Even though the MCs of Griselda Records (Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher) have been grinding for years, it wasn’t until 2018 that they really started to get proper recognition for their music and movement. With all three of the main lyricists dropping critically-acclaimed albums last year, they managed to stack up some major co-signs by year’s end, including JAY-Z, Questlove, Phonte, Joe Budden, and Charlamagne Tha God.

One of the biggest spotlights put on the group thus far is their Rap Radar podcast interview that went live on December 26, 2018. The almost hour-long interview conducted by Elliot Wilson and Brian “B.Dot” Miller just became available, so it is the first chance for fans that don’t subscribe to the streaming service, to see the conversation.

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While many Heads have started to take note of Griselda’s quality output, most have been wondering what is happening with their Shady Records deal and how it came to be. At the 28:00 mark Wilson asks exactly that, and interestingly, Gunn states that they weren’t really looking for a deal. “We was always independent. I had went over there [and] was dealing with them at first looking for management. I always really wanted to stay independent.” However, it’s hard to deny an offer from one of the most successful Hip-Hop labels ever. He follows with, “Once they just started hearing the music and talking to me more, that’s when Paul talked to Marshall, and they was just like, nah, let’s give them a label situation. And the first artists were me and Conway. His album is done. I’m going to start working on mine in ’19.”

The Machine then says, point blank, “I consider it the illest sh*t in probably the last two decades.” And Wes emphasizes the assertion by adding, “That sh*t stupid! He got some people on there too that you wouldn’t even…big boys on it.” It looks like 2019 will be even bigger for the Buffalo spitters than 2018.