And Then You Pray for Me

And Then You Pray for Me
Studio album by
Westside Gunn
ReleasedOctober 13, 2023 (2023-10-13)
Genres
Length75:17
Labels
Producers
Westside Gunn chronology
10
(2022)		 And Then You Pray for Me
(2023)		 11
(2024)

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. The album is a sequel to Gunn's 2020 album Pray for Paris. 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 $ign, Keisha Plum, Denzel Curry, Boldy James, EST Gee, Jeezy, DJ Swamp Izzo, DJ Holiday, Peezy, Rome Streetz, and KayCyy, the album features Gunn's signature boom bap style alongside trap elements. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200, making it Gunn's highest commercial debut on the chart.

Background

In April 2023, Westside Gunn announced that And Then You Pray for Me was to be released on June 23, 2023, in line with Paris Fashion Week.[1] The album is a sequel to his 2020 album Pray for Paris[2] and its title refers to a lyric in Gunn's song "Eric B", where he raps: "Pray for Paris, then you pray for me."[3] The album's cover was designed by Virgil Abloh using Caravaggio's The Entombment of Christ.[4][5] Gunn began production of the album in January 2023.[6] For several months, Gunn traveled across multiple countries, including Greece, Germany, United Kingdom, Egypt, and France, and recorded in numerous studios.[6] A song featuring Doe Boy was recorded but was not included in the album after the session files were lost.[6] The album released on October 13, 2023, with Gunn stating that it was his final solo studio album.[6][7]

Composition

And Then You Pray for Me contains elements of boom bap and trap production.[8] The album's lyrics reference themes of fashion, mysticism, and psychosis.[9] Westside Gunn raps under the alter ego Super Flygod on the album.[5]

The album's opening track, "Flygod Did", features AA Rashid.[10] "Mamas PrimeTime" features Conway the Machine, a tap dancing interlude by Cartier A Williams, and a verse by JID with "slick verbosity".[10][2] "Kostas", named after a Greek restaurant in Buffalo,[11] was produced by Tay Keith and features Benny the Butcher and Conway the Machine.[10] "Kitchen Lights", produced by DJ Benoit, features minimalistic production with strings, piano, and an unobtrusive bassline.[8] Gunn and Stove God Cooks rap about "poverty, hustling, and material wealth" on the song.[8] "Flygod 2x" features a jazzy instrumental.[10] "DunnHill" is a trap song produced by Miguel the Plug with "skittering hi-hats", a "staid bassline", and a "rudimentary piano melody" and features Rick Ross.[2][12] "House of Glory", produced by RZA, samples Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and features Stove God Cooks.[9][10]

"JD Wrist" is a trap song with "reverb programmed keys".[9] "Disgusting" features British rapper Giggs and samples low ringing church bells over a drum beat.[9] "Ultra GriZelda" was produced by Miguel the Plug and features a rap verse by Denzel Curry.[10] "Jalen Rose" features Boldy James.[8] "Steve and Jony" is a trap song produced by Tay Keith and Deats, and features EST Gee.[10] "Mr Everything" features Gunn and Jeezy trading bars.[10] "The Revenge of Flips Leg" was produced by Conductor Williams and features Rome Streetz.[10] The album's closing track, "And Then You Pray for Me", has elements of R&B production and an introspective rap verse by Gunn.[9]

Critical reception

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

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.[13]

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."[2] 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?"[9] AllMusic's review described the album as "sometimes overly familiar if still satisfying."[8] HipHopDX's Riley Wallace described the album as a "mixed bag that relies on the listener's ability to go with the flow."[10] Damien Scott of Billboard wrote that the album "mixes Griselda's beloved warm soul samples lovingly chopped to support coldhearted coke capers with more of-the-moment trends" and was Gunn's "best solo effort".[14] Marc Antonio Griffin of Vibe wrote that "Gunn's signature catchphrases and eclectic persona work to fit each diverse track into a unified project."[11] Writing for HotNewHipHop, Caroline Fisher wrote that the album "strikes a balance between grandiosity and sincerity, falling back on his signature sound while still incorporating enough new elements for the album to stand out in his discography".[15]

Accolades

Year-end lists for And Then You Pray for Me
Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2023: Staff Picks
15
BrooklynVegan 25 Best Rap Albums of 2023
18
HotNewHipHop 25 Best Rap Albums of 2023
20
Rolling Stone The 10 Best Rap Albums of 2023
9
Vibe The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2023
13

Track listing

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)
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 Trap-A-Holics)
  • Worthy
  • Cooks
  • Estee Nack
FlyGod Jr.6:19
11."Disgusting" (featuring Giggs)
Miguel the Plug4:01
12."Chloe" (featuring Ty Dolla $ign)
Denny LaFlare3:51
13."LL Bool Gunn"WorthyMiguel the Plug2:12
14."Babylon Bis" (featuring Stove God Cooks and Keisha Plum)
  • Worthy
  • Cooks
  • Keisha Plum
  • 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)
Conductor Williams2:40
21."And Then You Pray for Me" (featuring KayCyy)
3:32
Total length:75:17

Notes

Charts

Chart performance for And Then You Pray for Me
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] 81
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[18]95
US Billboard 200[19]29
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20]6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[21]8

References

  1. ↑ Saponara, Michael (April 18, 2023). "Westside Gunn Dubs 'Pray For Paris 2' A 'Classic' As He Announces Release Date". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Strauss, Matthew (October 18, 2023). "Westside Gunn: And Then You Pray for Me". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  3. ↑ Westlake, Wyatt (June 24, 2023). "Westside Gunn's "And Then You Pray For Me": What We Know". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  4. ↑ Saponara, Michael (September 22, 2023). "Westside Gunn Taps Jeezy, Rick Ross & More For 'And Then You Pray For Me' Album". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Setaro, Shawn (October 18, 2023). "Westside Gunn On How Virgil Abloh & "Coming To The End" Of His Rap Career Inspired 'And Then You Pray For Me'". Grammy. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Gee, Andre (October 9, 2023). "Westside Gunn Says This Is His Final Album, But That Doesn't Mean The Music Stops". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ Helfand, Raphael (October 13, 2023). "Listen to Westside Gunn's studio "finale"". The Fader. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "AllMusic: And Then You Pray for Me - Westside Gunn". AllMusic. October 13, 2023. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cluff, Philip (October 13, 2023). "Westside Gunn – And Then Pray For Me". Clash. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wallace, Riley (October 25, 2023). "Review: Westside Gunn's 'And Then You Pray For Me' Takes Bold Pivots From The Griselda Sound". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 "The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2023". Vibe. December 29, 2023. Archived from the original on August 17, 2026. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "The 10 Best Rap Albums of 2023". Rolling Stone. December 20, 2023. Archived from the original on December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Critic Reviews for And Then You Pray for Me". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2023: Staff Picks". Billboard. December 22, 2023. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "25 Best Rap Albums Of 2023". HotNewHipHop. December 25, 2023. Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ "25 Best Rap Albums of 2023". BrooklynVegan. December 20, 2023. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  17. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 October 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1755. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 23, 2023. p. 6.
  18. ↑ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Westside Gunn Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
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