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Westside Gunn is “Still Praying” (Album Review)

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Here we have the 8th studio LP from Buffalo, New York emcee, songwriter, entrepreneur & curator Westside Gunn. Proving his legend status & that he’s to be a force to be reckoned with all in nearly a decade whether it be running one of the hottest hip hop labels in recent memory to his first 2 full-lengths FLYGOD & Supreme Blientele. He just put out the 11th installment of his infamous Halloween mixtape series Hitler Wears Hermes yesterday & is now following up And Then You Pray for Me with Still Praying.

After the “Waly Fay” intro & the “Justin Roberts” skit, the first song “Beef Bar” produced by Denny LaFlare & Statik Selektah is a lavish boom bap opener welcoming everyone to the lifestyles of the rich & famous whereas “Max Caster” named after the former AEW World Tag Team Champion & AEW World Trios Champion dustily worries about the almighty dollar. “Dr. Britt Baker” featuring Brother Tom Sos named after the former AEW Women’s World Champion keeps it in the basement thanks to DJ Muggs introducing y’all to the dentist who gave them multi-million dollar smiles & “I Know Verdy” maintains a boom bap edge refusing to show pity.

“Speedy 40” hopped over this slow, morbid instrumental from long-time Griselda in-house producer Daringer talking about being too greedy while the cutthroat “Duran Duran” that JR Swiftz laced explaining that living godly is all part of the plan. “Runway Pieces at the Last Supper” works in a mellow backdrop mixed with kicks & snares reflecting on the war, they used to have but after the “Bike Air” interlude, “Free Shots” by Hall ‘N Nash pays homage to incarcerated Drumwork Music Group artist Shots over a Conductor Williams beat.

The title track featuring Benny the Butcher, Boldy James, Conway the Machine & Stove God Cook$ pushes towards the final moments of Still Praying with this insane 7-minute Griselda posse cut while the song “Underground King” featuring Rome Streetz returns to the boom bap talking about how both of them are the greatest of all shit talkers. “LeSalle Station” properly finishes the album by reflecting on all the people that he’s lost back to back.

Coming off the most personal project that West has ever made Hitler Wears Hermes XI only 24 hours ago, he’s continuing the hot streak with a follow-up to And Then You Pray for Me that I think people are gonna like a lot more than the predecessor. The production is rooted in the traditional boom bap sound Griselda is known for in contrast to the trap heavy influences of last time & the guests all maintain his level on the mic.

Score: 8/10

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