10 Things You Didn’t Know about Conway the Machine

Best known for being part of the hip-hop group Griselda, Conway the Machine has become highly respected for his lyrical prowess. His ability to put raw emotions into his songs while still making entertaining music is something that you don’t hear every day. Although his road to success hasn’t always been easy, Conway has never let anything keep him down. In 2012, he was shot in the back of the head and neck which left one side of his face paralyzed. Still, he has continued rapping and he hasn’t missed a beat. Recently, Conway revealed the tracklist for his upcoming sophomore album, God Don’t Make Mistakes, and his fans are excited to hear what he has in store. Keep reading to learn 10 things you didn’t know about Conway the Machine.

1. He’s From Buffalo

New York City is the place that comes to mind when most people hear that someone is from New York. However, Conway the Machine isn’t from anywhere near The City. He was born and raised in Buffalo which is closer to Canada than it is to Manhattan. While Buffalo isn’t what people think of when they think of New York hip-hop, Conway and the rest of Griselda have worked hard to put their city on the map.

2. He Isn’t The Only Rapper In His Family

Making music isn’t just about business for Conway the Machine, it’s also become a family affair. Fellow Griselda member Westside Gunn is Conway’s half-brother. Another member, Benny the Butcher, is his cousin. Despite being family, the three still love to compete with each other when it comes to lyrics.

3. He Thinks Of Himself As A Pop Star

Pop isn’t the word that many would use to describe Conway the Machine or Griselda. However, pop is exactly the word he would use to describe himself. During an interview with Complex, Conway said, “I’m a pop star. I was a pop star always, but Westside wanted me to rap and stuff.”

4. He’s Had Some Trouble With The Law

Things weren’t always easy for Conway growing up, and he eventually found himself doing whatever he needed to do to get by. Unfortunately, this resulted in him having some run-ins with the law. After spending some time in jail during his early 20s, he realized that he wanted to turn his life around.

5. He’s Cried While Recording Some Of His Songs

There’s no denying the fact that Conway the Machine is a tough guy, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t in tune with his feelings. While talking to DJ Booth, Conway said, “Some of them songs, I cried rapping. That’s no fake shit. My shit is real emotions. I cried [wh recording “Forever Dropping Tears.” I cried [while] recording “The Cow.”

6. Method Man’s Album Was The First One He Bought

Even before Conway started making his own music, he’s always been a big hip-hop fan. He grew up around uncles who listened to lots of rap so he didn’t have to buy albums on his own. However, when he finally did decide to spend money on an album, he told Revolt that Method Man’s album, Tical, was the first one he bought.

7. He Started Rapping At 15

We don’t have the full story on exactly what inspired Conway to get into music, but we do know that he started rapping when he was about 15 years old. This means that he has been making music for more than half of his life. During that time, he has released over a dozen projects.

8. He Learned A Lot From Eminem

Conway the Machine is the kind of person who has always loved learning new things. So, when he got the chance to work with Eminem, he used it as an opportunity to learn from one of the most successful artists in the game. Since Conway was a fan of Eminem’s music before they started working together, getting the chance to learn from him was extra special.

9. His Name Wasn’t Always Conway The Machine

Conway the Machine was born Demond Price. We weren’t able to find any information on exactly where his stage name came from, but we do know that he didn’t always go by Conway the Machine. In the early days of his career, he rapped under the names Loose Cannon and Killa Angel.

10. He Has No Plans To Retire Any Time Soon

In 2020, Conway the Machine announced that he was planning to retire from rap after his third album. However, it appears that his plans have changed. In an interview with Hot New Hip Hop in 2021, Conway said, “I haven’t completed my mission yet, which is to be regarded as hands down one of the best that ever did it in everybody’s mind. I feel like I still got work to do. I feel like I’m just getting started. I’m really just at the beginning and just getting started. I’m taking in everything, one song, one verse, one album at a time.”