Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 110 Best Albums of the 2010s, representing a varied cross-section of artists, genres, and styles. Click “Next Album” below to explore each album in the list or for easier navigation, view the full introduction & album index here.
WESTSIDE GUNN | FLYGOD
Griselda Records (2016)
Selected by Daryl McIntosh
Buffalo, New York has shocked the world in becoming the new capital of hardcore hip-hop, led by the homegrown movement of the independent label Griselda Records. Longtime followers of hip-hop may be reminded of another underdog locale reigning supreme in the highly competitive market of the Big Apple, when Wu-Tang Clan planted the flag of Staten Island atop the rap world in the early ‘90s. Similarly, FLYGOD lands as the signature LP for the Griselda crew, serving as the musical manifesto of the entire movement. Capturing fashion, slang, and street aura, WestSide Gunn’s FLYGOD overachieves and resonates with listeners like Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995) did more than 20 years ago, solidifying the entire Griselda movement’s place in modern hip-hop.
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