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Westside Gunn

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Westside Gunn
Westside Gunn in March 2023
Westside Gunn in March 2023
Background information
Birth nameAlvin Lamar Worthy
Also known as
  • Flygod
  • Super Flygod
  • Hall
  • W.S.G.
  • Gunn
Born (1982-07-27) July 27, 1982 (age 42)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • fashion designer
Years active
  • 2005
  • 2012–present
Labels

Alvin Lamar Worthy (born July 27, 1982), known professionally as Westside Gunn, is an American rapper and fashion designer from New York City. He co-founded the hip-hop record label Griselda Records in 2012 with his paternal half-brother Conway the Machine and their cousin and fellow rapper Benny the Butcher.[1] Gunn is recognized as one of the faces of the underground 2010s grimey boom bap resurgence, juxtaposing vivid narratives of street life, high fashion, and sample-heavy production.

Since 2005, he has released five studio albums in addition to mixtapes and Extended plays. Gunn was affiliated with Shady Records from 2017 to 2020, but has since returned to independent work.

Career

[edit]

Westside Gunn released his first mixtape in 2005, however his career was derailed by run-ins with law enforcement. 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

[edit]

Gunn 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]

Artistry

[edit]

He frequently collaborates with other artists, several of whom from the golden age of hip hop that inspires his own music. Artists such as 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, he has also worked with DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Raekwon, Black Star, Busta Rhymes, Slick Rick, Black Thought, Joey Badass, Travis Scott, Freddie Gibbs, JID, Denzel Curry, and Rick Ross, among others.

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details and peak chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[18] 		US
R&B/HH
[19] 		US
Ind.
[20] 		AUS
[21] 		CAN
[22]
Flygod — — — — —
Supreme Blientele
  • Released: June 22, 2018[23]
  • Label: Griselda, Empire
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
 — — 26 — —
Pray for Paris
  • Released: April 17, 2020[23]
  • Label: Griselda, Empire
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
 67 39 8 — —
Who Made the Sunshine
  • Released: October 2, 2020[23]
  • Label: Griselda, Shady, Interscope
  • Format: digital download, streaming
 — — — — —
And Then You Pray for Me
  • Released: October 13, 2023
  • Label: Griselda, Empire
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
 29 8 6 81 95

With Griselda

[edit]

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
  • Released: October 23, 2012[25]
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Hitler Wears Hermes 2
  • Released: September 22, 2014
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Hitler Wears Hermes 3
  • Released: September 16, 2015
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Hitler Wears Hermes 4
  • Released: October 31, 2016[27]
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Hitler Wears Hermes 5
  • Released: October 31, 2017
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Hitler Wears Hermes 6
  • Released: October 31, 2018
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Flygod is an Awesome God
  • Released: July 5, 2019[25]
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — 17
Hitler Wears Hermes 7
  • Released: November 1, 2019[28]
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — 47
Flyest Nig@@ in Charge, Vol. 1
  • Released: January 2, 2020[29] (recorded in 2005)
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Flygod is an Awesome God 2
  • Released: July 3, 2020[30]
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf
  • Released: August 27, 2021[25]
  • Label: Griselda, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — 34
Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B
  • Released: September 24, 2021[25]
  • Label: Griselda, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 196 34
Peace "Fly" God
  • Released: July 8, 2022[31]
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 — —
10
  • Released: October 28, 2022[32]
  • Label: Griselda, Empire
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 183 29
Still Praying
  • Released: November 1, 2024
  • Label: Griselda
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Collaborative mixtapes

[edit]

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]
  1. ^ "I Love Fly Street Shit: An Interview With Westside Gunn". Passionweiss. March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Pryor, Lex (2020-10-02). "The Flygod Takes Flight". The Ringer. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  3. ^ a b "Shady X Griselda Ink Deal for WestsideGunn and Conway". Shady Records. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
  4. ^ Suarez, Gary. "At The Nexus Of Rap And Wrestling, Westside Gunn Reigns Supreme". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  5. ^ "Westside Gunn & Mr. Green Unite for 'FLYGOD Is Good... All The Time' EP". Hypebeast. 23 March 2018.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ Ortiz, Edwin (2019-08-06). "Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn Sign Roc Nation Management Deal". Complex. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  8. ^ "Westside Gunn Expands His Rap Dynasty With 'Pray for Paris'". HYPEBEAST. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  9. ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 1, 2020). "Westside Gunn Details New Album Flygod Is an Awesome God II". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  10. ^ Eustice, Kyle (2020-11-14). "Westside Gunn Tells Joe Budden He's Left Eminem's Shady Records". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  11. ^ "Griselda Records Announces Debut Feature Film 'CONFLICTED'". Hypebeast. 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  12. ^ Powell, Jon (31 March 2021). "Westside Gunn Returns With "Julia Lang" And "Tv Boy"". Revolt (TV network).
  13. ^ Diep, Eric. "Westside Gunn Plans to Retire From Rap After 2023: 'I Don't Have Nothing Else to Prove'". Complex. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ SMOKE DZA PERSONAL PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH WESTSIDE GUNN, Sep 25, 2021, retrieved Sep 25, 2021
  16. ^ Westside Gunn Performs On AEW, Sep 8, 2022, retrieved Sep 25, 2022
  17. ^ "Can't Knock the Hustle: AEW All in 2024 Review - All In(nit)".
  18. ^ a b "Westside Gunn Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  20. ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 October 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1755. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 23, 2023. p. 6.
  22. ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  23. ^ a b c d "Westside Gunn Albums and Discography". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "There's God And There's Flygod, Praise Both, by Westside Gunn". Daupe. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  25. ^ a b c d e f Westside Gunn discography at AllMusic
  26. ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "Hitler Wears Hermes 4 by Westside Gunn on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  28. ^ "Hitler Wears Hermes 7 by Westside Gunn on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  29. ^ "Westside Gunn Drops Flyest Nig@@ In Charge Vol. 1 Mixtape – Today in Hip-Hop". XXL. 2 January 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  30. ^ "Flygod Is an Awesome God 2 by Westside Gunn on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  31. ^ "Peace "Fly" God by Westside Gunn on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  32. ^ Helfand, Raphael (October 28, 2022). "Westside Gunn drops surprise album Ten". The Fader. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  33. ^ Peaks on the Hot 100:
  34. ^ Peaks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart:
  35. ^ Peaks on the Hot Rap Songs chart:
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ Peaks on the Canadian Hot 100:
  38. ^ Peaks on the Global 200:
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