Wikipedia

And Then You Pray for Me

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 commerical debut on the chart.

And Then You Pray for Me
Studio album by
Westside Gunn
ReleasedOctober 13, 2023 (2023-10-13)
Genre
Length75:17
Label
Producer
Westside Gunn chronology
10
(2022) 		And Then You Pray for Me
(2023)

Background

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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 using Caravaggio's depiction of The Entombment of Christ.[10][11]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
Clash7/10[5]
HipHopDX3.8/5[13]
Pitchfork6.9/10[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]

Track listing

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And Then You Pray for Me track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Flygod Did" (featuring AA Rashid)
Mr. Green1:56
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)
  • Worthy
  • Aaron Cooks
Miguel the Plug4:11
5."Suicide in Selfridges" (featuring DJ Drama)
  • Worthy
  • Napon Pintong
Conductor Williams2:51
6."Kitchen Lights" (featuring Stove God Cooks)
  • Worthy
  • Cooks
DJ Benoit5:00
7."Flygod 2x"WorthyDxpe Mikie Beats1:47
8."DunnHill" (featuring Rick Ross)
Miguel the Plug3:59
9."House of Glory" (featuring Stove God Cooks)
  • Worthy
  • Cooks
RZA3:12
10."JD Wrist" (featuring Stove God Cooks, Estee Nack and DJ Trap-A-Holics)
  • Worthy
  • Cooks
  • Estee Nack
FlyGod Jr.6:19
11."Disgusting" (featuring Giggs)
Miguel the Plug4:01
12."Chloe" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign)
Denny LAflare3:51
13."LL Bool Gunn"WorthyMiguel the Plug2:12
14."Babylon Bis" (featuring Stove God Cooks)
  • Worthy
  • Cooks
  • JR Swiftz
  • Mario Luciano
5:04
15."Ultra GriZelda" (featuring Denzel Curry)
Miguel the Plug2:28
16."Jalen Rose" (featuring Boldy James)
Daringer3:15
17."Steve and Jony" (featuring EST Gee)
  • Tay Keith
  • Deats
2:56
18."Mr Everything" (featuring Jeezy and DJ Swamp Izzo)
  • Forever Rollin
  • NFE Paris
  • Juko
2:45
19."Freddy Js" (featuring DJ Holiday and Peezy)
  • Worthy
  • Phillip Glen-Earl Peaks
Miguel the Plug2:46
20."The Revenge of Flips Leg" (featuring Rome Streetz)
  • Worthy
  • Pintong
  • Jerome Allen
Conductor Williams2:40
21."And Then You Pray for Me" (featuring KayCyy)
3:32
Total length:75:17

Notes

Charts

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Chart performance for And Then You Pray for Me
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] 81
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[15] 95
US Billboard 200[16] 29
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[17] 6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] 8

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Strauss, Matthew (October 18, 2023). "Westside Gunn: Who Made the Sunshine". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "AllMusic: And Then You Pray for Me - Westside Gunn". AllMusic. October 13, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Spencer, Tallie (October 13, 2023). "Westside Gunn Shares Final Album "And Then You Pray For Me"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Cluff, Philip (October 13, 2023). "Westside Gunn – And Then Pray For Me". Clash. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Helfand, Raphael. "Listen to Westside Gunn's studio "finale"". The Fader. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Jones, James (May 1, 2023). "Westside Gunn Hints At New Virgil Artwork For New Album". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. ^ Saponara, Michael (April 18, 2023). "Westside Gunn Dubs 'Pray For Paris 2' A 'Classic' As He Announces Release Date". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Westlake, Wyatt (June 24, 2023). "Westside Gunn's "And Then You Pray For Me": What We Know". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Cornue, Aidan (November 15, 2023). "ALBUM REVIEW | Westside Gunn's 'And Then You Pray For Me'". The Daily Athenaeum. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for And Then You Pray for Me". Metacritic. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 October 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1755. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 23, 2023. p. 6.
  15. ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  16. ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
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