Pray for Paris (2020) - Westside Gunn

Pray for Paris is Westside Gunn’s third studio album, released on April 17, 2020. The album is a high-art blend of grimy street rap and luxurious production, heavily influenced by Gunn’s visit to Paris for Virgil Abloh’s Off-White fashion show. Featuring guest appearances from Griselda affiliates, as well as heavyweights like Freddie Gibbs and Tyler, The Creator, Pray for Paris is both a showcase of elite lyricism and a celebration of high fashion, fine art, and underground hip-hop culture.

Tracklist:

1. 400 Million Plus Tax
2. No Vacancy
3. George Bondo (feat. Conway the Machine & Benny the Butcher)
4. 327 (feat. Joey Bada$$, Tyler, The Creator & Billie Essco)
5. French Toast (feat. Wale & Joyce Wrice)
6. Euro Step
7. Allah Sent Me (feat. Benny the Butcher & Conway the Machine)
8. $500 Ounces (feat. Freddie Gibbs & Roc Marciano)
9. Versace
10. Claiborne Kick (feat. Boldy James)
11. Shawn vs. Flair 
12. Party wit Pop Smoke (feat. Keisha Plum)
13. Le Djoliba (feat. Cartier William)

Pray for Paris is a masterclass in luxury and grit, blending Gunn’s signature high-pitched delivery with opulent beats and detailed street narratives. The album starts with 400 Million Plus Tax, an intro featuring spoken words from fashion icon Virgil Abloh, setting the tone for the project’s artistic ambition. No Vacancy follows, a short but sharp burst of bars over haunting production.

George Bondo brings together the unstoppable Griselda trio—Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher, and Conway the Machine—delivering their signature coke rap over a raw, eerie beat. 327 stands out as a more laid-back, jazzy affair, with Joey Bada$$ and Tyler, The Creator delivering smooth verses alongside Gunn’s effortless flexing.

The album’s middle section shines with standout tracks like Allah Sent Me, where Benny and Conway trade verses over a grimy beat, and $500 Ounces, featuring Freddie Gibbs and Roc Marciano weaving intricate street tales over a luxurious instrumental. Versace is another highlight, with minimalist production allowing Gunn’s charismatic delivery to take center stage.

Near the end, Shawn vs. Flair pays homage to classic wrestling references—something Westside Gunn has always incorporated into his music—while Party wit Pop Smoke provides a brief yet haunting interlude. The album closes with Le Djoliba, a beautifully crafted outro that blends orchestral elements with Gunn’s signature ad-libs, ending the project on a cinematic note.

Pray for Paris is Westside Gunn at his most refined. It’s both a celebration of art and a raw display of street storytelling, effortlessly balancing sophistication and grime. 327 is a personal favorite for its laid-back energy and Tyler’s standout verse, while $500 Ounces and George Bondo offer some of the hardest bars on the album. The production, handled by the likes of The Alchemist, Daringer, and DJ Premier, is consistently top-tier, giving the album a timeless feel.

For fans of Griselda’s signature sound, Pray for Paris is essential listening. It’s one of Gunn’s most cohesive projects, proving that he can merge the worlds of underground hip-hop and high fashion into something truly special.