And Then You Pray for Me is the fifth studio album by American rapper Westside Gunn, released on October 13, 2023, by Griselda Records and Empire.[3][4][5] The album is a sequel to Gunn's 2020 album Pray for Paris.[1][6] With guest appearances from AA Rashid, JID, Conway The Machine, Cartier A Williams, Benny the Butcher, DJ Drama, Stove God Cooks, Rick Ross, Estee Nack, Trap-A-Holics, Giggs, Ty Dolla Sign, Keisha Plum, Denzel Curry, Boldy James, EST Gee, Jeezy, DJ Swamp Izzo, DJ Holiday, Peezy, Rome Streetz, and KayCyy, the album features a shift in sound from Gunn's signature boom bap style, incorporating trap elements reminiscent of the late 2000s and 2010s. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200, making it Gunn's highest commercial debut on the chart.
And Then You Pray for Me | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 13, 2023 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 75:17 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Westside Gunn chronology | ||||
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Background
editIn April 2023, Westside Gunn announced that the album was to be released on June 23, 2023, but it was later delayed.[7][8] The album's title refers to a lyric in the song "Eric B" by Westside Gunn, where he raps: "Pray for Paris, then you pray for me."[9] The album's cover was designed by Virgil Abloh using Caravaggio's depiction of The Entombment of Christ.[10][11]
Critical reception
editAggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100[12] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Clash | 7/10[5] |
HipHopDX | 3.8/5[13] |
Pitchfork | 6.9/10[1] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, And Then You Pray for Me received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 from 4 critic scores.[12]
Writing for Pitchfork, Matthew Strauss described the album as a "symbiosis between the trap and boom-bap genres" and a "broad, loud, and messy exploration of Gunn's vision for rap and art."[1] Philip Cluff of Clash praised the album's themes writing: "It's not just another gangster rap album but essentially a commentary on the psychological fatigue accompanying ruthlessness of the question young black men inherited from Gil Scott Heron; "Who will survive in America?"[5] AllMusic's review described the album as "sometimes overly familiar if still satisfying."[2] HipHopDX's Riley Wallace described the album as a "mixed bag that relies on the listener's ability to go with the flow."[13]
Accolades
editPublication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Billboard | The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2023: Staff Picks | 15
|
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BrooklynVegan | 25 Best Rap Albums of 2023 | 18
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HotNewHipHop | 25 Best Rap Albums of 2023 | 20
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Rolling Stone | The 10 Best Rap Albums of 2023 | 9
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Vibe | The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2023 | 13
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Track listing
editNo. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Flygod Did" (featuring AA Rashid) |
| Mr. Green | 1:56 |
2. | "Mamas PrimeTime" (featuring JID, Conway the Machine and Cartier A Williams) |
| 4:59 | |
3. | "Kostas" (featuring Benny the Butcher and Conway the Machine) |
| 5:33 | |
4. | "1989" (featuring DJ Drama and Stove God Cooks) |
| Miguel the Plug | 4:11 |
5. | "Suicide in Selfridges" (featuring DJ Drama) |
| Conductor Williams | 2:51 |
6. | "Kitchen Lights" (featuring Stove God Cooks) |
| DJ Benoit | 5:00 |
7. | "Flygod 2x" | Worthy | Dxpe Mikie Beats | 1:47 |
8. | "DunnHill" (featuring Rick Ross) | Miguel the Plug | 3:59 | |
9. | "House of Glory" (featuring Stove God Cooks) |
| RZA | 3:12 |
10. | "JD Wrist" (featuring Stove God Cooks, Estee Nack and DJ Trap-A-Holics) |
| FlyGod Jr. | 6:19 |
11. | "Disgusting" (featuring Giggs) |
| Miguel the Plug | 4:01 |
12. | "Chloe" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign) |
| Denny LAflare | 3:51 |
13. | "LL Bool Gunn" | Worthy | Miguel the Plug | 2:12 |
14. | "Babylon Bis" (featuring Stove God Cooks) |
|
| 5:04 |
15. | "Ultra GriZelda" (featuring Denzel Curry) |
| Miguel the Plug | 2:28 |
16. | "Jalen Rose" (featuring Boldy James) |
| Daringer | 3:15 |
17. | "Steve and Jony" (featuring EST Gee) |
|
| 2:56 |
18. | "Mr Everything" (featuring Jeezy and DJ Swamp Izzo) |
|
| 2:45 |
19. | "Freddy Js" (featuring DJ Holiday and Peezy) |
| Miguel the Plug | 2:46 |
20. | "The Revenge of Flips Leg" (featuring Rome Streetz) |
| Conductor Williams | 2:40 |
21. | "And Then You Pray for Me" (featuring KayCyy) |
| 3:32 | |
Total length: | 75:17 |
Notes
- "House of Glory" samples Swan Lake I. Scene (Swan's Theme) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.[5]
Charts
editChart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] | 81 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[20] | 95 |
US Billboard 200[21] | 29 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[22] | 6 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[23] | 8 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Strauss, Matthew (October 18, 2023). "Westside Gunn: Who Made the Sunshine". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c "AllMusic: And Then You Pray for Me - Westside Gunn". AllMusic. October 13, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Gee, Andre (October 9, 2023). "Westside Gunn Says This Is His Final Album, But That Doesn't Mean The Music Stops". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Spencer, Tallie (October 13, 2023). "Westside Gunn Shares Final Album "And Then You Pray For Me"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Cluff, Philip (October 13, 2023). "Westside Gunn – And Then Pray For Me". Clash. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Helfand, Raphael. "Listen to Westside Gunn's studio "finale"". The Fader. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Jones, James (May 1, 2023). "Westside Gunn Hints At New Virgil Artwork For New Album". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (April 18, 2023). "Westside Gunn Dubs 'Pray For Paris 2' A 'Classic' As He Announces Release Date". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Westlake, Wyatt (June 24, 2023). "Westside Gunn's "And Then You Pray For Me": What We Know". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (September 22, 2023). "Westside Gunn Taps Jeezy, Rick Ross & More For 'And Then You Pray For Me' Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Cornue, Aidan (November 15, 2023). "ALBUM REVIEW | Westside Gunn's 'And Then You Pray For Me'". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "Critic Reviews for And Then You Pray for Me". Metacritic. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Wallace, Riley (October 25, 2023). "Review: Westside Gunn's 'And Then You Pray For Me' Takes Bold Pivots From The Griselda Sound". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2023: Staff Picks". Billboard. December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "25 Best Rap Albums of 2023". BrooklynVegan. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "25 Best Rap Albums Of 2023". HotNewHipHop. December 25, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "The 10 Best Rap Albums of 2023". Rolling Stone. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2023". Vibe. December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 October 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1755. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 23, 2023. p. 6.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.