Shenead Poroosotum
Updated: Apr 29
Standing as a trailblazing American hip-hop collective, Griselda is more than a label. It's a brand, a livelihood and a theme that continues its meteoric rise to fame across the globe. Founded in the vibrant city of Buffalo, New York in 2012, Griselda emerged from the visionary minds of leading members Westside Gunn, his brother Conway the Machine, and Mach-Hommy. Their label's name, a nod to the notorious Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco, encapsulates its gritty allure and unapologetic authenticity. Yet, Griselda is not merely a trio; it's a powerhouse of talent, boasting names such as Benny the Butcher, Armani Caesar, Rome Streetz, and more. Those heavily into the sounds of grimy New York hip-hop and wanting to delve into the lives lived by these members who were running the streets, Griselda continues to speak on real lived experiences and grandiose livelihoods with outstandingly produced beats from not just their in-house producer Daringer, but also The Alchemist or Conductor Williams to name a few, ramping up their success and popularity in the hip-hop space and widening their audience.
Having this been his second show in London, where his first debut was at the infamous Jazz Cafe, Conway The Machine was nothing short of formidable whilst wanting to make his time worthwhile. Intro'ed by Rome Streetz for a short set to get us hyped, he performed some of his more popular tracks such as 'Serving' which has been doing numbers on TikTok from his 2022 album KISS THE RING as well as some features like 'Peri Peri', a Westside Gunn track from 2021 or 'The Revenge of Flips Leg' from And Then You Pray For Me, that the crowd most definitely appreciated.
Photography credit Shenead Poroosotum
With the continuous head-bobbing and ultra-cool atmosphere, the crowd jeered in anticipation to then finally erupt in cheers when Conway The Machine stepped out in stage with all the lights off and himself and his extensive crew behind him illuminated by phone torches, as requested by the rapper himself. Adorned in a custom deep blue Avirex jacket, glistening diamond-studded with his label Drumwork's logo, he performed a mixture of newer tracks from last years release WON'T HE DO IT as well as cultural classics from their first and only joint Griselda project WWCD like 'DR BIRDS'. Conway The Machine wasted no time in getting straight into it and giving us what we wanted, including a performance of 'The Cow', one of their rawer tracks back from 2016 much to the crowds delight. "We're not done yet!" Conway stated and continued to showcase his discography with vigour.
Having successfully conquered London and other UK cities as he continues on his EU tour, we can only wait to see if we'll be blessed with other Griselda members touching down later down the line.