Westside Gunn : NPR

Westside Gunn belongs to a lineage of hustler rappers for whom street credibility often coexists with artful exaggeration. He released his latest album, 12, on Valentine's Day.
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Music Features

Westside Gunn isn't too good to be true

February 28, 2025 • Hustler rappers like Gunn traffic in street tales that feel larger than life. That doesn't mean they're not "real."

Projects released by Young Thug, Tyler, the Creator and Little Simz are included in NPR Music's best hip-hop albums of 2021. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption

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Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images

Best Music Of 2021

The 25 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2021

December 10, 2021 • This year's best hip-hop — including Westside Gunn, Mach-Hommy and Moor Mother — comes from death and defiance, erotic power and provocation, Black joy and pain — and that's just the shortlist.

NPR Music's 100 Best Songs of 2021 (60-41)

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Music Features

NPR Music's 100 Best Songs of 2021 (60-41)

December 2, 2021 • Think of the best songs of 2021 as a playlist catering to the most basic human urges. Within it, booties were called, muffins were buttered and bloody revenge was contemplated. It was quite a year.

Westside Gunn and Conductor Williams are perfecting rap's most refined aesthetic

NPR

The Formula: Season 2

Westside Gunn and Conductor Williams are perfecting rap's most refined aesthetic

November 13, 2021 • The growing discography made by the Griselda founder and the noir-inspired Kansas City producer reflect the way these two visionaries have aligned to create something singular.

Lido Pimienta's Miss Colombia is one of the best albums released in April. Daniella Murillo/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Best Music Of 2020

NPR Music's Top 14 Albums Of April

April 30, 2020 • Albums are still events for us, even and especially as we shelter in place. Lido Pimienta, Fiona Apple and Sam Hunt released music that we held close to the chest.

NPR Music's Top 14 Albums Of April

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Griselda Set Out To Be Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rappers. It's Paying Off

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Music Interviews

Griselda Set Out To Be Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rappers. It's Paying Off

December 19, 2019 • The Buffalo, N.Y. trio sounds more like '90s street rap than modern hitmakers, but has found its way to success anyway: business co-signs from Jay-Z and Eminem and, this month, its major label debut.

Griselda Set Out To Be Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rappers. It's Paying Off

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