Griselda: 2020's Rap Group to Watch

photo courtesy of @griseldarecords Instagram

From the earliest days of hip-hop, the East Coast has always been a powerhouse of gritty rap groups. To name a few: Mobb Deep, Erik B. & Rakim, Wu-Tang Clan, A$AP Mob, and now Griselda. Stemming from Buffalo, NY, the group has been turning heads in the underground music scene since their first official project in 2016. Griselda’s sound is a hybrid of their old school New York roots and the modern rap trap influences that are dominating the current industry. In typical New York fashion, they enjoy starting beef with rappers who put disrespect on their name. An interesting aspect of the group is that they are all in their late 30’s. While some may see this as a negative, the reality is, they have lived through generations of rap and perfected their styles to become the bridge between eras. 

So, who exactly is Griselda? Let’s meet the group:

Westside Gunn: 

The unpronounced ringleader of the group, Westside Gunn has been the most successful in his solo career, releasing a total of 3 albums so far. His most recent album, “Pray for Paris”, boasted features from Freddie Gibbs and Tyler, The Creator. He’s collaborated with everyone from The Alchemist, Busta Rhymes, MF DOOM, and Anderson Paak. You can automatically tell when Westside is rapping from his very unique high pitched tone. 

Conway the Machine:

As the older brother of Westside Gunn, Conway has much more experience on the music scene. He’s released 8 official solo projects to date, with his most recent album titled “LULU”, produced by The Alchemist. Conway spent his early adult life in jail. Upon his release, he gave up his reckless lifestyle and decided to pursue his music. In 2012, Conway was shot in the back of the head which resulted in half of his face being paralyzed. Rather than this dissuading him, it became his main musical inspiration, allowing him to focus his music into a cohesive message. Many of his earlier projects provide a first-person, in-depth look into the gritty lifestyle of Buffalo’s East Side. Conway’s physical obstacle has led to his development of a powerful drive in his rap flow. 

Benny the Butcher:

Benny is the cousin of Westside and Conway. Despite being the youngest, at 35, Benny has been on the music scene since 2004 and released his first project in 2008. Contrary to his name, Benny’s rhymes are quite mellow with a greater focus on production and cohesive sound than straight gritty raps. His most recent mixtape, “The Plugs I Met” is some of his most sophisticated work and even featured a collaboration with Pusha T. 

So, why should you care about a couple of New Yorkers in their late 30s? Well, their perfect hybrid of new and old is highly appealing to the main demographics of hip hop. Each prospective member dominated 2019 with critically acclaimed releases in addition to Griselda’s debut album, “WWCD”. WWCD blends each member's unique styles and flows into one cohesive unit. Instead of clashing, they excel and work off of each other to create seamless transitions. 2020 is sure to be their year, as each release brings them closer and closer to stardom. They even caught the eye of Eminem, who signed a release deal with them and is expected to release a collaborative project with the group soon. Griselda’s massive potential shows that you can successfully combine nostalgia for old school hip hop beats with modern innovative rap styles.