Alvin Lamar Worthy (born July 27, 1982), known professionally as Westside Gunn, is an American rapper, executive producer, and fashion designer, best known as the head and co-founder of independent hip-hop label Griselda Records. He founded the label with his paternal half-brother rapper Conway the Machine[1] and frequently collaborates with him alongside their cousin and fellow rapper Benny the Butcher. Gunn is recognized as one of the faces of the underground 2010s grimey boom bap resurgence, juxtaposing vivid drug-ridden street narratives, high fashion, and luxurious, artistic sample based production.
Westside Gunn | |
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 Westside Gunn in March 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alvin Lamar Worthy |
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| Born | July 27, 1982 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
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| Years active |
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He has released five studio albums in addition to an extensive catalog of mixtapes and EPs spanning back to 2005, including his infamous Hitler Wears Hermes series.
Gunn frequently collaborates with other artists, both from the golden age of hip hop that inspires his music as well as his modern contemporaries. Artists A.A. Rashid, Keisha Plum, Stove God Cooks, Armani Caesar, Rome Streetz, Boldy James, Estee Nack, as well as producers Daringer, The Alchemist, Conductor Williams, Beat Butcha, DJ Muggs, SadhuGold, Camoflauge Monk, and Denny Laflare make up Gunn's go to collaborators although Gunn has also worked with the likes of DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Raekwon, Black Star, Busta Rhymes, Slick Rick, Black Thought, Tyler The Creator, Joey Badass, Travis Scott, Freddie Gibbs, JID, Denzel Curry, ASAP Rocky, and Rick Ross among a host of others.
Gunn was affiliated with Shady Records from 2017 to 2020, but has since returned to independent status.
Career
editWestside Gunn released his first mixtape in 2005, however his career was derailed by run-ins with the law. Gunn did not release any music from 2006 to 2011.[2]
In 2012, Westside Gunn co-founded the Griselda Records label with Conway the Machine and Mach-Hommy.[3] Gunn was inspired to revitalize his career by the shooting of his brother Conway that same year, which left him with permanent disabilities, as well as by the 2006 murder of his cousin Machine Gun Black. Gunn's first project for Griselda was the mixtape Hitler Wears Hermes. While the name attracted controversy for its reference to Adolf Hitler, Gunn explained that the name is a play on The Devil Wears Prada.[2]
Over the next few years, Gunn released a steady stream of mixtapes and EPs, including multiple sequels to Hitler Wears Hermes, on the Griselda label. Gunn's official studio album debut was Flygod, released on March 11, 2016.
On March 3, 2017, Griselda Records signed a deal with Eminem's Shady Records, making Westside Gunn and Conway the first rappers from Buffalo to sign with a major label.[3] After signing with Shady, Gunn played at Coachella, Firefly and Governors Ball.[4] On October 2, 2020, Westside Gunn released his Shady Records debut, Who Made the Sunshine, his only solo project with Shady Records.
Shortly after signing with Shady Records, Westside released Flygod Is Good... All the Time, as a collaborative EP with producer Mr. Green.[5] Ambrosia For Heads named 2018's Supreme Blientele one of the best albums of 2018.[6] He also signed with Roc Nation alongside label mate Benny the Butcher on August 6, 2019, under a management deal.[7]
On April 17, 2020, he released his third studio album, Pray for Paris. The album has features from artists such as Tyler, the Creator, Wale, Joey Badass and Freddie Gibbs.[8] On July 3, 2020, Westside Gunn released his tenth mixtape Flygod Is an Awesome God II, the sequel to his July 2019 mixtape Flygod Is an Awesome God. The album features guest appearances by frequent collaborators Benny The Butcher, Keisha Plum, Boldy James, and Daringer.[9]
On November 14, 2020, in an interview with Joe Budden, Gunn announced he had fulfilled his contractual obligations to Shady Records and had become an independent artist.[10]
In 2021, he starred in the film Conflicted, which received mixed reviews.[11]
Also in 2021, he released two songs titled "TV Boy" and "Julia Lang". The song "Julia Lang" was titled after fashion entrepreneur Julia Lang.[12] Both songs would eventually be included in his mixtape Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B, released later that year. In 2022, Westside Gunn stated on X that he would be retiring from rap music at the end of 2023.[13]
On October 13, 2023, Westside Gunn released his fifth studio album And Then You Pray For Me with features from AA Rashid, JID, Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher, Stove God Cooks, Rick Ross, Giggs, Ty Dolla Sign, Keisha Plum, Denzel Curry, Boldy James, EST Gee, Jeezy, Peezy, Rome Streetz, and KayCyy. The album is a sequel to Pray for Paris, with both album's covers created by late American fashion designer Virgil Abloh. Westside Gunn has stated that the album will be his last, though he will continue releasing new music.[14]
Personal life
editGunn has stated within various interviews that he's a "devout wrestling fan" and often references this within his song lyrics and song titles. He often can be seen in the front-row seats of the audience of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, WWE and All Elite Wrestling events. He maintains friendships with wrestlers Parker Boudreaux, Lio Rush, Finn Bálor, Bianca Belair, Montez Ford, Montel Vontavious Porter, Sonjay Dutt, Daniel Garcia, and Myron Reed. When asked who were his top 5 wrestlers on fellow rapper Smoke DZA's "Personal Podcast", he stated "It always changes but Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Bret Hart, The Undertaker and Chris Benoit".[15] On the September 7, 2022 edition of AEW Dynamite, Gunn escorted wrestler, close friend and fellow Buffalo native Daniel Garcia to the ring to face Wheeler Yuta in an ROH Pure Championship match, which Garcia won.[16] He later accompanied Swerve Strickland during his AEW World Championship defense at AEW All In 2024, alongside Bun B, DJ Whoo Kid and Flash Garments, where Strickland lost to Bryan Danielson.[17]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [18] |
US R&B/HH [19] |
US Ind. [20] |
AUS [21] |
CAN [22] | ||
| Flygod |
|
— | — | — | — | — |
| Supreme Blientele | — | — | 26 | — | — | |
| Pray for Paris |
|
67 | 39 | 8 | — | — |
| Who Made the Sunshine |
|
— | — | — | — | — |
| And Then You Pray for Me |
|
29 | 8 | 6 | 81 | 95 |
With Griselda
edit- Don't Get Scared Now (2016)
- WWCD (2019)
EPs
edit- There's God and There's Flygod, Praise Both (2016)[24]
- Riots on Fashion Avenue (with Mil Beats) (2017)[25]
- WestSide Doom (with MF Doom) (2017)
- Flygod Is Good... All the Time (with Mr. Green) (2018)[25]
- 11 (2024)
Mixtapes
edit| Title | Mixtape details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [18] |
US Ind. [26] | ||
| Hitler Wears Hermes | — | — | |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 2 |
|
— | — |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 3 |
|
— | — |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 4 |
|
— | — |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 5 |
|
— | — |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 6 |
|
— | — |
| Flygod is an Awesome God |
|
— | 17 |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 7 |
|
— | 47 |
| Flyest Nig@@ in Charge, Vol. 1 |
|
— | — |
| Flygod is an Awesome God 2 |
|
— | — |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf | — | 34 | |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B |
|
196 | 34 |
| Peace "Fly" God |
|
— | — |
| 10 |
|
183 | 29 |
| Still Praying |
|
||
Collaborative mixtapes
edit- Hall & Nash (with Conway the Machine) (2015)
- Griselda Ghost (with Conway the Machine and Big Ghost LTD) (2015)
- Roses are Red... So Is Blood (with The Purist) (2016)
- Hitler on Steroids (with DJ Green Lantern) (2017)
- Hall & Nash 2: The Original Version (with Conway the Machine & The Alchemist) (2023)
- Still Praying (with DJ Drama) (2024)
Charted songs
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [33] |
US R&B/HH [34] |
US Rap [35] |
AUS [36] |
CAN [37] |
WW [38] | |||
| "Keep My Spirit Alive" (Kanye West featuring Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn) |
2021 | 59 | 28 | 23 | 41 | 51 | 51 | Donda |
| "Lost Forever" (Travis Scott featuring Westside Gunn) |
2023 | 46 | 22 | 20 | 71 | 39 | 47 | Utopia |
Music videos
edit| As lead artist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Album | Title | Director | Featured artist |
| 2015 | Flygod | Mr. T | One Dream Films | |
| 2016 | There's God and There's Flygod, Praise Both | Peter Luger | ||
| Hitler Wears Hermes 4 | Summerslam 88 | n/c | ||
| Flygod | Over Gold | One Dream Films | Meyhem Lauren | |
| 2020 | Pray For Paris | Euro Step | The Wizard | |
| Allah Sent Me | Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine | |||
| 2021 | WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE | Liz Loves Luger | Chariot Pictures | Armani Caesar |
| Hitler Wears Hermes 8 | Julia Lang | Revenxnt | ||
| 2022 | 10 | FlyGod Jr | The Daily Gems | Doe Boy, DJ Drama |
| Mac Don't Stop & Nigo Louis | n/c | |||
| Peppas | The Daily Gems | Black Star | ||
| 2023 | Super Kick Party | |||
| BDP | Rome Streetz, Stove God Cooks | |||
| As featured artist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Artist | Title | Director | Other featured artists |
| 2016 | Conway the Machine | Rex Ryan | Mobile Kitchen Sound | Roc Marciano |
| 2019 | DJ Premier | Headlines | Jason Goldwatch | Conway The Machine, Benny the Butcher |
| 2020 | RMR | Welfare | Cameron Dean | |
| 2021 | Mach-Hommy | Folie à Deux | The Daily Gems | Keisha Plum |
| Brady Watt | The Narcissist | Jim Warren & Alexandra Derderian | DJ Premier | |
| 2022 | Conway The Machine | John Woo Flick | Langston Sessoms | Benny the Butcher |
| Meyhem Lauren | Trigger Point Therapy | n/c | ||
| 2023 | Talib Kweli & Madlib | Richies Part Two | Unjust | Roc Marciano |
| DJ Premier | Runway | DJ Premier | Rome Streetz | |
References
edit- ^ "I Love Fly Street Shit: An Interview With Westside Gunn". Passionweiss. March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ a b Pryor, Lex (2020-10-02). "The Flygod Takes Flight". The Ringer. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ a b "Shady X Griselda Ink Deal for WestsideGunn and Conway". Shady Records. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
- ^ Suarez, Gary. "At The Nexus Of Rap And Wrestling, Westside Gunn Reigns Supreme". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ "Westside Gunn & Mr. Green Unite for 'FLYGOD Is Good... All The Time' EP". Hypebeast. 23 March 2018.
- ^ "Who Had The Best Rap Album Of 2018 (Battle 3): Pusha-T vs. Westside Gunn". Ambrosia For Heads. 2018-12-07. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
- ^ Ortiz, Edwin (2019-08-06). "Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn Sign Roc Nation Management Deal". Complex. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Expands His Rap Dynasty With 'Pray for Paris'". HYPEBEAST. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 1, 2020). "Westside Gunn Details New Album Flygod Is an Awesome God II". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ Eustice, Kyle (2020-11-14). "Westside Gunn Tells Joe Budden He's Left Eminem's Shady Records". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
- ^ "Griselda Records Announces Debut Feature Film 'CONFLICTED'". Hypebeast. 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ Powell, Jon (31 March 2021). "Westside Gunn Returns With "Julia Lang" And "Tv Boy"". Revolt (TV network).
- ^ Diep, Eric. "Westside Gunn Plans to Retire From Rap After 2023: 'I Don't Have Nothing Else to Prove'". Complex. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ Gee, Andre (2023-10-09). "Westside Gunn Says This Is His Final Album, But That Doesn't Mean The Music Stops". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
- ^ SMOKE DZA PERSONAL PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH WESTSIDE GUNN, Sep 25, 2021, retrieved Sep 25, 2021
- ^ Westside Gunn Performs On AEW, Sep 8, 2022, retrieved Sep 25, 2022
- ^ "Can't Knock the Hustle: AEW All in 2024 Review - All In(nit)".
- ^ a b "Westside Gunn Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 October 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1755. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 23, 2023. p. 6.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Westside Gunn Albums and Discography". AllMusic.
- ^ "There's God And There's Flygod, Praise Both, by Westside Gunn". Daupe. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
- ^ a b c d e f Westside Gunn discography at AllMusic
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Hitler Wears Hermes 4 by Westside Gunn on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Hitler Wears Hermes 7 by Westside Gunn on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Drops Flyest Nig@@ In Charge Vol. 1 Mixtape – Today in Hip-Hop". XXL. 2 January 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Flygod Is an Awesome God 2 by Westside Gunn on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Peace "Fly" God by Westside Gunn on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ Helfand, Raphael (October 28, 2022). "Westside Gunn drops surprise album Ten". The Fader. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ Peaks on the Hot 100:
- "Keep My Spirit Alive": "Kanye West Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- "Lost Forever": "Travis Scott Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Peaks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart:
- "Keep My Spirit Alive": "Kanye West Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- "Lost Forever": "Travis Scott Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Peaks on the Hot Rap Songs chart:
- "Keep My Spirit Alive": "Kanye West Chart History: Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- "Lost Forever": "Travis Scott Chart History: Hot Rap Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Peaks in Australia:
- "Keep My Spirit Alive": "Kanye West - Keep My Spirit Alive". australian-charts.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- "Lost Forever": "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 7 August 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1744. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 7, 2023. p. 3–4.
- ^ Peaks on the Canadian Hot 100:
- "Keep My Spirit Alive": "Kanye West Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- "Lost Forever": "Travis Scott Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Peaks on the Global 200:
- "Keep My Spirit Alive": "Kanye West Chart History: Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- "Lost Forever": "Travis Scott Chart History: Global 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2023.