Conway the Machine

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Conway the Machine
Conway the Machine November 2022.png
Conway the Machine in November 2022
Background information
Birth nameDemond Price [1]
Also known as
  • Conway
  • Nash
Born (1982-02-16) February 16, 1982 (age 42)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres East Coast hip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2012–present
Labels
Member of Griselda
Producer(s)

Demond Price (born February 16, 1982), known professionally as Conway the Machine, or simply Conway, [2] is an American rapper and co-founder of the hip hop label Griselda Records, alongside his paternal half-brother Westside Gunn. Acclaimed for his 1990s inspired, dark and gritty lyricism, he rose to prominence following his mixtape Reject 2 (2015) and debut studio album From King To A GOD (2020). His second album, God Don't Make Mistakes (2022), was released by Shady Records and met with universal acclaim.

Contents

Conway announced his departure from Shady and Griselda Records in February of 2022, and has since founded his own label, Drumwork. He has since continued his collaborations with Gunn, as well as their cousin Benny the Butcher. [3]

History

2012–2019: Early mixtapes and G.O.A.T.

Throughout his 20s, Conway was in and out of jail. [4] During this time, he reflected on what he wanted out of life and began weaning from a gangster lifestyle to focus on his career in music. [2]

In 2012, Conway was shot in the head, neck, and shoulder. [5] Originally, doctors believed that he would be paralyzed from the neck down, however, today the only permanent injury is his face being partially paralyzed, giving him his signature slur. [6]

In 2014, Westside Gunn founded Griselda Records, through which Conway and Westside Gunn would self-release their own projects and the works of artists such as Benny the Butcher and Mach-Hommy. [7] In 2015, Conway released his first two official mixtape projects through Griselda Records, The Devil's Reject and Reject 2. [8] [9] Conway and Westside Gunn also released two collaborative EPs through London-based record label Daupe!, [10] the first of which was 2015's Hall & Nash, followed by 2016's Griselda Ghost. In April 2016, during Mobb Deep and Smif-N-Wessun's "Hell On Earth" tour, Conway was introduced to Prodigy of Mobb Deep, who would become one of his earliest notable collaborators and supporters. [2]

On March 3, 2017, Griselda Records signed a deal with Eminem's Shady Records. [11] [12] On October 10, 2017, Conway contributed an a cappella rap verse to the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards Shady cypher. [13] The same year, Complex included Westside Gunn and Conway in their list of "15 Best Unofficial Rap Duos in the Game", [14] as well as two of the "17 Artists to Watch in 2017". [15]

Following Griselda's deal with Shady Records, Conway's first official release was G.O.A.T. on December 21, 2017, which included production from Griselda's in-house producer Daringer and The Alchemist, and featured Royce Da 5'9", Raekwon, Prodigy, Styles P and Lloyd Banks. [16] Earlier in 2017, he released a collaborative mixtape with DJ Green Lantern titled More Steroids. [17]

2019–present: Studio albums

On May 16, 2019, Conway, Benny The Butcher and Westside Gunn released their first single with DJ Premier titled "Headlines". [18]

Conway released "Bang", at the time expected to be the first single from his album God Don't Make Mistakes, alongside Eminem on July 19, 2019. [19] [20] God Don't Make Mistakes had been intended to be Conway's debut studio album, and Westside Gunn had stated it was "90 percent complete" in 2018; [21] however, Conway's first studio album would instead be the project From King to a God , which he released on September 11, 2020. [22] During this period, Conway continued releasing mixtapes and collaborative albums as well.

God Don't Make Mistakes was ultimately released on February 25, 2022, as Conway's second studio album. [23] It was followed by his third studio album, Won't He Do It , released on May 5, 2023, being Conway's first studio album not released with Griselda. [24]

Discography

Main article: Conway the Machine discography

Studio albums

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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.

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<i>WWCD</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Griselda

WWCD is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Griselda. It was released on November 29, 2019, by Griselda, Shady, and Interscope.

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<i>From King to a God</i> 2020 album by Conway the Machine

From King to a God is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Conway the Machine. It was released on September 11, 2020, by Griselda Records, Drumwork and Empire Distribution. Production was handled by eleven record producers: Beat Butcha, Daringer, Alchemist, DJ Premier, Erick Sermon, Havoc, Hit-Boy, Khrysis, Murda Beatz, Rockwilder and Signalflow Music. It features guest appearances from Armani Caesar, Benny the Butcher, Dej Loaf, El Camino, Flee Lord, Freddie Gibbs, Havoc, Lloyd Banks, Method Man and Westside Gunn. A deluxe version was released on December 18, 2020.

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<i>God Dont Make Mistakes</i> 2022 studio album by Conway the Machine

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.

<i>Tana Talk 3</i> 2018 studio album by Benny the Butcher

Tana Talk 3 is the debut studio album by American rapper Benny the Butcher. It was released on November 23, 2018 through Griselda Records and Black Soprano Family. The album is exclusively produced by The Alchemist and Daringer. It features guest appearances by labelmates Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn and other appearances by Keisha Plum, Meyhem Lauren, Melanie Rutherford and Royce da 5'9".

<i>Tana Talk 4</i> 2022 studio album by Benny the Butcher

Tana Talk 4 is the third studio album by American rapper Benny the Butcher. It was released on March 11, 2022, through Griselda Records and Black Soprano Family and distributed by Empire Distribution. It is the fourth installment in his Tana Talk series, following up the 2018 album Tana Talk 3. The album was produced by The Alchemist, Daringer and Beat Butcha. It features guest appearances by labelmates Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn and other appearances by J. Cole, Diddy, Stove God Cooks, Boldy James, and 38 Spesh.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bang (Conway the Machine song)</span> 2019 single by Conway the Machine and Eminem

"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.

<i>Wont He Do It</i> (album) 2023 studio album by Conway the Machine

Won't He Do It is the third studio album by American rapper Conway the Machine. It was released through Drumwork Music Group and Empire Distribution on May 5, 2023. The album was preceded by four singles, "Super Bowl", "Brucifix", "Quarters" and "The Chosen". It features notable guest appearances by Benny the Butcher, Dave East, Fabolous, Jozzy, Juicy J and Sauce Walka. It is his first studio album since his official departure from Shady Records and Griselda Records. Critics have characterized Won't He Do It as a highlight in Conway's catalog.

References

  1. ↑ "Watch now: Rapper Conway the Machine gives back to Buffalo". The Buffalo News. May 14, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Artist of the Month Conway on Repping Buffalo, Second Chances, and Being the Grimiest of All Time". Consequence of Sound. November 16, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  3. ↑ Moorwood, Victoria (February 21, 2022). "Conway the Machine announces split from Griselda and Shady Records". Revolt. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  4. ↑ Eustice, Kyle (March 4, 2022). "How Conway The Machine Turned Tragedy Into Triumph". High Times. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  5. ↑ "4 wounded in 3 separate shootings". The Buffalo News . March 18, 2012. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Conway: G.O.A.T." Pitchfork. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  7. ↑ "A Guide to Griselda". Complex. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Conway the Machine - The Devil's Reject". Album of The Year. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Reject 2, by Conway". Daupe. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Daupe!". Discogs . Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Shady X Griselda Ink Deal For Westside Gunn and Conway". Shady Records. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Griselda Set Out to be Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rappers. It's Paying off". NPR .
  13. ↑ Mojica, Nick (October 11, 2017). "Conway, Boogie and More Spit in Shady 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher – XXL". XXL Mag. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  14. ↑ "The 15 Best Unofficial Rap Duos in the Game Right Now". Complex. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  15. ↑ "17 Artists to Watch in 2017". Complex. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Conway the Machine: G.O.A.T." Pitchfork. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  17. ↑ Melis, Matt (October 30, 2017). "Album Review: Conway - More Steroids". Consequence. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  18. ↑ Chesman, Donna-Claire (May 17, 2019). "DJ Premier & Griselda Interview: Making "Headlines"". DJBooth. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Conway The Machine – "Bang" (Feat. Eminem)". Stereogum. July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Listen to Eminem's Guest Verse on Conway the Machine's "Bang"". Spin. July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  21. ↑ Wallace, Riley (June 26, 2018). "Westside Gunn Takes One Last Independent Swing on 'Supreme Blientele' Before Heading to the Big Leagues" . Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Critic Reviews for From King to a God - Metacritic". Metacritic . Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  23. ↑ "God Don't Make Mistakes by Conway the Machine". Metacritic . Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Conway the Machine Drops New Album Won't He Do It: Stream". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved January 13, 2024.
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