To some, Buffalo is known as a cold place that might be near New York City that invented some great chicken wings. To others, it’s the city that Josh Allen plays in. When I think of Buffalo, I see it as the city home to one of the best rap labels of all time, Griselda. The Buffalo label is primarily known for its three-headed snake of MCs: Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher.
If you want to slightly understand their dynamic, Benny paints it beautifully on his track “Mr. Chow Hall” when he says, “They say West is the brains, and Benny is the star/Conway the silliest with the bars, well, I couldn’t agree more.” Each member has created their own lane and has started to sign their own artists, only furthering their influence on the current state of hip-hop.
The label also features other incredibly talented rappers like Mach-Hommy, Boldy James, Rome Streetz, Stove God Cooks, Armani Caesar, Jay Worthy, Estee Nack, and YN Billy. I highly suggest every one of these artists, but for the sake of this article, I will only be talking about tracks that feature West, Conway, and Benny. Sadly, I didn’t include one of my favorite tracks from them ever, “The Old Groove.” Shout out to Novel, though; his verse is amazing. Below is my ranking of the best Griselda posse cuts ranked one to ten, and I hope you enjoy!
10. Spurs 3
Explanation
Every Griselda track is grimy, and this one is no exception. This track is on Conway’s album From King To A God, so you know he would talk his shit. West came into the studio on his rapping shit this day. Benny comes in with his usual intensity and coins that this song sounds like the third installment in Conway’s “Spurs” trilogy. Good decision.
Best Verse: Conway
I love when Con lists all the different journalists and big figures in hip-hop to show how Griselda is one of the most impactful groups ever.
Best Line: “Ask B Dot and Elliot, they will tell you yes/Ask my n**** Mal and Joe Budden, they can tell you best/Ask the homie Wayno and ’em, they’ll confess/Lotta albums are suddenly startin’ to feel a lil’ more Griselda-esque”
This line is just so raw. Talk your shit, Conway.
9. Brutus
Explanation
As a Buckeye alumni, I’m already biased by the title of this track. I know they’re not referencing Ohio State, but for my sake, I’d like to think that they are. Once I got past my love for the title, I fell in love with the beat. The sirens in the beginning are so sick.
Best Verse: Conway
He’s got too many great lines on this one. Almost every single bar makes you just shake your head.
Best Line: “In my trap, everybody weighing like it’s Keenan house”
This was a hard choice. It was between this and his Donovan Mitchell bar. I’m a massive fan of when rappers bend a word to fit their simile – in this case, making a Wayans brother reference.
8. Allah Sent Me
Explanation
Another Griselda track, another perfect grimy beat. The only thing keeping this song from being higher on this list is that West’s singing on the chorus is hit or miss with me, depending on the day I listen. I’ll say this a few times on this list, but I love when rappers trade bars back and forth, and they do it flawlessly here.
Best Verse: All of ’em
As I said above, I love when artists go bar for bar, and all three delivered.
Best Line: “My n**** did twenty up north, he don’t act the same/Take him to Rolling Loud, he tryna snatch a rapper chain”
What can I say, this line is so damn grimy and funny.
7. Cruiser Weight Coke
Explanation
Jeez, do those drums hit instantly when you press play on this one. This track sounds like a movie with all the sound effects going on in the background. It’s so damn grimy. Conway flows slowly, and his verse sinks into the beat. Then you have Benny hop in and pick up the pace. West comes in with a nice few seconds of the most addicting adlibs in rap. I can’t say this is his best verse ever, but this was an amazing track all around.
Best Verse: Benny
I love how Conway opens this track. He sets the gritty scene instantly. He perfectly sets the stage for Benny to come in with his faster flow, and that’s what hooks me. This one is a flip of the coin, and today, it’s Benny.
Best Line: “When I’m gettin’ into fish weight I don’t need bait or a tackle box/I’m a real dope boy, n****, on my birthday I got a half a block”
Benny says everything from deep within his chest. You can feel every line he spits in his verses, and this one hit the hardest for me.
6. Moselle
Explanation
This beat in headphones is crazy. I love the piano, and I don’t even know what the sound effect in the back is. A wind-chime, maybe? Add one of those weird sounds on a beat, and you’ll have my curiosity. If you rap like these guys on said type-beat, you’ll have my attention. This whole WWCD album is full of the most Griselda-sounding type-beats, and they all make me fall in love.
Best Verse: Benny
On this one, Benny brought the most energy. Each man delivered, but he was on one. On this whole WWCD album, it kind of sounds like Benny lost his voice. That might be partly because, according to Conway, the album was recorded in two days. How that is possible is a conversation for another day. All that being said, something about his voice adds so much intensity to this verse.
Best Line: “I’m 5’8″ but 6’11” if I stand on my bricks”
I mean, these guys paint pictures so effortlessly. I love their ability to display their humor with their lines.
5. Scotties
Explanation
Another song choice, another impeccable beat. This shit just sounds dangerous. Like with “ALLAH SENT ME,” I love when rappers go back and forth between lines, and West and Con go off using that style. West adlibs only add to the magic that is this song.
Best Verse: West and Conway
I love Benny’s solo verse, but there’s just something about the style of going back and forth that will always have my ears perked up.
Best Line: “This Louis V shit, Virgil designed it/I got shot and a few n***** got murdered behind it”
Any lines referencing the insane events that Conway survived will always be the most gritty sounding bars ever. This mix of flexing his style while also referencing the injuries he’s survived will make any rap fan get shivers. It’s like 50 Cent’s lines on “Many Men.”
4. Hell on Earth, Pt. 2
Explanation
Sometimes on these posse cuts, you get a verse from Gunn that’s more melodic and adlib-centric. When he gets in his rapping bag, he has the ability to make a timeless record. I love the “Hallelujah” sample at the end of his verse before Benny comes in. I don’t really know how to explain this beat, but I’m obsessed with the drums. It still hurts my chest when Benny says, “Should’ve got a Grammy nod, but fuck it though ’cause Royce and Freddie family ties.” I need them to squash the beef for my own self-absorbed rap-loving reasons. ASAP!
Best Verse: Conway
Conway always impresses me with his verses. His wordplay and laid back flow consistently catch my ear. It never goes unnoticed for me that he’s doing this while also having half of his face paralyzed.
Best Line: “Used to serve yay, wordplay on Big Pun level/Smoke come out the barrel when the gun settled/Know some gangstas in Arizona playin’ the field like the Sun devil”
I love Con’s sports references. He also told no lies when comparing his wordplay to the late great Big Pun. He’s really him.
3. George Bondo
Explanation
Oooooo that classic Griselda piano roll type-beat. This is probably my favorite version of this type of beat that they’ve ever used. All three of these men were rapping like the rent was due. I find each verse addicting to rap along to. All three come in with a different vibe, but it creates something perfect when put together.
Best Verse: Benny
Benny’s verse is lethal, top to bottom. He even threw in a clever Patrick Kane line. Benny has that battle-rapper-type vocal inflection, and over this beat, it absolutely delivers.
Best Line: “If thou steal from FLYGOD, that’s a sin/It ain’t another rapper that’s alive that can match my pen”
I love the phrasing of this line from Conway. He’s also speaking truthfully. Not too many rappers can match this man’s pen.
2. Chef Dreds
Explanation
It’s my third time saying it, but my favorite songs in hip-hop are when MCs trade off going line for line. This is probably my favorite example ever of rappers doing it. These men are at the top of their pen game and start their album WWCD in full force. This song gets me going like no other.
Best Verse: All of ’em
There’s not much else to say besides for what’s written above. All three men went bar for bar back and forth and absolutely killed it.
Best Line: “The wrist freeze, diamonds dancin’ like Chris Breeze”
This line just makes me laugh. What a bar from Conway
1. DR BIRDS
Explanation
If I’m remembering correctly, this was the first Griselda song I fell in love with. The beat, chef’s kiss. Gunn’s verses can be an acquired taste, and this is one of his best ever in my humble opinion. You can catch me in the gym yelling, “All my foreign’s red, it make me feel special.” Conway comes in with one of my favorite flows ever, which Benny borrows for part of his incredible verse. If someone asked me to show them a song that defines Griselda Records, it’s “DR BIRDS.”
Best Verse: Conway
Although West might have the best line on the song, Conway stole the show for me with his verse. His flow is one of my favorites from any rapper ever. Benny even borrowed it for a small portion of his verse. I just love rapping along with it. Something about the rhyme scheme is just so pleasing to me.
Best Line: “Told Virgil write ‘Brick’ on my brick”
This line encapsulates a lot of what Griselda does with just one bar. Their ability to connect pop culture, whether it be fashion, sports, or art, to their stories of drug dealing is up there with the best rappers ever. This may be the most famous line any of the three MCs has ever spit. It’s funny and, for some reason, so addicting. I’ve even caught my friend, who does not enjoy this music, saying this line in his room.
