocalizations on it from Armani herself. Her harmonies playing while she raps is something most listeners have never heard before. Her delivery was in her aggressively confident lane, while 2 Chainz was more energetic with his flows but still impactful. Camoflauge Monk’s looped string sample gives the song a faint eerie feeling.

“Horses on Sunset” feat. Stove God Cooks (2022)

This song comes from one of the more divisive albums in Westside Gunn’s discography. Titled Peace “Fly” God, the album is ten tracks and, according to Westside himself, was made in two days. Despite listeners’ opinions on the whole project, this track stands out for almost everyone. Legendary producer Madlib provided the beat for this one, and that alone is enough for many of them to rate it so highly. His samples all sound like they came from a late-night lounge performance. This contrasts Stove God’s creatively violent hook well, whose energy stays low-key. However, Westside Gunn brings his usual high-volume flow, whose imagery contrasts the subtle mood while aligning with it in other moments. This track is another reason listeners continue to wait for the Madlib and Westside Gunn collab project, GunnLib.

“327” feat. Joey Bada$$, Tyler, The Creator & Billie Essco (2020)

This song introduced Westside Gunn to many. With features from Joey and Tyler, he brought their listeners into his world. This song comes from his album Pray for Paris, whose sequel And Then You Pray For Me releases June 23, 2023. The song’s production comes from his frequent collaborator, Camoflauge Monk. He crafted a moderately paced luxurious track for the four artists to rap over. The keys are spaced out and glisten across the subtle boom-bap drums. Billie Essco’s relaxed hook helps keep the mood calm throughout the track. Each artist brings their own flavor to the track, contrasting in subject matter, delivery, and flow. This makes the track unique because it is still cohesive. After all, one theme remains constant amongst them: luxury. 

“The Cow” feat. Conway The Machine (2016)

This is one of the best songs in Westside Gunn’s discography-and it almost wasn’t even in his. Listeners have praised this verse as the best verse in Conway’s career. The subject is centered around Conway speaking about how he was shot, which led to Bell’s Palsy, losing his cousin MachineGun Black and the things he went through after it. His album, God Don’t Make Mistakes, builds on his speaking on most of these topics. This makes sense, considering he revealed this song was supposed to be the intro track for that album. Considering all of this, many listeners did not like Westside Gunns’ verse on the song. He does not follow Conway’s path and doesn’t deliver a sentimental, heartfelt verse. However, the production delivers these emotions, which listeners rely on to keep the mood intact when listening.

What are some of your favorite Westside Gunn collaborative tracks? Let us know in the comments section.

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[WATCH] Conway The Machine Drops Visuals For “Quarters/Brucifix” Feat. Westside Gunn

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The road to Conway The Machine’s major label Shady/Interscope Records debut, God Don’t Make Mistakes, was undeniably impactful and incredibly redemptive.  Universally hailed by critics and fans alike, the album was also his commercial breakthrough, as God Don’t Make Mistakes rose to the top of DSP charts and was also his highest-charting Billboard project to date.

While God Don’t Make Mistakes was Conway’s de-facto origin story, it will also serve as the bridge to the next phase of his already decorated career; which begins with his next album Won’t He Do It. 

After sharing the album’s first single, “Super Bowl,” which featured Sauce Walka and Juicy J, Conway The Machine releases Won’t He Do It’s second single and first visual “Quarters/Brucifix” featuring Westside Gunn.  Filmed on location in Paris, the dual single features production from Khrysis on “Quarters,” (which also includes a vocal clip from the late Combat Jack—RIP) along with the Westside Gunn assisted, and Daringer produced “Brucifix.” 

In addition to the release of Won’t He Do It’s second single. Conway also announced the Won’t He Do It Spring Tour featuring Sauce Walka and his fellow Drumwork artist Jae Skeese, which will touch down in 18 cities starting on 5-26 in Chicago.  You can visit Conway’s digital HQ for all corresponding tour dates.

“I wanted to tap back in with my bro, Khrysis, and give em that feel that my fans know me for providing” Conway commented to Complex.  I also wanted to set the tone for my new album.” 

Conway The Machine’s new solo album, Won’t He Do It, will be released this spring. 

“Quarters”is now available at all DSP’s via Drumwork Music Group/EMPIRE

The post [WATCH] Conway The Machine Drops Visuals For “Quarters/Brucifix” Feat. Westside Gunn appeared first on The Source.