Having punctuated a successful 2019 with the release of their major-label debut album WWCD, Griselda Records has continued to work on and release music following their tour of the same name. Benny the Butcher is working his next project (tentatively, Tana Talk 4) which may have a Drake feature, and Conway teamed with Alchemist for their LULU project.
In a matter of hours, Westside Gunn will release his anticipated project Pray For Paris. The follow-up to Hitler Wears Hermes 7, the 13-track project features the likes of Conway, Benny, Wale, Joey Bada$$, Freddie Gibbs, Roc Marciano, Alchemist, DJ Premier (who was a last-minute addition), Boldy James, Joyce Wrice, DJ Muggs, Daringer, Beat Butcha, Conductor Williams (formerly known as D/WILL), a surprising contribution from popular online personality Jay Versace (that track is one of the DopeHouse’s favorites on the album), and others.
“Don’t ever call me a rapper. I’M AN ARTIST!,” Gunn exclaimed on Instagram. “I’m different and I always knew I was different. Sh*t be so over people heads some think I’m even trash because they don’t understand it. But that’s what happens with rare ART. I can’t help that I’m that dope and you can’t understand it. I don’t have to be the most popular but I’m the most respected. I’ve already did the unthinkable, I can easily dumb it down and go platinum but the game has NEVER seen a WESTSIDE GUNN before. The way I curate, my ear for production, the way I bring people into my world and bring the best out of them.
“Tonight is my latest masterpiece,” he continued. “All I ask is that you support real ART. Virgil doing the cover is my Grammy so I already won. Play this sh*t on repeat and tell everybody with ears real hip hop is alive!”
Stream it in its entirety, below.
