Jacob Steeves reporter
Since 2012, Griselda Records of New York has consistently released some of the most forward-thinking and creative hip hop records of the past decade. Their founder and main draw, Westside Gunn, has released his long-awaited sixth studio album, “Still Praying.” The album stands as a welcome return for the New York rapper, giving listeners his familiar brand of drug-addled bars combined with professional wrestling references. However, Westside Gunn brings a twist to this album, one that will be familiar to hip-hop heads everywhere: DJ Drama.
DJ Drama, the mixtape legend from Pennsylvania, treats listeners with his familiar ad libs and distinct voice, giving the album the feel of a classic rap mixtape from the 2000’s.
To put it simply, Westside Gunn sounds at the top of his game on this tape. The album is a welcome addition to his catalog, especially following his polarizing previous studio album, “And Then You Pray For Me.” This album alienated many fans, as Gunn seemed to abandon his typical 90s-style rap production for more contemporary, trap-style songs. While I personally think that Gunn sounded fantastic in that particular production, it feels like a warm hug hearing him on the types of beats that made him a household name in the rap community. The bars on this album—as the cover might suggest—have a great deal to do with professional wrestling, of which Westside Gunn himself is involved as a promoter. He makes several references to professional wrestlers such as Jeff Hardy, Dr. Britt Baker, and Max Caster, even with an appearance by professional wrestling announcer, Justin Roberts.
As with most Westside Gunn albums, the lyrics primarily contain references to selling drugs, gang activity, and the struggle of being a Black man in America. While these themes are present among all of Gunn’s albums, what sells this particular album is his unique delivery. What drives many to Westside Gunn in the first place is his extremely unique voice. His voice is a distinctive, high-pitched rasp, which is almost immediately recognizable whenever he is heard. He delivers the bars with a great amount of aggressiveness and passion, which sells the message of his songs in a truly special way. Standout tracks include: “Duran Duran,” where Gunn raps over an almost sinister-sounding piano track; “Beef Bar,” where he sings and raps over an entrancing, beautiful beat; and the triumphant “Still Praying,” a 7-minute long epic where Gunn raps with all of the members of Griselda Records, Conway the Machine, Stove God Cooks, Benny the Butcher, and Boldy James. This stands out as the best track on the whole record, serving as a sort of magnum opus of the label’s signees.
While the lyrics and delivery are prominent aspects of the album, what really drives this record is the production by Denny LaFlare and Statik Skeletah. LaFlare and Skeletah have handled production on many albums released under the Griselda label. Their production is a beautiful, transcendent combination of the sounds of the golden age of rap along with the advanced sounds of contemporary rap. Production is always what has set Griselda and Gunn apart from the rest of the modern hip hop scene. Simply put, Westside Gunn songs are almost immediately recognizable from the beats that are chosen, and on this album in particular, Denny LaFlare and Statik Skeletah are on the top of their game.
Westside Gunn’s album “Still Praying” is a truly breathtaking and welcome addition to hip hop in 2024. Gunn’s bars and the production of Griselda’s top producers make a truly outstanding album that stands as one of the year’s best.
Score: 8/10