12

About

Much like his unending devotion for wrestling and sartorial sense of streetwear, Westside Gunn perpetually seeks to put other rappers on. For this spiritual sequel to 2022’s <i>Peace “Fly” God</i> that also technically serves as the 12th installment in his <i>Hermes</i> series, the Griselda impresario once again centers Estee Nack and Stove God Cooks, who collectively and respectively appear on seven of these 11 tracks. Their joint presence on trio cuts “BOSWELL” and the Daringer-produced “VEERT” pushes the fashionably flamboyant FLYGOD back towards coke-rap braggadocio and surrounding themes of luxury amid violence. (Even as his cohorts talk street business, he still fires off a big brag about parallel parking a Bugatti.) The duo moments shine as well, with Stove reminiscing about the recipe with Gunn on “055” and Nack mixing ugly business with filthy pleasure on “BURY ME WITH A STOVE.” A standout presence on 2024’s <i>Still Praying</i>, Brother Tom Sos returns here for two songs in a move that furthers Gunn’s artistic patronage. On “HEALTH SCIENCE,” he moves the proceedings towards something resembling what used to be dubbed conscious rap, while on “GUMBO YAYA” he transforms murderous metaphors into a more principled path. Though better known for his production placements on Mach-Hommy’s <i>#RICHAXXHAITIAN</i> and Conway The Machine’s <i>Slant Face Killah</i>, Elijah Hooks makes an unexpected if rewarding appearance over Conductor Williams’ “DUMP WORLD.” The album’s sole solo joint, “OUTLANDER” allows Gunn to synthesize all of <i>12</i>’s ideas with his signature WWE nods and the mournful reflections that came to the fore on his preceding <i>11</i> EP.

via Apple Music