When people list their favorite rappers of all time, it tends to include veterans such as JAY-Z, Nas, Eminem and André 3000 who’ve been at the top of the game for decades. But for Westside Gunn, this isn’t the case.
On Monday (September 7), the Buffalo rapper decided to post his Top 5 rappers on Twitter and they all have one thing in common — they’re signed to his Griselda Records imprint.
“My fav top 5 rappers in the world is @WHOISCONWAY @BennyBsf @BoldyJames @ArmaniCaesar and me #theALMIGHTY #GXFR,” Gunn said in a tweet.
Gunn, Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher are the biggest to come out of the label so far, while Detroit rapper Boldy James joined the team this year and Armani Caesar is just being formally introduced.
My fav top 5 rappers in the world is @WHOISCONWAY @BennyBsf @BoldyJames @ArmaniCaesar and me ??♂️??♂️ #theALMIGHTY #GXFR
— WESTSIDEGUNN (@WESTSIDEGUNN) September 7, 2020
Westside was set to release his first solo album Who Made The Sunshine on August 28 via Eminem’s Shady Records, but it was pushed back following the death of his longtime DJ and friend DJ Shay.
“U was there EVERY step of the way,” he wrote in a tribute post on August 19. “It was an honor to help your dream come true for Buffalo Hip Hop, u looked at me and said ‘thx to you it’s no more Unsigned city… it’s signed city now.’ u wanted this shit more than ALL of US, it wouldn’t be a Benny, WSG, Armani, Conway, BSF if it wasn’t for You.”
Caesar’s debut album The Liz was also set to drop on August 21 but was delayed for the same reason. The lead single “Simply Done” dropped earlier that month with production from DJ Premier and a feature from Benny.
Boldy’s first Griselda project The Versace Tape, produced entirely by Jay Versace, arrived on August 14. As for Benny, his Black Soprano Family collective dropped their The Respected Sopranos mixtape in July. He’s currently working on a double album that will include Tana Talk 4 and Tana Talk 5.
Look out for Conway’s new album From King To A GOD, which is expected to arrive on Friday (September 11) with features from Method Man, Havoc, Lloyd Banks, Freddie Gibbs and more.