The Griselda imprint which houses Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher and Conway the Machine are the true essence of Hip Hop. Rap royalty like Erik B and Rakim, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane sported gold chains and designer clothing while their lyrics were filled with slick metaphors about coke dealing. All that being said Artist like Gunn and The Machine have made these rap pioneers proud for bringing back that authentic New York sound. The City had lost its authenticity when they adapted the Atlanta Trap Music sound and Chicago drill music as of late. The message has always been one of protest towards the music industry which is why many artist that come from hustling boldly state that they are not rappers. Artist like Westside Gunn achieved monetary success prior to rap deals which is why they have a disdain for record contracts because they are usually filled with the spirit of slavery. The luxury brands and violent imagery is geared towards the powers that be as a spit in the face while telling the system that they made it out of the trenches after being scorned with titles like Felons, Drug Dealers etc… Consider the brilliant artwork of one his most controversial album titled Hitler Wears Hermes with the reality of the who runs the music industry. The shock value and protest that this artwork recieved from the Jewish community who disseminate our music was something that Gunn had calculated. Was it his way of protesting the hierarchy within the music industry through his artwork? Or was it the sort of sophisticated ignorance that Kanye spoke about in the song titled Otis in regard to his reference about writing his curses in cursive? In one interview Kanye mentioned that he can’t be antisemitic because he is Semitic and the room suddenly went silent. In this world the truth is an offense and it’s just something that you have to learn to live with. Luxury rap is Hip Hop and a continuation of Jazz’s innovation when we consider the genesis of Hip Hop, Berry Gordy’s finishing school which was headed by Maxine Powell and Dapper Dans work in Harlem. Coming from deteriorated housing conditions post slavery we were told that we have to look presentable in front of white audiences to achieve “success”. Most of today’s artist are continuing this sort of conformity to appear on television screens. I think Westside Gunn is the rebel within the fashion industry that we need because he reduces European luxury ideals to the living conditions within the slums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCQUl12VbBM&list=OLAK5uy_lcgQhEk3NwLzsh9s1qu_VdK_YYxMlml00&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFrwm6oRYJg
Music Is Life 
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