Westside Gunn’s influence is undeniable.
Most recent example: Drake not only rapped over a Conductor Williams beat, he made it the second single from his album released last week. Most rap fans first heard Conductor’s drumming on Pray For Paris, the first of Westside Gunn’s three offerings in 2020. And Then You Pray For Me is something of a sequel to that.
The late Virgil Abloh is once again behind the album’s visuals, while the music still exudes that aura of structured chaos. The collaborations are still numerous and varied, both on the microphone and on the console. Gunn of course called on his brother Conway the Machine and his cousin Benny the Butcher, who have become very respected since their humble beginnings. The three come together on Kostas, a trap production from Tay Keith, which demonstrates the versatility of the MC trio.
The other members of the Griselda family are not left out. Boldy James (Jalen Rose) and Rome Streetz (The Revenge of Flips Leg) shine brightly on their respective tracks, while Stove God Cooks steals the show in each of his many appearances, especially on House of GLORY, a magnificent composition by RZA.
JID skillfully transposes his bouncy flow onto the heavy beat that Beat Butcha concocted for Mama’s PrimeTime. The atmosphere created by Miguel da Plug on DunnHill suits Rick Ross perfectly and Gunn likes it too. Ultra GriZelda doesn’t have the same charm, despite Denzel Curry’s enthusiastic contribution, while Mr Everything, with Jeezy, misses the mark.
The variety is commendable, but the raw, dark sound that Griselda popularized remains what harmonizes best with its founder’s voice. Suicide in Selfridges (Conductor), Kitchen Lights (DJ Benoit) and Babylon Bis (JR Swiftz and Mario Luciano) prove it.
Westside Gunn is a rapper with limited talent. His words have little scope and the fluidity of his flow is lost when he moves away from boom bap. His personality and authenticity have allowed him to stand out over the years, but it is his skills as a curator that have elevated his status. His strength lies more in the choices he makes: the structure of the songs, the combination of various artists, and the selection of on-brand and unexpected beats. He knows it, because the Buffalo native announced that it is his last studio album. And Then You Pray For Me is a great demonstration of Westside Gunn’s unique abilities, but also his limitations.