Westside Gunn finally drops his Shady debut.

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TOP 5

HONORABLE MENTION. ALL PRAISES

Westside Gunn lets Boldy James and Jadakiss shine on “All Praises.”

I admit, one of the only reasons I like “All Praises” is because Jadakiss is on it. Don’t get me wrong, I love Westside Gunn’s willingness to sound like William Hung on the song, and definitely think that Boldy James puts up one of the grungiest verses I’ve ever heard, but at the end of the day, the way Jadakiss slides on the song’s unfinished beat is unmatched. I also f**k with Jada’s harder than a rock lyrics.

5. OCEAN PRIME

You have to listen to Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes’ respective verses on “Ocean Prime.”

You have to listen to Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes‘ respective verses on “Ocean Prime.” You have to listen to Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes’ respective verses on “Ocean Prime.” You have to listen to Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes’ respective verses on “Ocean Prime.” You have to listen to Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes’ respective verses on “Ocean Prime.” You have to listen to Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes’ respective verses on “Ocean Prime.” You have to listen to Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes’ respective verses on “Ocean Prime.”

Aside from Slick Rick and Busta Rhymes’ amazing verses, “Ocean Prime” also boasts a comforting street instrumental and a wacky verse by Westside Gunn.

4. ISHKABIBBLE

“Ishkabibble” sounds like some heat that was made with a spoon, a cup, a table, and two dudes that are ambitious freestylers.

You get one of Westside Gunn’s best verses on “Ishkabibble.” Throughout it, he hurls out his bars like they were written in cursive. He also reminds the world that he is in love with the streets.

Black Thought is so slept on, right? In my opinion, he can go bar for bar with any rapper in the game. On “Ishkabibble,” he puts up one of the most impressive rap performances that I’ve heard this year. Not only does he match Westside Gunn’s heinous energy on the song, but he also gifts us with some pretty clever punchlines.

Yes, I Googled Ishkabibble…

3. THE BUTCHER AND THE BLADE

“The Butcher and The Blade” takes on the persona of every other Griselda posse cut.

As expected, “The Butcher and The Blade” features a bunch of gun noises, a cold-ass beat, poor singing, killer punchlines, steady flows, and all-kinds of deliveries. The song also features one of the sickest titles I’ve ever heard in my life.

I just love how Benny The Butcher, Westside Gunn, and Conway The Machine kill s**t in their own unique ways.

2. GOOD NIGHT

Westside Gunn and Slick Rick do some storytelling on “Good Night.”

“Good Night” isn’t for the squeamish. On the song, you get a cold-ass instrumental, a heinous verse by Westside Gunn in which he talks about revenge murders, and a sick-ass verse by Slick Rick in which he talks about messy deals that led to torture.

Slick Rick has two very good verses on this WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE album.

1. 98 SABERS

Griselda’s finest shine on “98 Sabers.”

Do you know what “98 Sabres” reminds me of? “4 DA FAM” by Roc-A-Fella. Armani Caesar is Griselda’s Amil on the song, Conway The Machine is Griselda’s Beanie Sigel on the song, Westside Gunn is Griselda’s Memphis Bleek on the song, and Benny The Butcher is Griselda’s Jay-Z on the song. Even the beat that powers “98 Sabers” reminds me of the beat that powers “4 DA FAM.”

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. SUNSHINE INTRO (N/A)

2. THE BUTCHER AND THE BLADE (4/5)

3. ISHKABIBBLE’S (5/5)

4. ALL PRAISES (3/5)

5. BIG BASHA’S (4/5)

6. LIZ LOVES LUGER (4/5)

7. OCEAN PRIME (4/5)

8. LASSIE (3/5)

9. FRANK MURPHY (3/5)

10. GOOD NIGHT (4/5)

11. 98 SABRES (5/5)

OVERALL RATING

(B)

In this f**ked up year that we are currently living in right now, ironically, the dark-ass group that is Griselda has been a bright spot. Literally, I have applauded every single album the group has dropped. Today, the most outlandish member from Griselda, Westside Gunn, dropped an album in WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE that is yet another gem.

If you didn’t grow up listening to street rap, you will probably be very confused by the music that you hear on WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE. Not only does the album feature beats that sound like it hasn’t had its coffee yet, but you also get obnoxious adlibs, outlandish singing performances, crazy rap deliveries, borderline demented lyrics, and random features on the album. So why do I think the album deserves a B grade then? Because it keeps you glued to your seat at all times. As someone who is as hood as Carrot Top at this point of my life, I find it intriguing to hear a dude in Westside Gunn that doesn’t mind letting you know what the streets sound like in every kind of way. I also find it intriguing to hear Gunn and his comrades tackle topics like drug-dealing, violence, sex, and more with a level of bluntness that would make the average person feel uncomfortable. All in all, WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE is equivalent to a horror movie that you cover your eyes for during gory scenes but keep watching because you want to know how it ultimately turns out.