Whether or not you choose to accept Westside Gunn’s claim that And Then You Pray for Me will be his final album, it nonetheless serves as a Griselda victory lap. The Buffalo-bred independent rap mogul spent more than a decade putting his city on the map, mixtape by mixtape, with brethren Conway the Machine and Benny the Butcher completing a trifecta of New York hip-hop excellence. Presented as a sequel to the 2020 sensation Pray for Paris, the 21-track effort showcases cover design work by the late Virgil Abloh, whose influence and impact on the fashion-forward rapper remains undeniable. It is in that same spirit of camaraderie and creativity that this highly collaborative project arrives, with Griselda crew members and other cohorts joining on nearly every track. Among those sermonising within this trap house of worship are current signees Boldy James and Estee Nack, along with noteworthy guests such as Denzel Curry, Jeezy and Ty Dolla $ign. Forever shouting catchphrases and quips, DJ Drama enjoys a good run across a couple of tracks, including the Conductor Williams-helmed “Suicide in Selfridges”, while Rick Ross delivers on a long-awaited dream team-up with “DunnHill”. Stove God Cooks, his long-promised Griselda album still simmering in the pot, proves nearly as ubiquitous here as Gunn himself, dropping one of the album’s most memorable verses on “KITCHEN LIGHTS”. Hopefully putting to bed the constant media rumour-mongering about the core trio’s personal standings, Conway and Benny join in for “Kostas”, a Tay Keith production that enhances their narco energy.