Westside Gunn: A Musical Architect
1202 MAGAZINE discussed the Griselda rapper’s latest album, And Then You Pray For Me.
Westside Gunn by ProlificKid
Westside Gunn once said, “Long live Michelle, Long live Virgil.” In fact, he introduces them in his latest album, which will also be one of his last long-form projects, And Then You Pray For Me, with spoken word from AA Rashid. The motivating excerpt correlates Gunn’s late loved ones, Aunt Michelle and Virgil Abloh's effervescent presence, to his creative inspiration and achievements.
The Buffalo, New York rapper and Griselda co-founder takes listeners through hip-hop’s revolutionary eras of the ‘90s and late ‘00s. These approaches to crafting his sound from various influences have shaped who FlyGod is today. The thematic sounds of And Then You Pray For Me are carried out as a sequel to his 2020 album Pray for Paris. Traveling to Europe is a privilege — a luxury even — especially for many in the Black community. Gunn, however, wants to make it known that those from the hood can and will travel worldwide.
“Let’s finish what we started,” Gunn says. “I just started traveling and going to brand new places I’ve never been to see new cultures. This album sounds so different because the things I’ve done from January to now — it’s been the best time of my life. There’s more energy and I’m living life right now.”
And Then You Pray For Me, Gunn’s fifth and possibly final studio album, was written throughout his long-term trip to Europe. Whether it was at a château, a vineyard, the Eiffel Tower, or a Paris Fashion Week runway show, Gunn says he felt the spirit of Abloh and divine timing to make another project. “It was done in Paris, Copenhagen, Denmark, Athens and Santorini, Greece, and Paris Fashion Week,” Gunn says. “It inspired me in January 2023, like the first time I went in January 2020 with Virgil.”
In addition to the Pray for Paris album cover, the late Abloh also created the cover for And Then You Pray For Me around the same period. Abloh incorporated Gunn’s signature chains into Caravaggio’s painting of The Entombment of Christ. Unfortunately, Abloh died while Gunn worked on And Then You Pray For Me in 2021, initially Pray for Paris II. After losing someone so near and dear to every aspect of his life, Gunn couldn't bear attempting to complete the project. The album, which took about eight months to complete, details his endeavors through Europe.
“I’ve always been ahead of the curve,” Gunn says. “I was the main one who always pushed the underground scene. I’m the king of the underground. Nobody’s bigger in the underground world than Westside Gunn; I’m not going to give up my throne. I feel like I’m conquering land right now — you can’t take over the world unless you’ve seen it.”
WESTSIDE GUNN by ProlificKid
Gunn didn’t go on these European ventures alone; he brought friends, family, and frequent collaborators. His change of scenery strongly complements the album’s adept sound. Each song sounds like a different epoch in hip-hop history. “Mama’s Primetime,” “Suicide in Selfridges,” “The Revenge of Flips Leg,” and “FLYGOD 2x” consummate the ‘90s flows and cadences with thematic JID, Rome Streetz and Conway the Machine lyrics and pioneering DJ Drama beats. In contrast, tracks like “Kostas,” “Jalen Rose,” “Steve and Jony,” and “Disgusting” accord more modern trap beats with snares, keyboards, bells, and producer tags. The iconic tags comprise Tay Keith and DJ Holiday with Griselda features and Rick Ross, Giggs, Boldy James, and EST Gee appearances.
“I don’t just believe in that old school, traditional bullshit,” he says. “We’re here to push the culture; we’re here to push the art. We’re all breaking bread. We’re all doing things in our life that people thought was impossible. That’s what it’s about. If I can help my brothers do that, let’s do it.”
Whether it’s a solo song or has features, Gunn will always give credit when credit is due. Encompassed into And Then You Pray For Me are also notes of late ‘00s hip-hop. “JD Wrist” and “Ultra GriZelda” are reminiscent of Jeezy — who is featured on “MR EVERYTHING” — and early Chief Keef. Like many music connoisseurs, Gunn says he would declare Jeezy and Chief Keef trap gods of different generations. They stapled wealth in the Black community through music with cars, jewelry, and houses. Gunn also tapped Ty Dolla $ign and KayCyy to broaden his horizon with alternative R&B. “Chloe” brings Ty Dolla $ign’s signature soothing sound atop mega freaky lyrics, while “AND THEN YOU PRAY FOR ME” features KayCyy singing aspirational lyrics.
“Westside Gunn can do anything,” he says. “I’ve proven that over and over again. “I can be on the grimiest shit ever and go to the Dominican Republic just to shoot a video for the culture and for the art. At the same time, I could be nominated for a Grammy with Mary J. Blige. I was nominated for a Grammy with the Free Nationals, Anderson .Paak, and Donda. I’m on UTOPIA and Babyface Ray’s new album Summer’s Mine. Westside Gunn is the only guy who’s doing this right now. Other artists are not stepping into all of those lanes, you can’t be one-dimensional.”
As this stage of Gunn’s life completes, he confirms that he will continue to make music on his own time — no more long-form with 15 to 20 songs, but more singles and mixtapes. His Griselda brotherhood proceeds. He’s eager to slow down, watch his kids grow, spend more time and travel with him, and leave the music up to divine timing.
