My 10 Favorite Westside Gunn Songs

Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Westside Gunn spits it with a high-pitched yappy voice and aggressive bars about selling cocaine and shooting people in the street. Machine-gun ad-libs aplenty. Yet he does it with a vibe that is truly his own, often over incredible soul samples. I became aware of Westside in 2018 when his record Supreme Blientele came out. At the time, I understood the appeal, but didn't really connect with the music. I don't know if it was his voice or what. Now years later, Westside Gunn is my second favorite rapper of all time. Here's my personal top 10 favorite songs from the Flygod himself.

Honorable Mentions:

"Part Deux" - This was the toughest cut. This song just has a head-knocking pace to it. I remember distinctly when I was traveling by train and bus to Virginia this was my travel song. And I got to where I was going so that's gotta count for something.

"BIG AL" - Love the dusty production on this cut. Rome Streetz opens the song with a killer verse. I especially love the way Westside delivers the lyrics "I'm godly / It was either me or him Allah, I'm sorry".

"Westside Gunn's Interlude" - Westside Gunn appears on Joyce Wrice's album Overgrown and kills his guest appearance. Spits a sexy song about fucking over an infectious instrumental.

"Draymond" On some days, this is top-three Westside Gunn. The only reason I cut it is because my main draw to this song is Rome Streetz's opening verse, of which I know every word and find myself rapping often. With this list I wanted to highlight songs Westside Gunn made the more significant contribution.

10. Kitchen Lights (feat. Stove God Cooks)

    Off 2023's And Then You Pray For Me, "Kitchen Lights" is one of the most emotional Westside Gunn songs you'll hear. The track features a beautiful instrumental that makes you feel like you're at a ballet during Christmastime. Westside starts the song asking "You ever have to watch your moms get beat? / Roaches crawling, crackpipe on the bathroom sink". This imagery immediately brings you into the world and Stove God Cook's chorus just takes it over the top. "Them bricks shine different under them kitchen lights" will be playing at every December get-together for the foreseeable future.

9. 327 (feat. Joey Bada$$, Tyler, the Creator & Billie Esco)

   "I swear Paris will be prayed for". Everyone brings it on this song. Westside Gunn comes in and absolutely glides over this beat. Joey comes in next and spits a great verse littered with standout earworms, such as "How could I lose? / The shit that these fools'll do to be in my shoes / I'm done playin' by rules". And then Tyler spazzes to end the track. Something about Westside really makes this motherfucker wanna rap. When this song came out was around the time I started to get into Westside.

8. Shootouts In Soho (feat. A$AP Rocky & Stove God Cooks)

   Off 2022's 10, this song has one of my favorite Westside beats ever. "My chef been whippin' for three days straight" asserts Gunn to kick this song off. Rocky comes in after and flows like water over the production. And then you get Stove God coming in and delivering the perfect "I can't talk to you right now, baby, I'm cookin' dope". 2023 this was my most played song of the year. On some days this is top-three Westside.

7. Brain Flew By (1964 Version)

This song is sinister. Maybe the most Halloween-sounding song Westside has ever made, other than maybe "Jalen Rose". "Shot him up close, the n***** brains flew by / Bye" Westside repeats on the chorus. This one is particularly visceral, even for Westside. Love his storytelling on this one.

6. Lunchin

   The ultimate nostalgic Westside Gunn track. On the chorus Westside raps "I want me and my n***** to have back-to-back yachts" followed by the heartbreaking "One n**** thought he had hops, tried to jump the fence, Lord / Why he do that? His kids never seen him since, Lord" This is another one that just feels stuck in a different time. Like your older brother showed it to you along with a violent PS2 game. And I never even had an older brother.

5. Gorilla Monsoon (feat. MF DOOM)

   Now that he's gone, I'm eternally grateful for the MF DOOM/Westside Gunn collaborations we do have. This one has to be the best. The song puts you in an evil lair. Westside starts out with the hilarious "I was in my cell / I clicked my heels 3 times" and later hits "My bedroom had a bedroom / My wrist be dancin'". DOOM comes in like a philosopher from the shadows. "You see, some deal dope, others steal hope / What's revealed is of a certain feel, grope" And he concludes the song with the cinematic "I make it faster that you spend it / End it".

4. Amherst Station

   I know I'm saying this about every song but this might be his best beat. This is the perfect intersection of Westside's style. Spitting "ayo"s and "doot-doot-doot"s all over a beautiful chopped up soul sample. You even get an intro from his son. This one is just timeless. "Like I do, like I do" while Westside hits his machine-gun ad-lib just scratches the right part of my brain.

3. Margiela Split Toes (feat. Mach-Hommy)

   This beat makes you feel like you're riding a bike through an old timey part of your life. The horns are just perfect. "Ayo my Richard Mille look like a G-Shock/ You think you fuckin' with me? I think not" God I love this beat. This has to be a popular one amongst Westside Gunn fans. Westside just has that ability to make you feel nostalgic and you don't even know what for.

2. RIGHT NOW (feat. Stove God Cooks & Jadakiss)

   "Tell 'em bring the biggest scale to me right now / Imma cook the whole thanggggg, right now". This song is just addictive. "Sign my name on the cocaineeeeee, right now". Not to mention the hypnotizing looping instrumental. I could have this one repeat all day and I believe I've done just that.

1. Gustavo (feat. Keisha Plum)

   Was there ever any doubt? Not really. After so many listens this is still the one I come back to the most. Simple refrain: "Every day, make money and pray / Gustavo" which is a reference to Pablo Escobar's cousin and right hand man, Gustavo Gavira. There's just something about this one. Everything I love about Westside Gunn can be boiled down to this song. It's simple, vibey, catchy. "Every day, make money and pray / Gustavo".