Within the transient trends of hip, some artists have stood stubbornly through the tides as pillars of genuineness and integrity. Conway has spent the last decade crafting a career that defies convention and embraces raw honesty. His trek from the streets and the shadows of the underground rap scene to a more mainstream spotlight is not just a story of resilience, but a testament to the power of artistry in its purest form.
The half-brother of Griselda Records founder Westside Gunn and the cousin of Benny the Butcher, Conway clearly inherited a rare gene for rapping. Born and raised in the heart of Buffalo, he was forced to learn how to navigate its unsympathetic streets with grit and confidence. The hard callouses developed by his younger years can be immediately felt when he comes on a track, as the subject matter of his music is deeply reminiscent of the gangsta rap being made in the 90s.
It was during his darkest moments that Conway proved he was built for success. After being in and out of prison in his twenties, he emerged with a newfound sense of purpose, aiming to make his mark on the world through his music. It was during this time that he dropped his debut album, T2: The Machine.
Still, peace eschewed him as he was shot several times in his head, neck, and shoulder. This left him partially paralyzed on the left side of his face, a harrowing twist of fate that most haven’t lived to tell the tale of. Yet, Conway refused to be defeated.
Instead, Conway turned to music as a lifeline, a means of channeling his pain, his struggles, and his triumphs into art. The impassioned feeling of a burning desire to reach the top of the mountain pervades his music.
His partnership with Griselda Records marked a landmark moment in his career, catapulting him from the streets of Buffalo to the forefront of the underground hip-hop scene. With mixtapes like The Devil’s Reject, Conway flaunted his lyrical prowess and candid, piercing storytelling, establishing a devoted fanbase and the respect of his peers. The triumvirate of Conway the Machine, Westside Gunn, and Benny the Butcher was becoming harder to ignore.
But it was his collaboration with Shady Records that truly solidified his status as a force to be reckoned with in the rap game. Teaming up with Eminem on “Bang,” Conway proved that he could not only hold his own alongside one of the best to ever pick up the pen, but set the bar at a height that Eminem was comfortable with during his prime.
However, it was his solo projects like Look What I Became and From King to a GOD that truly showcased the evolution of his artistic vision. With these albums, he further cemented his reputation as one of hip-hop’s most formidable rappers, earning critical acclaim and commercial success in equal measure. It was around this time young folks such as myself were given sufficient ammo to fully counter old heads’ claim that “real rap is dead.”
Conway never fails to live up to the name of The Machine—his consistency is by far one of the most inspirational aspects of his career. With nearly thirty albums under his belt since the start of his career, you could count his misses on one hand. Not to mention the countless features he’s done for Griselda artists and hip-hop legends like The Alchemist, Royce da 5’9”, and DMX.
Few rappers in recent history have been capable of putting out the quantity and quality of music present in his discography. Despite his lack of mainstream hits, he’s left an enduring impact on modern hip-hop by remaining true to his first instinct: to spit gritty 16s over soulfully grimy beats. And while you may not hear this influence on a Billboard 100 topping song by Drake, plenty of artists in recent years have used Conway and his contemporaries as a reference point for their artistic direction.
What sets Conway apart most is his unwavering authenticity. In an industry undeniably plagued by kayfabe and catchy trends, Conway has stayed ten toes down to his roots. His music has served as a reflection of his life’s story, from his darkest moments to his loudest triumphs. To those lacking any form of cultural context for East Coast hip-hop, Conway the Machine songs may seem like the same old thing you hear on the radio sometimes. The difference lies in the fact that he’s actually lived through the things he raps about.
With a discography that boasts nearly thirty albums and a plethora of features alongside rap legends, Conway’s consistency and credibility have left a significant mark on the genre. Despite leaving Griselda Records in 2022 to maximize his financial independence, that gritty sound we know him from has not dissipated in the slightest. As he continues to evolve and inspire, Conway the Machine stands as a testament to the enduring power of perseverance, work ethic, and nonconformity.