An underdog from the underground, Buffalo-bred rapper Westside Gunn brings the sounds of '90s hardcore rap into the 21st century alongside his brother and fellow emcee Conway. With their tales of street life, drugs, and gun violence, the pair have employed sample-heavy production in the gritty East Coast tradition of the Lox, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, and the Wu-Tang Clan. In addition to his work with Conway and their Griselda labelmates, Westside Gunn branched out on his own with a series of Hitler Wears Hermes mixtapes issued in the 2010s, as well as solo albums such as Flygod (2016), Supreme Blientele (2018), and Pray for Paris (2020), the latter of which cracked the upper half of the Billboard 200. The lengthy, guest-heavy full-length And Then You Pray for Me appeared in 2023 and reached the Top 30 of the same chart. The EP 11 and a mixtape, Still Praying, were released almost simultaneously in 2024.

Born Alvin Lamar Worthy in Buffalo, New York, Westside Gunn started rapping at a young age. In high school, he joined with Conway (born Demond Price) and fellow rappers Benny the Butcher and Machine Gun Black as the Forerunners. They stuck together over the years and in the early 2010s, they founded Griselda Records. In addition to output as Westside Gunn & Conway, Worthy began issuing his own mixtapes, including the Hitler Wears Hermes series, which kicked off in 2012. With his strong, steady rhymes and often laid-back production, he released five installments of the Hermes series into 2017. 

His debut studio full-length, Flygod, arrived in 2016 and featured appearances by Benny, Conway, Roc Marciano, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, and more, as well as production by Statik Selektah and the Alchemist. In 2017, Griselda inked a deal with Eminem's Shady Records, which graduated Westside Gunn to the majors. That same year, he hopped onto a collaboration with MF Doom titled WestsideDoom, and a year later he issued his sophomore LP, Supreme Blientele, which featured many familiar faces from Flygod, as well as new guests Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Anderson .Paak, and producers Pete Rock and 9th Wonder. 

After Griselda hit the Top Ten of Billboard's R&B/hip-hop and rap charts with WWCD, Westside issued the solo album Pray for Paris in April 2020. DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, the Alchemist, and Tyler, The Creator were among the contributors to the set, which entered the Billboard 200 at number 67 and the R&B/hip-hop chart at 39. A second Gunn album, Who Made the Sunshine, was initially set for release that August, but it was delayed following the death of longtime Griselda Records collaborator DJ Shay from COVID-19. The album eventually appeared in October 2020 and featured appearances by Benny, Conway, Slick Rick, Black Thought, and others. Two tracks, "Julia Lang" and "TV Boy," arrived in March 2021 as the first songs released off Gunn's mixtape Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely, Adolf. Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B followed. The mixtapes Peace "Fly" God and 10 (the final installment in the Hitler Wears Hermes series) appeared in 2022. The studio album And Then You Pray for Me arrived in 2023, boasting guests like Rick Ross, DJ Drama, Denzel Curry, and Boldy James. It reached number 29 on the Billboard 200. In 2024, Gunn issued the EP 11 as well as the DJ Drama-hosted mixtape Still Praying. ~ Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi

Yannick "Thurz" Koffi is a multifaceted artist, entrepreneur, and cultural innovator who has continuously pushed the boundaries of music, art, and business. Hailing from Inglewood, California, Thurz first gained widespread attention as one half of the critically acclaimed hip-hop duo U-N-I, where he carved out a lane for alternative hip-hop with thought-provoking lyrics and innovative sounds.
As a solo artist, Thurz's music dives deep into personal experiences, blending introspective storytelling with empowering messages. His work is a reflection of his journey through life, family, and the ever-changing music industry. Over the years, Thurz has worked with a diverse array of artists and producers, including collaborations with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Hit-Boy, DJ Quik, Buddy, Ro Blvd, and GALA Music, to name a few.
Beyond music, Thurz is also the mastermind behind Party In My Living Room (PIMLR), an independent platform that began as an intimate house party and has since evolved into a community movement celebrating art, culture, and live music. His ventures have forged powerful partnerships with brands like Goldenvoice, Coachella, and Universal Pictures, helping him transition from the stage to entrepreneurship.
Thurz's latest project, "YANNICK KOFF IN TIME," represents the culmination of his artistic and personal evolution. The album is a 24-hour day in the life of Thurz and the love of his life, offering an immersive journey through love, confidence, empowerment, and nostalgia. Through collaborations with artists like Ro Blvd, he continues to break new ground, blending classic sounds with modern storytelling.
From his pioneering role in the independent hip-hop scene to his entrepreneurial efforts in the digital and physical worlds, Thurz embodies an artist who is always evolving, always building, and always in tune with the culture that shapes him.

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