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Westside Gunn
American rapper (born 1982) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Alvin Lamar Worthy (born July 27, 1982), known professionally as Westside Gunn, is an American rapper and fashion designer. 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]
Since 2005, he has released five studio albums in addition to a wide catalog of mixtapes and extended plays. Gunn was affiliated with Shady Records from 2017 to 2020, but has since returned to independent work.
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Career
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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 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 several mixtapes and EPs, including multiple sequels to Hitler Wears Hermes, on the Griselda label.[citation needed] Gunn's official studio album debut was Flygod, released on March 11, 2016.[4]
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] In 2018, Gunn released Supreme Blientele, which Ambrosia For Heads named one of the best albums of the year.[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] Later that year on July 3, 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]
In 2021, he starred in the film Conflicted, alongside Benny the Butcher, Michael Rapaport, and J. Holiday.[12] Also in 2021, he released two songs titled "TV Boy" and "Julia Lang"; the latter song was titled after the fashion entrepreneur Julia Lang.[13] 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.[14]
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.[15]
On 24 January 2025, he announced his involvement in a new hardcore punk band called Dissension and posted a preview of a new song "Black Hole".[16][17] Months later on 2 May, he released "Egypt (Remix)" featuring Doechii.[18]
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Personal life
Gunn has stated in interviews that he is a "devout wrestling fan" and often references this within his song lyrics and titles. He often can be seen in the front-row seats of the audience of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, House of Glory, Major League Wrestling, WWE and All Elite Wrestling events. He maintains friendships with wrestlers Pentagón Jr, Fénix, Rey Mysterio, Parker Boudreaux, Lio Rush, Finn Bálor, Bianca Belair, Montez Ford, Montel Vontavious Porter, Sonjay Dutt, Daniel Garcia, Zilla Fatu 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".[19] 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.[20] 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.[21]
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Discography
Studio albums
With Griselda
- Don't Get Scared Now (2016)
- WWCD (2019)
EPs
Mixtapes
Collaborative mixtapes
- 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
Guest appearances
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Music videos
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References
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