Westside Gunn Looks to Legacy, Wrestling & Final Rap Chapter

The Buffalo-born rapper and entrepreneur is shifting focus to fashion, wrestling, and nurturing new talent as he plans to step back from music.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Westside Gunn, the acclaimed Buffalo rapper, is entering 2026 with a renewed focus on legacy, family, and diversifying his creative portfolio beyond music. In addition to the critical success of his 2025 album "12", Gunn has made strides in fashion and launched his own wrestling promotion, Fourth Rope. As he prepares for his first international tour, Gunn hints that Awesome God 3 may be his final rap album, allowing him to devote more time to art, fashion, and developing new talent.

Why it matters

Westside Gunn's shift away from music towards other creative ventures like fashion and wrestling represents an evolution in his career and a desire to cement his legacy beyond just his acclaimed rap discography. His decision to potentially step back from recording albums signals a changing landscape in hip-hop, where veteran artists are finding new ways to remain relevant and impactful.

The details

Gunn's 2025 album "12" was a personal response to the death of his brother, Big Dump, and he sees it as a modern-day classic. The album's success has allowed him to expand into fashion collaborations and launch his wrestling promotion, Fourth Rope, which he co-owns with Smoke DZA. Gunn is deeply involved in the creative aspects of Fourth Rope, writing storylines and ensuring a high-quality experience for attendees. Musically, 2026 will see the release of "Awesome God 3" in March, which Gunn hints may be his final rap album, allowing him to focus on art, fashion, and nurturing emerging talent.

  • Westside Gunn's 2025 album "12" was released.
  • Gunn is preparing for his first international tour, kicking off with a show at Paris Fashion Week in 2026.
  • Gunn plans to release "Awesome God 3" in March 2026, which he suggests may be his final rap album.

The players

Westside Gunn

A Buffalo-born rapper and entrepreneur who is shifting his focus towards fashion, wrestling, and developing new talent.

Big Dump

Westside Gunn's brother, whose death inspired Gunn's 2025 album "12".

Smoke DZA

Westside Gunn's co-owner of the Fourth Rope wrestling promotion.

Conway the Machine

A member of the Griselda collective, with whom Gunn hints at potential future collaborations.

Benny the Butcher

A member of the Griselda collective, with whom Gunn hints at potential future collaborations.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was kind of like I was just not wanting to do sh*t anymore, for real, but then something just came over me. I just wanted to do a classic. A modern-day classic, which I felt 12 was. It's phenomenal from top to bottom.”

— Westside Gunn (newsdirectory3.com)

“Heels is just a mixtape series to me. I'm just going in there, dumping and just having fun. It's no expectations. I have my Fourth Rope company, Black-owned, independent wrestling that's going crazy. Our shows are called Heels Have Eyes. It was just one of those things where I wanted to co-brand with Griselda Records and Fourth Rope, putting a lot of people onto Fourth Rope that wasn't familiar yet.”

— Westside Gunn (newsdirectory3.com)

“It's an escape for me. It's therapy for me. It keeps the kid in me alive and everybody needs that.”

— Westside Gunn (newsdirectory3.com)

“Even if you don't know the wrestlers—you might be coming just because you know Griselda, you know Smoke DZA—but when you leave, you're a Fourth Rope fan for sure, 100 percent. We make sure every match is giving you something.”

— Westside Gunn (newsdirectory3.com)

“I honestly feel Awesome God 3 will be my last album. After that, let me focus on art. Let me focus on fashion. Let me focus on making other people better. Respectfully, I don't want to be the 50-year-old rapper.”

— Westside Gunn (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

Westside Gunn is preparing for his first international tour, kicking off with a show at Paris Fashion Week in 2026.

The takeaway

Westside Gunn's shift away from music towards other creative ventures like fashion and wrestling represents an evolution in his career and a desire to cement his legacy beyond just his acclaimed rap discography. His decision to potentially step back from recording albums signals a changing landscape in hip-hop, where veteran artists are finding new ways to remain relevant and impactful.