Review: "Pray for Paris" Album by Westside Gunn
Also known as rapper Conways’s brother, Westside Gunn has proven to be a formidable addition to the NY rap game. Hailing from Buffalo, New York, “Pray for Paris” proves Gunn has mastered the art of the album in a time of streaming one-hit wonders.
Westside Gunn’s style harkens back to a time when instrumentals and sick piano riffs made up hip hop instead of sound effects and bubble gum editing. “George Bondo” is a clear banger, and how could it not be with his bro Conway the Machine and cousin Benny the Butcher on the track? It’a fast and delirious ride on the keys back in time to NY in the ‘90s, before trust fund brats used it as their playground.
The classy “327” also features some jaw-dropping features, including Tyler, The Creator and Joey Bada$$. This track has a more laidback, jazzy instrumental and vocals to match. A hazy tune to light one to, this ambient provokes thoughts more than parties.
“$500 Ounces” snags a collab from the coveted Freddie Gibbs, a somber tune that goes between a sordid past and a lavish future with lines like: “I got skeletons in my closet right next to Balenciagas.” It’s hard to tell what we like more in this track - the beat or the verses. Both bring their A game.
Although the album is percussion dominant, “Versace”, produced by Jay Versace, lets Gunn’s chops shine without drums, and just some background vocals to lift up his ever-changing flow. In the following track, “Clairborne Kick,” fans are treated to a chopped and screwed, angelic and drunken celebration of lyricism thanks to Boldy James.
“Party wit Pop Smoke” is a turnt up tribute that comes in high on our list as well, especially with that poetic and velvety spoken word by Keisha Plum, sweetly delivering lines like “gun and drug charges give me butterflies” and “he started to cry, I kissed his cheek then drove the ice pick in his eye.” Damn.