Westside Gunn

Alvin Lamar Worthy (born July 27, 1982), known professionally as Westside Gunn, is an American rapper from Buffalo, New York. Westside Gunn is a co-founder of independent hip-hop label Griselda Records. He is the brother of rapper Conway The Machine[1] and cousin of rapper Benny the Butcher, both of whom he frequently collaborates with. Westside Gunn has released four studio albums in addition to an extensive catalog of mixtapes. Gunn was affiliated with Shady Records from 2017 to 2020, but has since returned to independent status.

Westside Gunn
Westside Gunn in 2020
Background information
Birth nameAlvin Lamar Worthy
Also known as
  • FLYGOD
  • Hall
  • W.S.G.
  • Goldie
Born (1982-07-27) July 27, 1982
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • record executive
  • curator
  • fashion designer
  • businessman
Years active2005–present
Labels
Associated acts

Career

Westside Gunn released his first mixtape in 2005, however his career was derailed by run-ins with the law. Gunn served time in prison from 2006 to 2008 on a weapons charge, and again from 2010 to 2011 for a parole violation. Gunn did not release any music in the years 2006-2011.[2]

In 2012, Westside Gunn co-founded the Griselda Records label with his brother 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 Hermès. While the name attracted controversy for its reference to Adolf Hitler, Gunn explained that the name is a play on The Devil Wears Prada.[4]

Over the next few years, Gunn released a steady stream of mixtapes and EPs, including multiple sequels to Hitler Wears Hermès, 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.[5] 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.[6] Ambrosia For Heads named 2018's Supreme Blientele one of the best albums of 2018.[7] He also signed with Roc Nation alongside label mate Benny the Butcher on August 6, 2019, under a management deal.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

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. [11]

Discography

Studio albums

With Griselda

Compilation albums
  • Hitler's Dead (2018)
  • Fourth Rope (2019)

EPs
  • Roses are Red... So is Blood (with The Purist) (2016)
  • There's God and There's Flygod, Praise Both (2016)
  • Riots on Fashion Avenue (with Mil Beats) (2017)[16]
  • Westside Doom (with MF Doom) (2017)
  • Raw is Flygod (with Daringer) (2017)
  • Flygod Is Good... All the Time (with Mr. Green) (2018)[16]

Mixtapes
  • Flyest Nigga in Charge Vol. 1 (2005)[16]
  • Hitler Wears Hermes (2012)
  • Hitler Wears Hermes II (2014)
  • Hitler Wears Hermes III (2015)
  • Hitler Wears Hermes IV (2016)
  • Hitler Wears Hermes V (2017)
  • Hitler Wears Hermes VI (2018)
  • Flygod is an Awesome God (2019)[16]
  • Hitler Wears Hermes VII (2019)[16]
  • Flygod is an Awesome God II (2020)[16]
  • Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely, Adolf (2021)[16] - No. 196 Billboard 200[17]
  • Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B (2021)
  • Gunnlib (with Madlib) (TBA)

Collaborative mixtapes

References
  1. "I Love Fly Street Shit: An Interview With Westside Gunn". Passionweiss. March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  2. Pryor, Lex (2020-10-02). "The Flygod Takes Flight". The Ringer. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  3. "Shady X Griselda Ink Deal for WestsideGunn and Conway". Shady Records. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
  4. Pryor, Lex (2020-10-02). "The Flygod Takes Flight". The Ringer. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  5. Suarez, Gary. "At The Nexus Of Rap And Wrestling, Westside Gunn Reigns Supreme". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
  6. "Westside Gunn & Mr. Green Unite for 'FLYGOD Is Good... All The Time' EP". Hypebeast. 23 March 2018.
  7. "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.
  8. Ortiz, Edwin (2019-08-06). "Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn Sign Roc Nation Management Deal". Complex. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  9. "Westside Gunn Expands His Rap Dynasty With 'Pray for Paris'". HYPEBEAST. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  10. Strauss, Matthew (July 1, 2020). "Westside Gunn Details New Album Flygod Is an Awesome God II". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  11. Eustice, Kyle (2020-11-14). "Westside Gunn Tells Joe Budden He's Left Eminem's Shady Records". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
  12. "Westside Gunn Albums and Discography". AllMusic.
  13. "Westside Gunn Albums and Discography". AllMusic.
  14. "Westside Gunn Albums and Discography". AllMusic.
  15. "Westside Gunn Albums and Discography". AllMusic.
  16. Westside Gunn discography at AllMusic
  17. "Westside Gunn Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
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