400 Million Dollars Worth of Game: ‘Pray for Paris’ Album Review
Westside Gunn. Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images
The Harlem Renaissance was a black intellectual, social, and artistic explosion in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, spanning through the 1920s. After four long years of hard work led by Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, and Conway, it has become evident to the rap world that Griselda has started their own Renaissance.
On April 17th, 2020 Pray for Paris was released independently through Griselda Records. The Album Art is a story in itself being that it is based on the painting David with the Head of Goliath by Italian painter Caravaggio, who is considered to be “The Second Michelangelo.” Like Caravaggio, Westside Gunn is a product of some of the greats like Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. Said influences are exactly what makes Pray For Paris a gritty, graceful, imaginative, and ambitious album.
The album begins with an intro titled “400 Million Plus Tax'' which is an excerpt from an auction; which is a testament to the confidence of Westside Gunn.
The album then shifts to “No Vacancy”, a track that embodies the true grit and grace that the album’s artwork achieves on its own. The track is an anecdote of Gunn’s drug, crime, designer clothing, luxury car filled life; played over some of the most beautiful keys you’ll ever hear. Nothing is more heartwarming to a rap fan than hearing menacing lyrics over such heavenly production.
Griselda’s big three, Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, and Conway take us to “George Bondo”, A track where we see the three men not even try to “acclimate” to their new surroundings. If anything, this track is an explanation for Gunn’s entire career, a man that can say something like “Just shot a nigga on the anklet”, but then go hang out with Virgil Abloh at a fashion show. We even get to hear Benny The Butcher say, “I get you whacked at The Venetian for blasphemous speakin’ ”. Basically, on “George Bondo” we get a glimpse at the intersection point between the streets of Buffalo, NY and the three rappers’ newfound elitist status in the world of music - two worlds that are equally as crooked as they are beautiful.
On “327” Gunn, Joey Bada$$ (it feels good to be able to say we’ve gotten a new Joey verse), and Tyler, The Creator brag about the lifestyles their fame has allowed. I’m sure we can all agree that hearing Gunn brag about keeping a gun in the armrest of his Benz, Joey hanging with Diddy and Jay-Z, and Tyler bragging about his glittery fingernails is pretty worthwhile.
Tracks 8 and on is where we get to see the true grit of Gunn and his friends.
“$500 Ounces'' is a standout track of 2020, let alone the album. In just one verse, Freddie Gibbs sums up what makes him Freddie! He details friends looking out for him, selling drugs, and having trust issues; to then just chalk it up to the way God set his life out to be. Freddie even sneaks in the bar, “Kobe died, I swear a nigga might cry when I watch the Lakers, damn”. I’m not sure if anyone was ready to hear that line. Roc Marciano absolutely destroys the track with his melanin bar, “The MAC-11 hit your melon and crack it” A double entendre that had me pause the track if I’m being honest. Roc’s MAC-11 bullets are cracking skulls (hit your melon and crack it), but the words “melon and” also serve as the word “melanin” insinuating that black don’t crack.
This review can’t end without mentioning track 10, “Claiborne Kick” which features Boldy James. Boldy sets a scene like no other, hearing him rap about his past is almost like watching a slideshow of his life. Boldy’s lyrics are cold and harsh, you don’t just hear what he’s saying, you feel it. His lyrics literally pop off of your phone as you’re reading the lyrics on Genius.
In its essence, Pray For Paris is, in my opinion, art at its purest form. This album is the truth, really. It perfectly embodies what it’s like to be black in America. We take our past with us everywhere we go, most of the time we try to escape it; but Gunn and the rest of Griselda want us to embrace all avenues of our blackness wherever we are. I mean, he had Virgil Abloh put diamond chains on a painting of David and Goliath. Gunn takes his true self wherever he is, whether it’s at Paris Fashion Week with Virgil Abloh, whacking guys at The Venetian with Benny The Butcher, or listening to Tyler, The Creator choose the next color of glitter for his fingernails.
Favorite Tracks
327 (Feat. Joey Bada$$ & Tyler, The Creator)
$500 Ounces (Feat. Freddie Gibbs & Roc Marciano)
Claiborne Kick (Feat. Boldy James)
Rating: 8.5
Listen to Pray for Paris here:
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