And Then You Pray for Me | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 13, 2023 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 75:17 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
| |||
Westside Gunn chronology | ||||
|
And Then You Pray for Me is the fifth studio album by American rapper Westside Gunn, released on October 13, 2023, by Griselda Records and Empire. [3] [4] [5] The album is a sequel to Gunn's 2020 album Pray for Paris . [1] [6] With guest appearances from AA Rashid, JID, Conway The Machine, Cartier A Williams, Benny the Butcher, DJ Drama, Stove God Cooks, Rick Ross, Estee Nack, Trap-A-Holics, Giggs, Ty Dolla Sign, Keisha Plum, Denzel Curry, Boldy James, EST Gee, Jeezy, DJ Swamp Izzo, DJ Holiday, Peezy, Rome Streetz, and KayCyy, the album features a shift in sound from Gunn's signature boom bap style, incorporating trap elements reminiscent of the late 2000s and 2010s. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200, making it Gunn's highest commerical debut on the chart.
In April 2023, Westside Gunn announced that the album was to be released on June 23, 2023, but it was later delayed. [7] [8] The album's title refers to a lyric in the song "Eric B" by Westside Gunn, where he raps: "Pray for Paris, then you pray for me." [9] The album's cover was designed by Virgil Abloh using Caravaggio's depiction of The Entombment of Christ. [10] [11]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100 [12] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Clash | 7/10 [5] |
HipHopDX | 3.8/5 [13] |
Pitchfork | 6.9/10 [1] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic , And Then You Pray for Me received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 from 4 critic scores. [12]
Writing for Pitchfork , Matthew Strauss described the album as a "symbiosis between the trap and boom-bap genres" and a "broad, loud, and messy exploration of Gunn's vision for rap and art." [1] Philip Cluff of Clash praised the album's themes writing: "It's not just another gangster rap album but essentially a commentary on the psychological fatigue accompanying ruthlessness of the question young black men inherited from Gil Scott Heron; "Who will survive in America?" [5] AllMusic's review described the album as "sometimes overly familiar if still satisfying." [2] HipHopDX's Riley Wallace described the album as a "mixed bag that relies on the listener's ability to go with the flow." [13]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Flygod Did" (featuring AA Rashid) |
| Mr. Green | 1:56 |
2. | "Mamas PrimeTime" (featuring JID, Conway the Machine and Cartier A Williams) |
| 4:59 | |
3. | "Kostas" (featuring Benny the Butcher and Conway the Machine) |
| 5:33 | |
4. | "1989" (featuring DJ Drama and Stove God Cooks) |
| Miguel the Plug | 4:11 |
5. | "Suicide in Selfridges" (featuring DJ Drama) |
| Conductor Williams | 2:51 |
6. | "Kitchen Lights" (featuring Stove God Cooks) |
| DJ Benoit | 5:00 |
7. | "Flygod 2x" | Worthy | Dxpe Mikie Beats | 1:47 |
8. | "DunnHill" (featuring Rick Ross) |
| Miguel the Plug | 3:59 |
9. | "House of Glory" (featuring Stove God Cooks) |
| RZA | 3:12 |
10. | "JD Wrist" (featuring Stove God Cooks, Estee Nack and DJ Trap-A-Holics) |
| FlyGod Jr. | 6:19 |
11. | "Disgusting" (featuring Giggs) |
| Miguel the Plug | 4:01 |
12. | "Chloe" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign) |
| Denny LAflare | 3:51 |
13. | "LL Bool Gunn" | Worthy | Miguel the Plug | 2:12 |
14. | "Babylon Bis" (featuring Stove God Cooks) |
|
| 5:04 |
15. | "Ultra GriZelda" (featuring Denzel Curry) |
| Miguel the Plug | 2:28 |
16. | "Jalen Rose" (featuring Boldy James) |
| Daringer | 3:15 |
17. | "Steve and Jony" (featuring EST Gee) |
|
| 2:56 |
18. | "Mr Everything" (featuring Jeezy and DJ Swamp Izzo) |
|
| 2:45 |
19. | "Freddy Js" (featuring DJ Holiday and Peezy) |
| Miguel the Plug | 2:46 |
20. | "The Revenge of Flips Leg" (featuring Rome Streetz) |
| Conductor Williams | 2:40 |
21. | "And Then You Pray for Me" (featuring KayCyy) |
|
| 3:32 |
Total length: | 75:17 |
Notes
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [14] | 81 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [15] | 95 |
US Billboard 200 [16] | 29 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [17] | 6 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [18] | 8 |
Shady Records is an American record label founded by rapper Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999, following the commercially successful release of The Slim Shady LP that same year. The label's name comes from the last name of Eminem's alter ego, Slim Shady.
Jay Wayne Jenkins, known by his stage name Jeezy, is an American rapper. He is credited, alongside fellow Georgia-based rappers T.I. and Gucci Mane, with pioneering the hip hop subgenre trap music for mainstream audiences. Jenkins began his career in 2001, releasing two independent albums until signing with Def Jam Recordings to release his major label debut, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005). The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, sold 172,000 copies in its first week, and received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); its lead single, "Soul Survivor", peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting song.
Tyree Cinque Simmons, known professionally as DJ Drama, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record executive and music promoter. He initially gained recognition as the DJ for Atlanta-based rapper T.I., and continued to gain prominence hosting mixtapes for other hip hop artists. His trademark Gangsta Grillz series is present on releases of which he has compiled; it has been popularized by artists including Lil Wayne, Tyler the Creator, Snoop Dogg, Yo Gotti, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Fabolous, Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Gucci Mane, among others. Alongside record producer and fellow Philadelphia native Don Cannon, he co-founded the record label Generation Now in 2015, an imprint of Atlantic Records which has signed artists including Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow.
The discography of Jeezy, an American rapper, consists of thirteen studio albums, 18 mixtapes, 70 singles and 28 music videos. Aside from his solo career, he has also released albums as a member of Boyz N Da Hood and U.S.D.A., respectively.
"Put On" is a song by American recording artist Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West, from Jeezy's third studio album The Recession. The song was released as the album's lead single on June 3, 2008. The song received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, and was featured in the video games Midnight Club: Los Angeles and Skate 3.
Victory is the fourth studio album by American disc jockey and record producer DJ Khaled. It was released on March 2, 2010, by We the Best Music Group and E1 Music.
The Darkside Vol. 1 is the tenth studio album by American rapper Fat Joe. The album was released July 27, 2010 by Terror Squad Entertainment and E1 Music. The album's production was handled by Cool & Dre, Streetrunner, DJ Infamous, Just Blaze, Scram Jones, DJ Premier, Raw Uncut, and Scoop DeVille, among others. The album also featured guest appearances came from Trey Songz, Too Short, R. Kelly, Cam'ron, Clipse, Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy.
American rapper Yo Gotti has released 11 studio albums, 25 mixtapes and 57 singles, and 5 promotional singles. After several guest appearances, mixtapes and independent releases, he released his major-label debut album Life, in 2003.
Alvin Lamar Worthy, known professionally as Westside Gunn, is an American rapper, executive producer, and fashion designer, best known as the head and co-founder of independent hip-hop label Griselda Records. He founded the label with his paternal half-brother rapper Conway the Machine and frequently collaborates with him alongside their cousin and fellow rapper Benny the Butcher. Gunn is recognized as one of the faces of the underground 2010s grimey boom bap resurgence, juxtaposing vivid drug-ridden street narratives, high fashion, and luxurious, artistic sample based production.
Trap or Die 3 is the ninth studio album by American rapper Jeezy. It was released on October 28, 2016, by YJ Music, Inc. and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Yo Gotti, Bankroll Fresh, French Montana, Lil Wayne, Plies and Chris Brown. The album was supported by two official singles: "Let Em Know" and "All There" featuring Bankroll Fresh.
Jeremie Damon Pennick, known professionally as Benny the Butcher, or simply Benny, is an American rapper and songwriter. He came to prominence in 2018 following the release of his debut album, Tana Talk 3. Along with his cousins and fellow rappers Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine, with which he forms the collective Griselda, he is known for his '90s inspired rap songs and is often credited with leading a revival of the so called 'grimy' and 'gritty' hip hop music, influenced by mafioso and drug dealing themes.
WWCD is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Griselda. It was released on November 29, 2019, by Griselda, Shady, and Interscope.
Griselda Records is an American independent hip hop record label based in Buffalo, New York. It was founded by rapper Westside Gunn, his brother Conway the Machine, and Mach-Hommy in 2012. In addition to the founding members, Benny the Butcher and in-house producer Daringer make up the flagship artists of the Griselda Records roster.
Pray for Paris is the third studio album by American rapper Westside Gunn. It was released on April 17, 2020 through Griselda Records with distribution by Empire Distribution. The album was produced by Daringer, Beat Butcha, the Alchemist, DJ Muggs, and DJ Premier. It features guest appearances from Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, Joey Badass, Tyler, the Creator, Boldy James, Freddie Gibbs, Roc Marciano, Wale, Joyce Wrice, Billie Essco, Keisha Plum, and Cartier Williams. The album debuted at number 67 on the Billboard 200.
Who Made the Sunshine is the fourth studio album by American rapper Westside Gunn. When it was originally scheduled to be released on August 28, 2020, it was postponed following the death of Griselda Records collaborator DJ Shay from COVID-19. It was finally released on October 2, 2020, through Griselda, Shady, and Interscope.
"Keep My Spirit Alive" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features vocals from fellow American rappers Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn and originally featured additional vocals from KayCyy.
God Don't Make Mistakes is the second studio album by American rapper Conway the Machine. It was released through Drumwork, Griselda, Shady, and Interscope on February 25, 2022. The album was preceded by two singles, "Piano Love" and "John Woo Flick". It features guest appearances from Beanie Sigel, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, 7xvethegenius, Jae Skeese, T.I., Novel, Benny the Butcher, Westside Gunn, Wallo267, Jill Scott, and Keisha Plum.
Mach-Hommy is an American rapper and record producer of Haitian descent. He is well known for his reclusive nature and concealing his real name and face in all public appearances. This behavior has led him to be described as "one of hip-hop's most elusive artists".
Pray for Haiti is the twenty-second studio album by Haitian-American rapper Mach-Hommy. It was released on May 21, 2021, through Griselda Records and Daupe!. Production was handled by Camoflauge Monk, Conductor Williams, Denny LaFlare, Cee Gee, DJ Green Lantern, Messiah Muzik, Nicholas Craven and Sadhu Gold, with Westside Gunn and Mach-Hommy serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Westside Gunn, Keisha Plum, Melanie Charles as well as Tha God Fahim and received universal acclaim from critics.
"Bang" is a song by American rappers Conway the Machine and Eminem. It was released on July 19, 2019 through Shady Records as a non-album single despite being originally made for Conway's second studio album God Don't Make Mistakes. Production was handled by Beat Butcha and Daringer with Eminem and Luis Resto serving as additional producers. Its remix featuring Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn appeared on Griselda's WWCD album.