By: Andrew Benavides
As we celebrate 50 years of hip-hop, folks around the nation are taking a blast into the past and rejoicing over old tunes they grew up with. Although this is a wonderful occasion, I have to beg the question: what has happened to the music genre we used to love so dearly? The funky rhythm, lyrical storytelling, and historical value has seemingly vanished. Many rap songs today are, to be blunt, an embarrassment to what once was. However, there is one particular group that is pushing against this mold, a group with the weight of the whole hip-hop world in the palm of their hands—Griselda. Founded in Buffalo, New York by Westside Gunn and his brother Conway the Machine, Griselda Records has signed some of the current realest in the game. Other popular members include Benny the Butcher, Boldy James, and Jay Worthy. If you aren’t familiar with their work, these artists are known for their “grimy” vocals paired beautifully with angelic beat production. Despite being around since 2012, Griselda’s sound has only started gaining traction in recent years, presumably starting with Gunn’s “FLYGOD” album in 2016. They’ve been compared to the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, with Method Man himself even claiming that Griselda’s movement reminds him of their own takeover in the 90s. Such high praise is not handed out to just any music collective that enters the scene. It certainly has not gone unnoticed, with the comments only further boosting Griselda’s name. With this continued traction, I truly believe Griselda Records can revive the beautiful genre that is hip-hop.
