During a 2018 interview with Exclaim, Westside Gunn said, “My debut will be like [Supreme Blientele], just on steroids. Westside Gunn today is going to be Westside Gunn, even on Shady.” Over two years removed, the Griselda mastermind has finally released said debut, Who Made the Sunshine — and it appears Gunn was true to his word. While some moments exist as outliers, he mostly stays true to what Griselda fans have come to expect.
The duo of Beat Butcha and Daringer are the project’s most significant contributors, at points exuding serious WWCD vibes, though not quite as dark — like the group cut “The Butcher and The Blade,” for example. The approach is safe but with the Griselda core currently hovering at their apex, it’s enjoyable none the less.
That’s not to say that comfortable production makes the LP predictable at all; Gunn holds his own alongside GOAT MC Black Thought and blesses heads with not one but two guest appearances by an ageless Slick Rick. The iconic MC sparkles on “Ocean Prime,” which also features a jarringly intense Busta Rhymes, and shines on “Good Night,” where he reminds listeners why he is hailed as one of the greatest storytellers in the genre’s history.
Still, variety is the spice of life — and West is often at his best when he’s generous with his platform. Not unlike Fly God Is An Awesome God 2, he lets many artists in his circle and on his radar bask in the sunlight (pun intended).
“All Praises” sees him taking a backseat to Boldy James and Jadakiss, opting to confine himself to a slightly off-key chorus. There is also one of the subgenre’s most significant posse cuts to date, “Frank Murphy,” which brings together Stove God Cooks, Flee Lord, Estee Nack, Elcamino and Smoke DZA for an eight-minute, torch-passing marathon of grimy bars. In particular, this instrumental, crafted by Conductor Williams, is easily one of the project’s more polarizing — combining the often debated lack of percussion with a randomly shifting pitch that you’ll either love or hate, especially repetitively for such a long stretch. It’s reminiscent of the cult-classic “Tick, Tick…” by MF DOOM and MF Grimm, which had continually shifting tempo.
Another exciting moment was the Alchemist produced “Liz Loves Luger,” which features Armani Caesar showing off her singing chops with excellent results. Though, Gunn hasn’t quite mastered the subtle art of pseudo-love songs, with him spitting in a woman’s face, choking her, tell her she’s the best thing that ever happened, then making love to her with his foot on her neck — in that order. If you want another example of him attempting this kind of vibe, check out his recent feature on Shantel May’s “Until I Say So,” where he grabs a woman by the neck and licks her face.
Still, this is his major-label solo debut, and he didn’t let fans go without an appropriate exclamation point. In this case, the Just Blaze-produced Griselda posse cut, “98 Sabers” — which sees the crew at their lyrically sharpest over a gritty beat that reaffirms Just is fully capable of playing in this sandbox. This isn’t the first time the producer has collaborated with Griselda; he linked with Gunn and Conway (as Hall N Nash) for their first Shady-stamped single “Machine Gun Black” in 2017.
If this is Gunn’s potentially last LP on Shady (it remains to be seen if Hall N Nash 2 or his joint project with Madlib will be on the label), then ending the saga with the same producer is incredibly fitting.
Westside Gunn Names His Top 5 Rappers & They All Have Something In Common
Who Made the Sunshine is a solid offering, even if not Gunn’s most wholly compelling body of work. It doesn’t break any ground or expand his dynamics in the way that A King To A GOD did for Conway, but it is Gunn doing what he does best — at a very high level.
When it comes to the newer independent wave of Hip Hop, the answer to the album’s rhetorical question is, in fact, Gunn himself. With only two projects left until he retires from music to focus on the other aspects of his business, this project not only reaffirms that his baby, Griselda, is in good hands, but the stars beyond his immediate orbit are also just as bright.
This album was OK. Nowhere near as good as Pray for Paris. The album cover is the dumbest shit I’ve ever seen. These guys all out out WAY too much material. Also, Alchemist keeps making these lame beats that don’t have drums etc. that doesn’t help.
You’re an idiot
Nice retort. Shows who the idiot is.
Westside Gunn does it once again. Another masterpiece in his hands.
I can’t be the only one who thinks Gunn’s voice is annoying AF…
Not the only one. Can’t for get those annoying as fuck gunshot sound-adlibs.
Funny. The man is ballin. Instead of wanting to raise your stock up you talk shit. Perhaps you’ll die of covid. Please do and watch your wife get full nelson fucked infront of your family bitch
This album is as good as it gets from Westside
I agree this is the best he can do. Unfortunately his best is shit.
Beats goes
Great project. Not a classic though. I didn’t really like three of the songs.
I think 4/5 is appropriate for this album. This is consistent and dope work from Westside Gunn.
Perfect album from start to finish
Lol, you’ll listen to it for two weeks and move on to the next cardi b release. Back in the day, a classic album would be a good listen for several months. This music doesn’t even last several days.
Why so many features? Carry your project.
Not impressed. Every project sounds the same. Too many features for a first solo LP on the new label. Getting bored and was hoping this album would change my mind…. It didn’t.
Forgot to rate…. 2.5 out of 5
OVERSATURATION DEFINITELY HURTS THIS ALBUM. I THINK IT HAS SOME QUALITY SONGS, BUT ALOT OF IT IS BEEN THERE DONE THAT.
These dudes be coming with that Same ol 2002 drug dealer rap shit they don’t convince me sorry. Trash!!!
WSG king. One could think PfP was better suited for a poprap label like Interscope / Shady but here we go, that Frank Murphy song; oh blimey. I had to turn it off once or twice cause it made me really angry, but I think this is as next level 2020 as it gets, WSG delivered, do not hate
Westside Gunn sounds like when you air a balloon out when he raps. He’s the wackest one out of Griselda. I couldn’t even get through it. Now that Benny dropping Friday, that’s a whole different story.
Yall hate but he got more money than all you broke asses…no need to respond I won’t see it
What does money have to do with artistic merit? Using your logic, Jeff bezos is the greatest mc of all time.
You counting another niggas money like a hoe. Why count money thats not yours to spend? He’s a musician so judge him on his music.
Trash. Just trash. Dudes voice is awful, has no presence on anything he’s on. But yet somehow managed to release an album under Marshall. What a waste of alchemist beats.
Quit hating on Griselda! You must be a bitch ass Drake fan!
These dudes like ’02 Roc-A-Fella, only everybody is shinning. Y’all stiiiiiiillll broke.
Shits sounding all the same now. Griselda is still good, but that fresh new sound the created (or re-invented) is starting to sound monotonous now.
Unlistenable garbage..
Spoken like a true c**t
LOL whoever said unlistenable garbage is way off base whoever listens to this trash should kill themselves and their entire families this is the worst f****** s*** I’ve ever heard in my entire life. If I even almost liked Eminem I absolutely can’t f****** stand him now what the f*** was Eminem doing signing this guy he had to have been laundering dirty money or some other practical joke or he was probably hoping somebody would kill him for it
Lovr the production on this record??
Surprisingly great album defined by the features and solid production. Slick Rick and Black Thought make up for WSG’s obvious shortcomings. Still listening, 4 stars so far
Hype has this project overrated
Busta did a whole verse about weed ? shit was heat ??
Album was real. Was bangin from a king 2 a god then this dropped. Just let whole thing play. Love everything about this album from the features like buster 2 the sick ass album cover due 2 his daughters talented art work. Been letting it play not stop.. till that TI album and that busta album drops this will stay on repeat…so much knowledge in this project..u better the a lesson
?????
love love love it! no wack techno shit on this album
It shows more range for West..putting this together with Pray for Paris..ppl that still hate on him are just jealous.
Or they just have a bit different taste in music. I personally dislike Westside’s voice to begin with, it makes listening to his solo work really tough.
I don’t get the hype. It’s ok but nothing remotely special.
not my cup of tea…
Story telling 6 out of 10
Originality 8 out of 10
Predictability 6 out of 10 ( you can pretty much guess the next rhyming words)
Energy 3 out of 10
Word play 2 out of 10
Instrumental 7 out of 10
Eehh
This album is super dope
I slept on this one at first. I’m glad I found it. Boardline classic.
Fire had a couple meh tracks just waiting on Hermes 8 and Hall n Nash 2 albums and i will be good Gunn has a amazing catalog.Benny n Conway gon rhyme till they drop in the booth anyway
Nah…
West Conway Benny Griselda have 10 projects better than this one but i give it 5 compared to the garbage that be streaming numbers on charts n whatever