Griselda Records founder and recording artist Westside Gunn (born Alvin Lamar Worthy) has parted ways with Eminem’s Shady Records imprint. That revelation was made public over the weekend when Gunn made a visit to The Joe Budden Podcast.
“I’m off Shady. I’m actually a free agent. It feels great. Who Made The Sunshine was it. I already spoke to [Shady Records co-founder Paul Rosenberg]. Everything’s good. Like, everything’s signed, sealed, and delivered. I have my paperwork. I’m off Shady,” declared Westside Gunn.
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The Griselda collective released its first Shady Records compilation in 2019. WWCD featured contributions by Buffalo emcees Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and Benny The Butcher as well as in-house producer Daringer. Eminem even made an appearance on “Bang (Remix).” Raekwon and 50 Cent were featured on WWCD too.
There have been rumblings for a while that the Griselda rappers were unhappy about their relationship with Shady. A week ago, Conway caused confusion on social media after he sent out a cryptic tweet that simply read, “I’m not f##### wit none of them n##### no more.”
Twitter users began speculating whether Conway was directing that message at Shady Records, the BET Hip Hop Awards for not nominating him for Lyricist of the Year, or perhaps another institution or person. The vague Conway tweet came five months after Westside Gunn wrote on Twitter, “I wonder do @ShadyRecords know we’re nominated for a BET AWARD tonight.”
I wonder do @ShadyRecords know we’re nominated for a BET AWARD tonight 🤔🤔
— WESTSIDEGUNN (@WESTSIDEGUNN) June 28, 2020
The 38-year-old performer/executive dropped his 2020 projects Pray for Paris and Flygod is an Awesome God II via Griselda Records. October’s Who Made The Sunshine studio LP was credited as a Shady Records/Interscope Records release. Westside Gunn and Benny The Butcher are still listed under the management of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
“I WANT TO THANK the SHADY staff for believing in me early S/O to @mikaelherard it was a journey & a great learning experience and to Big @rosenberg he’s a man of his word much XO,” tweeted Westside Gunn on November 14. He also reposted a few tweets from fans that showed appreciation for his appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast.
