Westside Gunn

Biography

Alvin Lamar Worthy (born July 27, 1982), known professionally as Westside Gunn, is an American rapper, fashion designer and professional wrestling promoter. He co-founded the hip-hop record label Griselda Records in 2012 with his half-brother Conway the Machine and their cousin Benny the Butcher.
Since 2005, he has released five studio albums, in addition to a wide catalog of mixtapes and extended plays. Gunn was affiliated with Shady Records from 2017 to 2020, but has since returned to independent work.

Early life

Gunn was born on July 27, 1982, in Buffalo, New York and grew up in the impoverished East Side neighborhood. His paternal half-brother is Conway the Machine and his younger cousin is Benny the Butcher; both would go on to join him in hip-hop. He moved frequently during his childhood, including to the richer west end of Buffalo. He showed interest in fashion as a child and, according to his marketer, Derrick Jackson, wore gold chains in elementary school. He also created comic books with his friends while in elementary school.

2005–2016: early career and founding Griselda Records

Gunn's first project was a mixtape called Flyest Nig@@ In Charge in 2005, however it was unreleased; a version was eventually released via music streaming services in 2020. (The 2020 streaming version’s image of the mixtape’s cover features an oil painting of its original 2005 cover.) Gunn did not release his own music until 2012, instead devoting his time to managing his half-brother, rapper Conway the Machine. In 2012, after Conway was seriously injured in a shooting, Gunn began releasing music; his debut was the extended play (EP) Hitler Wears Hermes×Hitler Wears Hermes26 October 2012 · EP · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1MKQueens Dead2:492Rayful's Plug3:173Me and My Eagle3:214Suede Mutumbos1:105Messhall Talk4:046Hitler's Theme2:54, the name is a play on The Devil Wears Prada. It eventually was the first mixtape of a series and generated controversy over the reference in the name to Adolf Hitler.
In 2014, Gunn co-founded the Griselda Records record label with Conway the Machine and Mach-Hommy. In 2015, Gunn and Conway formed the superduo Hall & Nash, releasing the EP Griselda Ghost×Griselda Ghost11 September 2015 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Reaganomiks1:002Rahbannga2:253Brains on the Basquiat2:024Fendi Seats2:505Dutch Masters (interlude)0:586Richer Porter2:227Alligator Straps2:518Empire3:099If I Ruled the World ’153:08, produced by Big Ghost, on September 11 that year. Gunn’s next release was his official debut studio album Flygod×FLYGOD11 March 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Dunks4:052Gustavo4:423Shower Shoe Lords4:304Vivian at the Art Basel4:405Hall1:446Free Chapo2:387Over Gold2:438Bodies on Fairfax3:179Chine Gun2:3610King City3:3611Omar’s Coming2:3712Mr. T3:261350 in. Zenith2:5814Sly Green Skit1:041555 & a Half3:3316Albright Knox3:2917Dudley Boyz2:0218Outro4:22, released on March 11, 2016. Also in 2016, Gunn and Conway recorded Hall & Nash 2 and scheduled a 2017 release date, however this did not occur due to their signing with Shady Records. (It was eventually released via streaming services on December 29, 2023, following a surprise announcement from Hall & Nash II's producer The Alchemist on December 25.)

2017–2020: continued growth and record label tenure

On February 10, 2017, Gunn and Mil Beats released the collaborative EP Riots on Fashion Avenue×RIOTS ON FASHION AVENUE10 February 2017 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Fly Shit (Intro)2:262Brains Flew By3:293Don’t Trust A Soul3:294Brains Flew By (1964 version)3:385Don’t Trust A Soul (7th Avenue version)3:286No Face Dealer (Outro)1:317Fly Shit (instrumental)2:228Brains Flew By (instrumental)3:249Don’t Trust A Soul (instrumental)3:3010Brains Flew By (1964 version) (instrumental)3:3111Don’t Trust A Soul (7th Avenue version) (instrumental)3:3312No Face Dealer (instrumental)1:30, consisting of four songs.
On March 3, 2017, Griselda Records signed a deal with Eminem's label Shady Records, making Westside Gunn and Conway the first rappers from Buffalo to sign with a major label. A few days later on March 9, Gunn made "Hitler on Steroids×Hitler on Steroids8 March 2017 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 24 tracks1Green Lantern Intro1:152Fish Freestyle1:423Lookin' Like The Greatest3:424Rayfuls Plug2:585Dear Winter Bloody Fiegs4:456Hi Top Ricky Freestyle2:367Shower Shoe Lords3:348100,000 Machine Gunz4:499Dudley Boyz2:0510Eggz1:2611Summer Slam 882:4012Gustavo Poem4:1613Lord2:2614Stoves2:2015Dunks (Original)3:1416Hall1:5217Rex Ryan3:4818Bon Jovi3:2919Nasty (Green Lantern Version)2:2420Mr. T2:1821Eric B3:1122Suede Mutumbos0:5723Pissy Work2:4424Laura1:53" with DJ Green Lantern. After signing with Shady, Gunn played at Coachella, Firefly and the Governors Ball. On October 2, 2020, Westside Gunn released his Shady Records debut, Who Made the Sunshine, his only solo project with the label.
Shortly after signing with Shady Records, Gunn released Flygod Is Good... All the Time, as a collaborative EP with producer Mr. Green. In 2018, Gunn released Supreme Blientele. He also signed with Roc Nation alongside label mate Benny the Butcher on August 6, 2019, under a management deal.
On April 17, 2020, Gunn released his third studio album, Pray for Paris×Pray for Paris17 April 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1400 Million Plus Tax1:092No Vacancy1:353George Bondo4:4443275:495French Toast4:486Euro Step1:507Allah Sent Me4:508500 Dollar Ounces4:139Versace2:0510Claiborne Kick3:1711Shawn vs. Flair2:2212Party wit Pop Smoke2:1413Le Djoliba2:23. The album features Wale, Joey Badass, Freddie Gibbs and Tyler, the Creator, among others. On July 3 that year, Westside Gunn released his tenth mixtape, Flygod Is an Awesome God×Flygod Is an Awesome God5 July 2019 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Jul 27th2:162Sensational Sherri4:193Bautista2:324Lunchin3:325Ferragamo Funeral1:246Thousand Shot Mac3:357Birkin2:498Pete Sake2:469Amherst Station 32:2210Dance Floor Love1:2111Gunnlib1:4612Lakers vs Rockets3:27 II, the sequel to his July 2019 mixtape Flygod×FLYGOD11 March 2016 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Dunks4:052Gustavo4:423Shower Shoe Lords4:304Vivian at the Art Basel4:405Hall1:446Free Chapo2:387Over Gold2:438Bodies on Fairfax3:179Chine Gun2:3610King City3:3611Omar’s Coming2:3712Mr. T3:261350 in. Zenith2:5814Sly Green Skit1:041555 & a Half3:3316Albright Knox3:2917Dudley Boyz2:0218Outro4:22 Is an Awesome God. The album features guest appearances from frequent collaborators Benny The Butcher, Keisha Plum, Boldy James, and Daringer.
On November 14, 2020, in an interview with Joe Budden, Gunn announced he had fulfilled his contractual obligations to Shady Records and had become an independent artist.

2021–present: independent career

In 2021, Gunn starred in the film Conflicted, alongside Benny the Butcher, Michael Rapaport, and J. Holiday. Also in 2021, he released two songs, titled "TV Boy×TV Boy31 March 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1TV Boy2:27" and "Julia Lang×Julia Lang31 March 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Julia Lang0:59"; the latter was named after fashion entrepreneur Julia Lang. Both songs would eventually be included in his mixtape Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B×Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B24 September 2021 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Brodie Lee0:312End how You start intro3:483Hell on Earth, Pt. 23:564Free Kutter2:505Richies3:366Julia Lang2:067Celine Dion5:518Best Dressed Demons2:409Forest Lawn5:0210Why I do em Like that4:0111RIP Bergdorf2:0812TV BOY2:2713Survivor Series 957:0714Eddie Kingston3:0815Ostertag2:1216Munch2:321799 Avirex4:2718The Fly who couldn’t Fly straight1:4519Big AL2:3620BYE BYE1:07, released later that year. In 2022, Westside Gunn stated on Twitter that he would be retiring from hip-hop at the end of 2023, stating he '[had] nothing else to prove'.
On October 13, 2023, Westside Gunn released his fifth studio album And Then You Pray For Me×And Then You Pray for Me13 October 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1FLYGOD DiD1:562Mamas PrimeTime4:593Kostas5:33419894:115Suicide in Selfridges2:516KITCHEN LIGHTS5:007FLYGOD 2x1:478DunnHill3:599House of GLORY3:1210JD Wrist6:1911Disgusting4:0112Chloe3:5113LL BOOL GUNN2:1214Babylon Bis5:0415Ultra GriZelda2:2816Jalen Rose3:1517Steve and Jony2:5618MR EVERYTHING2:4519Freddy Js2:4620The Revenge of Flips Leg2:4021AND THEN YOU PRAY FOR ME3:32. The album is a sequel to Pray for Paris×Pray for Paris17 April 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1400 Million Plus Tax1:092No Vacancy1:353George Bondo4:4443275:495French Toast4:486Euro Step1:507Allah Sent Me4:508500 Dollar Ounces4:139Versace2:0510Claiborne Kick3:1711Shawn vs. Flair2:2212Party wit Pop Smoke2:1413Le Djoliba2:23, with both albums' covers created by fashion designer Virgil Abloh. Gunn stated that it was his last studio album, but he would continue to release music as mixtapes.
In 2024, Gunn released the mixtape Still Praying. To promote the release he embarked on the Heels Have Eyes concert tour the same year. He created Fourth Rope, a wrestling promotion, and staged wrestling bouts with the concerts. On January 24, 2025, he announced his involvement in a new hardcore punk band called Dissension and posted a preview of a new song, "Black Hole".
On April 18, 2025, Gunn released Heels Have Eyes, named for his combined tour and wrestling promotion of the previous year. It contained the song "Egypt", which was later remixed to feature Doechii. Gunn featured on the opening track of JID's God Does Like Ugly. He released Heels Have Eyes 2 on August 28, and released Heels Have Eyes 3 on October 31.

Fashion career

In 2012, Gunn founded Fashion Rebels, his clothing brand. He has sat in the front row at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week, and owns clothes from Comme des Garçons and Dapper Dan's collaboration with Gucci. He was a frequent collaborator with Virgil Abloh, with Abloh designing some of Gunn's album covers.
In 2025, he debuted a pair of shoes with Saucony.

Artistry

Gunn is noted for his sample-heavy choices for production, which often incorporates phonographic sampling to create a "lo-fi feel", as described by Greek rapper Stereo Mike. Vocally, he 'close mikes', which better captures his voice. He juxtaposes his lyrics about crime with high art and fashion.

Personal life

Gunn is a devoted fan of wrestling; he has said that he attends SummerSlam and WrestleMania annually. In 2025, he disavowed WWE after he was ejected from a Raw event and was sent a cease and desist request. As a result, he changed the cover artwork for some of his albums, to no longer feature images of WWE wrestlers.
Gunn has amassed a collection of drawings, paintings and toys with an estimated value of almost $1,000,000; between 50 and 100 paintings in his collection were created solely for him. In 2017, he formed a business relationship with painter Isaac Pelayo after offering to purchase a painting of his, with Pelayo going on to create album covers for Gunn and Griselda rapper Armani Caesar.