On Oct 28, 2022 New York rapper Westside Gunn dropped the 10th and final album of his HWH series, aptly titled “10”. 

In the past few years, Westside Gunn as well as his labelmates at Griselda Records have asserted themselves as the main face of alternative hip hop on the East Coast. Gunn, alongside Conway the Machine and Benny the Butcher, have been labeled by many as “Coke Rap” or trap because much of their respective discographies center on the drug trade. 

However, it is Gunn’s delivery, rhyme scheme and production that have set him apart from more classic trap artists that rap about similar themes.  Gunn has gained recognition for his offbeat cadence as well as his unique voice. 

His vocals are generally laid over grimy boom bap-style production, although some songs on “10” depart from this signature production style. 

Particularly, the track “Flygod JR,” which relies on a much more modern trap beat with more uptempo drums and bassline

 In addition to a more diverse beat selection, “10” also has a stacked list of featured artists, spanning the decades of hip hop in New York. Notable features include A$AP Rocky, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah of Wu Tang Clan, and Busta Rhymes.  

“10” includes the right amount of experimentation to keep listeners engaged, while maintaining the classic DNA of a Westside Gunn project.

Top 5 Tracks Ranked 

1. “Shootouts in Soho” (Featuring A$AP Rocky & Stove God Cooks)

This track is classic Westside Gunn at its best. The minimal sampling and heavy bass on the beat allows the three rappers to shine vocally. 

A$AP Rocky delivers on the feature, and while the song’s beat is quite a bit different from his signature sound, the quality of his verse is still top tier.

2. “Peppas” (Featuring Black Star)

While it is hard to outperform Westside Gunn on his own track, Yasiin Bey of Black Star proves that it is not impossible. The flow of his verse showcases both intricate wordplay and impeccable tempo. While group member Talib Kweli’s and Westside Gunn’s parts are far from subpar, Bey’s verse checks that extra box. 

3. “Science Class” (Featuring Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, & Ghostface Killah)

The featured artists on this album continue to shine through on this track. Busta Rhymes’s offbeat flow matches Westside Gunn’s perfectly. Busta Rhymes also adds his voice and melody to the song’s hook, giving it an undeniably 90’s sound.

 This sound is aided by the two members of the Wu Tang Clan, the 9 man rap group from New York, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah. 

4. “FlyGod Jr” (Featuring DJ Drama)

Produced by DJ Drama , “FlyGod JR” represents a change of pace for Westside Gunn. This is mostly due to the production on the song, which leans heavily into the classic “trap” sound, with repetitive high hats and a booming 808 bass. 

Gunn’s verse is more uptempo than most of his discography. However, it fits well with the style of production and gives the album appeal to fans of the more classic trap sound.

This is the second full-length track on the album, coming after the album’s two intro tracks. Having one of the more experimental tracks on the album appear at this early slot is a bold decision. It shows Westside Gunn’s confidence in the track, and in the album as a complete work.

5. “Red Death” (Featuring Benny The Butcher, Stove God Cooks, Rome Streetz, Armani Caesar, & Conway the Machine)

One thing Westside Gunn has been praised for is not only his abilities as a rapper, but also as a curator of other artists. 

This is apparent throughout the entire album, but is best seen on “Red Death.” 

At 10 minutes and 22 seconds, one might think that the song would eventually lose its appeal. However, the amount of features keeps the song from getting repetitive, making the song just as engaging as the shorter tracks on the album Almost the entire cast of Westside Gunn’s record label, Griselda Records, is featured each with their own unique cadence and sound. 

Armani Caesar gives one of the best performances on the song, cementing her place among a new generation of female rappers that are shifting the established gender norms in the modern hip hop industry.  

Overall, “10” serves as a fitting end to this series of albums, many of which are likely to become classics of this generation of hip hop. Gunn’s skill as both a musician and as a curator of other’s work is on full display in this project. The album can be found on all platforms that stream music.