Westside Gunn’s "Big Dump Ballad" from the album 11 showcases the artist’s signature style, blending gritty lyricism with emotional storytelling. The track opens with a pitch-shifted R&B sample, immediately setting a somber yet nostalgic tone. Gunn's trademark adlibs follow, creating an engaging buildup to his opening verse. The simple yet angelic beat contrasts with his lyrics' raw, street-wise content, providing a lush backdrop for Gunn’s reflections on pain, survival, and redemption. It’s a compelling introduction that signals the depth the song will explore.
Vivid Storytelling in Verse 1
In the first verse, Westside Gunn delivers vivid storytelling, mixing personal anecdotes with broader reflections on life’s hardships. From his brother's struggles to his own battles with the law, Gunn offers listeners a glimpse into his world. His sharp imagery, like “duckin' fed investigations” and “my white fiend dancin' to this with no rhythm,” exemplifies his ability to blend street-level reality with more abstract musings. There's a sense of both power and vulnerability as he navigates through memories of imprisonment, brotherhood, and survival.
Emotional Depth with Keisha Plum's Verse
The real emotional weight of the track, however, comes with the second verse, where Keisha Plum enters. Her spoken-word performance is hauntingly beautiful, adding a layer of introspection and sorrow that complements Gunn’s grittier delivery. Plum’s poetic approach, where she speaks of filling “three Nile rivers” with tears and references to family losses and personal hardships, taps into a deeper emotional core. Her words give voice to the collective grief and struggles experienced by both Gunn and his extended Griselda family.
Thematic Connection to Griselda
Keisha Plum’s presence in the song is not only emotional but thematic. Her lines about retracing footsteps, snowflakes in her necklace courtesy of West, and carrying a legacy like a bulletproof vest, paint her as a spiritual guide of sorts within the track. Her connection to Buffalo and the Griselda movement is palpable, with her contribution rounding out the song's narrative, bridging personal pain with the collective experience of survival and loyalty.
Review of Big Dump Ballad by Westside Gunn
The song concludes with Plum’s outro, reinforcing the themes of pain, joy, and loyalty. Her final words, “Big Griselda,” serve as both a tribute to the collective and a reminder of the resilience that defines their music. Overall, "Big Dump Ballad" is a masterful display of lyrical storytelling, merging Westside Gunn's street-hardened perspective with Keisha Plum’s poetic sensitivity. The song stands out as a powerful, reflective piece in Gunn’s catalog.
Listen to Westside Gunn Big Dump Ballad
Westside Gunn Big Dump Ballad Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of "Big Dump Ballad" by Westside Gunn is a deep exploration of pain, loss, survival, and loyalty, themes that are central to both his personal life and artistic journey. The song reflects on Gunn's traumatic experiences growing up in Buffalo, his rise from hardship, and the emotional scars that have shaped him. Through vivid storytelling, Gunn navigates his relationships with family, friends, and his community, while also paying tribute to fallen comrades like MachineGun Black. Keisha Plum’s poetic verse adds an introspective layer, addressing grief, resilience, and the enduring legacy of the Griselda collective. Together, they deliver a track that blends raw emotion with street wisdom, making it a powerful reflection on life’s struggles and triumphs.
Introduction Explained
Westside Gunn opens "Big Dump Ballad" with his signature adlibs, "Grr" and "Ayo," setting a confrontational tone. These sound effects evoke gunfire and create a gritty atmosphere before the lyrics even begin. The intro’s backdrop features a pitch-shifted sample of Ace Spectrum’s "I Don’t Want to Play Around," contrasting the smooth R&B sample with Gunn’s streetwise energy. This juxtaposition highlights his ability to blend contrasting elements, establishing the emotional depth that follows.
Verse 1: Gunn’s Reflections on Pain and Success
In the first verse, Gunn delivers vivid imagery and personal reflections. He starts with, "All-black Balenci's, bomin' out the bushes (Ah)", illustrating a stealthy, aggressive image of stepping out in all-black Balenciaga shoes. He quickly transitions to a more personal tone with the line, "My heart got scars, my brother face crooked," referencing his half-brother Conway the Machine’s paralysis, the result of being shot. This mix of luxury, violence, and personal struggle forms the backbone of Gunn’s narrative. The pain deepens as he mourns the death of his cousin MachineGun Black in the line, "Oh, Lord took us from 'Chine Gun, I was devastated," a key loss for the Griselda crew.
From Prison to Success
Gunn then moves into a reflection on his own rise from Buffalo, New York, a city where "ain't nobody ever made it." His lyric, "Now we lookin' at the stores, I was just caged in," highlights how far he has come, contrasting his past incarceration with his current success. He brings in his loyalty to his long-time friend Sly Green, currently imprisoned, wishing to free him if he had three wishes. Gunn’s familial and street ties are evident in lines like "Make sure my babies live life with no ceilin'" and "Then I'd give these fuck niggas wisdom." The verse is filled with sharp imagery, from "My white fiend dancin' to this shit with no rhythm" to references to designer brands like Valentino and Pucci, once again mixing opulence with hardship.
Verse 2: Keisha Plum’s Poetic Reflection
Keisha Plum’s verse brings a shift in tone, with her poetic reflection on grief and survival. She begins with the metaphor, "I've cried enough tears to fill three Nile rivers," expressing deep emotional pain. Plum then reflects on her identity as a poet with the lines, "When did you start writin' poetry? I can't remember," showing how writing has become an intrinsic part of her life. She ties her journey to destiny, stating, "This was already destined by God, an angel born in December." As the "Coldest Plum ever," she portrays herself as both strong and resilient, speaking of her voice and words being sought after.
Big Dump Ballad Meaning: Themes of Pain, Joy, and Loyalty
Plum connects her poetry to the Griselda legacy, saying, "I make the gangstas feel cuddly and warm." Despite the harsh environment she inhabits, her words provide comfort. She reflects on past mistakes with "Retracin' my footsteps, overthinkin' the missteps" and notes the personal significance of her connection with Westside Gunn, shown in the line, "Snowflakes in my necklace, that's courtesy of West." The emotional core of her verse is seen in lines like, "The same year, my pops died" and "Impeccable chaos, writin' kept my ass alive," tying her art to survival amidst chaos. The song closes with Plum’s outro, summarizing the central themes of pain, joy, and loyalty. She notes, "We've all been through so much pain in life, but it's joy at the same time," before concluding with "Big Griselda," a tribute to the collective. Throughout "Big Dump Ballad," Westside Gunn and Keisha Plum balance street-level grit with introspective reflection, resulting in a powerful and emotionally charged track.
Westside Gunn Big Dump Ballad Lyrics
[Intro: Westside Gunn]
Grr
Grr
Ayo
[Verse 1: Westside Gunn]
All-black Balenci's, bomin' out the bushes (Ah)
My heart got scars, my brother face crooked
Oh, Lord took us from 'Chine Gun, I was devastated
I'm from a city where ain't nobody ever made it (Uh-uh)
Now we lookin' at the stores, I was just caged in
I was just Gucci'd down in Ginza, eatin' ramen
Revelations, duckin' fed investigations
All night, I seen my celly pacin', Lord, be patient
If I had three wishes, I'd want to get Sly out of prison
Make sure my babies live life with no ceilin'
Then I'd give these fuck niggas wisdom
The world might be a bеtter place, I forgive 'еm
My white fiend dancin' to this shit with no rhythm
Forty-three tucked in the Valentino denim (Boom, boom, boom)
Half a kilo, cappuccino, gold desert eagle (Boom, boom, boom)
Rich and evil, Steven Regel, Ricky "Dragon" Steamboat (Ahh)
High tops with the Pucci peacoat
Yay' residue on the C-note, my shooters still keep hope (Sniff)
He still keep faith
Teesha spot, big eight on the dinner plate
Kids cryin', roaches crawlin', super need to renovate
First nigga show up, shoot his ass, just to demonstrate (Doot, doot, doot, doot)
It's the king of New York (It's the king of New York)
(Doot, doot, doot, doot, doot)
[Verse 2: Keisha Plum]
I've cried enough tears
To fill three Nile rivers
When did you start writin' poetry?
I can't remember
This was already destined by God
An angel born in December
Coldest Plum ever (Coldest Plum ever)
They want my voice
They want my words
They want my songs
I make the gangstas feel cuddly and warm (Cuddly and warm)
Retracin' my footsteps, overthinkin' the missteps
Snowflakes in my necklace, that's courtesy of West
Carry this legacy like a bulletproof vest (Yeah)
Shot after shot of D'usse
Pour up my own troubles
Through whatever storms
Poem after poem bubbled
Wrote for Pray for Paris and WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE?
The same year, my pops died (Rest in peace, Pops)
Impeccable chaos, writin' kept my ass alive
Still stomp you out in the Louis V Timbo's
Eastside of Buffalo my birthplace, I've been throwed
Scar tissue, tear another piece of my soul
They did my boy filthy (Damn)
The night Inf was murdered
I hit West with the 9-1-1 (9-1-1)
In a state of shock and paranoia
All at once (All at once)
Felt cold, felt burnin' hot, felt numb (Felt numb)
Keep your ears to the streets (Ears to the streets, ears to the streets)
Long live Big Dump
[Outro: Keisha Plum]
Brr, yeah
Took me forever to, to write this
We've all been through so much pain in life
But it's joy at the same time
And it's loyalty over everything
Big Griselda
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