And Then You Pray for Me
And Then You Pray for Me | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 13, 2023 | |||
Genre | Hip hop, trap,[1] boom bap[2] | |||
Length | 75:17 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Westside Gunn chronology | ||||
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And Then You Pray for Me is the fifth and purportedly final 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]
Background
In 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.[10]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100[11] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Clash | 7/10[5] |
HipHopDX | 3.8/5[12] |
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.[11]
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."[12]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Flygod Did" (featuring AA Rashid) |
| Mr. Green | 1:56 |
2. | "Mamas PrimeTime" (featuring JID, Conway the Machine & Cartier A Williams) |
| 4:59 | |
3. | "Kostas" (featuring Benny the Butcher & Conway the Machine) |
| 5:33 | |
4. | "1989" (featuring DJ Drama & 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 & DJ Trap-A-Holics) |
| FlyGod Jr. | 6:19 |
11. | "Disgusting" (featuring Giggs) |
| Miguel The Plug | 4:01 |
12. | "Chloe" (featuring Ty Dolla $ign) |
| 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 & DJ Swamp Izzo) |
|
| 2:45 |
19. | "Freddy Js" (featuring DJ Holiday & 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
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[13] | 95 |
US Billboard 200[14] | 29 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[15] | 6 |
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[16] | 11 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] | 8 |
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[18] | 7 |
References
- ^ 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 (2023-10-09). "Westside Gunn Says This Is His Final Album, But That Doesn't Mean The Music Stops". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
- ^ Spencer, Tallie (2023-10-13). "Westside Gunn Shares Final Album "And Then You Pray For Me"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
- ^ 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 2023-11-05.
- ^ Jones, James (2023-05-01). "Westside Gunn Hints At New Virgil Artwork For New Album". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (2023-04-18). "Westside Gunn Dubs 'Pray For Paris 2' A 'Classic' As He Announces Release Date". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ Westlake, Wyatt (2023-06-24). "Westside Gunn's "And Then You Pray For Me": What We Know". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (2023-09-22). "Westside Gunn Taps Jeezy, Rick Ross & More For 'And Then You Pray For Me' Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2023.