Griselda's “WWCD” Puts Buffalo On The Hip-Hop Map
Buffalo, NY represents the origins of Hip-Hop better than any other city in America right now. Behind the underappreciated Shady Records, Hip-Hop group Griselda consisting of Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher and Conway The Machine, Buffalo has become a factory for classic Hip Hop vibes, hard-hitting drug dealer flows and a gangster approach to the modern fashion world that has been missing for a while now. With no skinny jeans or heavy auto-tune insight, Griselda touched down late in 2019 with their debut album “WWCD” (What Would Chine Gun Do) dedicated to Chine Gun, Benny’s late brother and Westside Gunn’s first cousin. In the documentary “Connie’s Son,” Wes’ talks about the title for the group’s debut album and its meaning. “This was his dream, and he’s the only person that’s missing. He’s the only missing piece. This whole project is for him.”
“WWCD” is 13 tracks stretching over 46 minutes. Produced by inhouse producers Daringer and BeatButcha, “WWCD” brings grimy, ruthless and unrelenting vibes, creating a pocket where the three members couldn’t feel more at home. Each song is an eerie jazz backtrack flawlessly mixed with bars as volatile as the purest cocaine, sporting clinical violence, and highly calculated moral indecency. The raw finesse that the trio displays on this project is nothing less than impeccable, trading bars on every track with a level of variety, chemistry and cohesiveness, making “WWCD” feel as though “The Avengers'' met “Friday the 13th” set in New York City during the ’90s. Griselda produces a masterful score about sticking with each other through the darkest of situations, and doing what you have to to survive, or flex.
If you’re looking for an answer to who is the best member of Griselda, this article will disappoint you, because in reality there’s no answer to that question. They’re all titans in their own right, Griselda is just a pure culmination of their greatness. Classy yet cutthroat, Westside Gunn paints pictures of terrible violence and success that belong in the Louvre. Benny The Butcher is the most gruesome out of the three, the grit in his voice is undeniable, but the vivid tales he tells of his past life could be the outline for a blockbuster movie. Conway the Machine is a true technician when it comes to his flows, and his ability to get his point across. He doesn’t use many gimmicks nor does he ever pull any punches, like his fellow group members, their individual and collective viciousness is as terrifying as it is mesmerizing. Seamlessly sharing the spotlight, all three members hold their own pockets and energy.
I had a tough decision in choosing my favorite songs because every song either shakes you to your core or makes you want to go get a ski mask. The combination of gunshot ad-libs and piano chords never gets old, Griselda shows their ability to make each song its own, and highlight the strengths of each member. On songs like “Cruiser Weight Coke”, “DR BIRDS” and “Chef Dreds” Griselda show their dominance and prolific nature. Their gritty attitude, clean-cut bars, and signature flows are translated onto the track perfectly, and even if you don’t resonate you understand them crystal clear. But even more surprising, Griselda delivers even more so on every track with a feature. Mostly consisting of frequent collaborators that aren’t mainstream like Tiona Deniece and Novel, “WWCD” is one of the few albums on the planet to feature the pillars of Dre’s Aftermath label, 50 Cent, and Eminem, the project also includes features from Raekwon, Broo AA., Rashid and Keisha Plum. 50 Cent gives us a Deja Vu feeling from his OG ‘G-Unit’ days on “City on the Map” while Eminem does what he does best on the final track of the album “Bang” (Remix).
“WWCD” isn’t just Griselda’s debut album, it’s a warning shot that feels like heavy cover fire. You other rappers are not safe, and although the members Griselda have enjoyed sound solo careers in the rap business, the three-headed monster now managed by Roc Nation, what’s most likely next is world domination. If you were sleeping on Griselda, wake up!
