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As a label boss and artistic entrepreneur, Westside Gunn feels it’s his responsibility to diversify the tradition earlier than he bids farewell to the sport.
Interview: Joey Echevarria
Westside Gunn is a uncommon breed in hip-hop’s present local weather. Outdoors of his meme-worthy ad-libs and eccentric character, the person is a visionary fueled by making a cross-cultural influence. Because the cofounder of Griselda Data alongside Benny The Butcher and Conway the Machine, Gunn put Buffalo, N.Y., a metropolis identified primarily for soccer and rooster wings, on the map as a breeding floor for a few of rap’s most revered lyricists of the previous decade. He is additionally been efficiently devoted to bridging the hole between hip-hop and different often-considered taboo artwork types, and he’s not shy about it.
As a child developing on the East Aspect of New York’s Nickel Metropolis, vogue was Westside Gunn’s artistic outlet. Whereas he admits he by no means strived “to be the very best rapper,” his ability and creativity in that lane has earned him a lot respect. Gunn has labored with many rappers from all corners of the sport, starting from late legends like DMX and MF Doom to present megastars like Travis Scott and Tyler, the Creator. He is dealt with enterprise in main distribution offers with the likes of Jay-Z and Eminem whereas concurrently laying the groundwork for the budding careers of Range God Cooks and Armani Caesar.
A informal take heed to Gunn’s in depth catalog may function an audio lesson in coping with the world’s hardest drug cartels, however the 43-year-old Griselda frontman is equally outfitted to high school hip-hop heads on the most recent runway tendencies at Paris Style Week in addition to the elusive interior workings of the world {of professional} wrestling.
Coming off a yr that included his most critically acclaimed studio album, 12, numerous collabs with high-profile vogue manufacturers corresponding to Corteiz and Saucony, and a hard-hitting mixtape collection masterfully designed to advertise his sizzling new wrestling firm, Fourth Rope, Westside Gunn is just trying so as to add to his simple legacy all through 2026. Nonetheless, by means of all of it, he is adamant that when the time comes to hold up the mic, the MC needs nothing greater than to bow out gracefully.
As he ramps up towards his first-ever worldwide tour to kick off the yr, Westside Gunn tapped in through Zoom this previous November to debate his music, the eagerness he holds for his new enterprise into skilled wrestling, a well-planned exit technique from the rap recreation and extra.
XXL: What kind of mentality are you bringing with you into 2026?
I simply have a special spirit about me recently. It simply seems like I am additional hungry, and I am in a terrific area. I feel I am simply extra mature. I have a look at life in a different way. I have been specializing in my household, well being and simply my legacy. Proper now, I am simply pushing the artwork as a lot as I can whereas I’ve the power.
Trying again on final yr, your album titled 12 garnered common reward. Was {that a} spotlight for you in 2025?
It is loopy as a result of I used to be purported to have been dropping Superior God 3 final yr, and my brother Infinite received killed, Massive Dump. It was sort of like I used to be simply not desirous to do sh*t anymore, for actual, however then one thing simply came visiting me. I simply wished to do a basic. A contemporary-day basic, which I felt 12 was. It’s phenomenal from high to backside.
After that, a lot of the yr was targeted on the Heels Have Eyes collection. What was the idea for these initiatives, and the way do all of them tie collectively?
Heels is only a mixtape collection to me. I’m simply getting in there, dumping and simply having enjoyable. It’s no expectations. I’ve my Fourth Rope firm, Black-owned, impartial wrestling that is going loopy. Our reveals are known as Heels Have Eyes. It was simply a type of issues the place I wished to co-brand with Griselda Data and Fourth Rope, placing lots of people onto Fourth Rope that wasn’t acquainted but. I figured, let me simply begin a brand new collection.
What are you most excited for followers to see from you over the subsequent yr?
It is already a blessed yr. I simply received to hope to God I may get up to simply expertise it. My vogue is about to go loopy in ’26, Fourth Rope is about to go loopy in ’26. I’m excited for just a few issues. I am excited for Superior God 3 to lastly come out in March. It is two initiatives in my thoughts that I do know I will do, and that is Superior God 3, and that is Michelle Data, Me and Range God Cooks collectively.
I am about to go on my first worldwide tour. Paris Style Week is the primary present in Paris after which I am going from there. I have been doing this for 13 years and by no means did one tour. So, I do know the power goes to be loopy. This is perhaps the one time y’all see me. I do not see myself speeding again. I am not saying that as a result of I do not wish to see them. I am saying that as a result of I’m additionally the CEO of Fourth Rope.
How did Fourth Rope come to be and why is pro-wrestling such a ardour of yours?
I got here up with that identify as a result of that is simply me being within the entrance row. I mentioned, “It is three ropes on the ring. I am the fourth rope. It’s like I’m part of it. It’s an escape for me. It’s remedy for me. It retains the child in me alive and all people wants that.
I used to be spending six figures a yr alone simply to sit down entrance row, however I used to be learning. I used to be analyzing. I used to be going backstage, assembly the wrestlers, and I began constructing actual relationships. I used to be going to speculate into Home of Glory wrestling out of Queens, N.Y., me and Grasp P. Then COVID-19 stopped every thing and put it on maintain. I all the time had a imaginative and prescient and at some point, I simply mentioned, “You realize what? Let’s do it.” My companion is Smoke DZA.
Are you concerned within the artistic facet of the corporate? Do you write the storylines for Fourth Rope?
Yeah, me and Smoke DZA. As soon as I made a decision to make it a promotion, I introduced bro in as a result of that is the place he lives as effectively, and his pen is sharp. Ever since, we have been simply knocking out dwelling runs persistently on each present. I do know with me and him [DZA] collectively; we may actually have the very best promotion within the recreation.
Even when you do not know the wrestlers—you is perhaps coming simply because you already know Griselda, you already know Smoke DZA—however once you depart, you are a Fourth Rope fan for positive, 100%. We be sure that each match is supplying you with one thing. We do not have no fillers. I deal with Fourth Rope the identical as I do Griselda. It is simply giving the followers and supporters what they need. We reside in a depraved world. So, if I can convey you artwork, if I can convey you one thing to smile about, have enjoyable in life, that is what I am right here for.
What’s on the horizon for Griselda Data?
We’ve got an artist, Brother Tom Sos, and that is one other factor I am trying ahead to in 2026, is pushing him as a result of he is tremendous dope, tremendous proficient. I am going to end up with Superior God 3, end that collection up. Then, it is simply Michelle Data with Range God, after which, I can get within the studio and cook dinner with Jay Worthy or do Liz 3 with Armani Caesar.
I wish to put my artwork on the market as a lot as potential as a result of I do know if I do these two [projects] this yr, then after that, I’d come again along with Conway [the Machine] and Benny [the Butcher]. Then, I really feel like I might don’t have anything else to do. Nothing else to show and shut all people up about us by no means coming again collectively. Simply shut them utterly up.
Why do you suppose individuals run with the narrative that you just, Conway and Benny not get alongside and that there’s beef between the three of you?
As a result of they only do not see us collectively. You understand how that goes. All of us grown males. All of us residing life. Conway received Drumwork. He been occurring excursions. He engaged on his album. He been making his bag. He doing what he doing. He engaged on his album. He residing his life. Benny, the identical factor. He received BSF [Black Soprano Family]. He received a crew. He engaged on his shit. Westside Gunn, I am on my run. I all the time took a step again and targeted extra on curation. I had to try this.
Do you are feeling like A&R is a misplaced artwork within the present state of the sport?
F**okay yeah. No person controlling this shit no extra. It is one of many principal points. Quite a lot of conditions proper now could be simply the blind lead within the blind. It is so depraved, however a minimum of I did my half.
You talked about having “nothing else to do” after your subsequent couple of initiatives. Will that actually be the case?
I actually really feel Superior God 3 shall be my final album. After that, let me deal with artwork. Let me deal with vogue. Let me deal with making different individuals higher. Respectfully, I do not wish to be the 50-year-old rapper. I do not understand how for much longer I am going to do that as a result of I got here into the sport with a mission. My imaginative and prescient is coming true, so it is a blessing.
It has been a terrific yr for the outdated heads. I like that as a result of Griselda got here in already older, and I really feel like I am part of that resurgence of the outdated head being cool once more. Now, all people that we respect is dropping once more, which is nice for hip-hop. We having our run proper now. All people having enjoyable, getting their test and caring for their infants, however let’s be sincere. I do know it is a younger man’s sport. It is only a completely different recreation. We received to respect it.
You’ve developed a model for your self that’s well-respected throughout many artforms, particularly hip-hop. But, generally it looks like it’s by no means sufficient. Do you will have a chip in your shoulder or is it a pure aggressive spirit primarily based on legacy and influence?
All of it. The entire above. I undoubtedly really feel like me having the very best resume I’ve ever seen on paper, I do really feel slighted. I understand how many individuals I affect. I understand how many individuals stole my shit. I understand how many individuals that I give that serving to hand to, and I’ve by no means gotten that in return.
A number of the greatest those that you would consider on this recreation have used me. I am too actual to be like, “Y’all do know this entire album roll out is my thought. Y’all do know that this, that on his album is as a result of I made that occur. Y’all by no means know. Y’all by no means knew. Y’all nonetheless do not know.” When lots of alternatives they needed to be like, “Yo, shout out to Westside Gunn.” They did not do it.
So, total, do you are feeling vindicated in your accomplishments?
I am blessed to already say every thing I ever wished to do, I did. After I got here on this recreation, I by no means thought I might be doing it this lengthy. However as soon as the followers began rising, and I am seeing three-year-olds going, “Growth, increase, increase, increase, increase.” When the merch line is across the block twice and it’s children that received their 65-year-old grandmother on the market with them. That does one thing for me.
What’s the subsequent artwork kind so that you can conquer?
Motion pictures. I am not going to say I have never touched into it but as a result of I received the Adolf film starring Rome Streetz that I premiered at Artwork Basel. We received Conflicted on Tubi, however I feel me tapping into movie is placing my thoughts on paper; writing and starring in it. That is one of many explanation why I am getting my look collectively, getting wholesome, too. So, all my intercourse scenes, I received to look tremendous. You realize when I will write the film, I will have about 4 intercourse scenes within the first half-hour.
When it’s all mentioned and achieved, what would you like hip-hop tradition to say about Westside Gunn?
He modified the sport. It is no different Westside Gunn. I wish to be on my Michael Jordan shit. Let me sit within the field, let me watch my crew and let me simply do what I do. I nonetheless received my completely different manufacturers. I am nonetheless a legend. I am nonetheless revered.
