Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Joe and Jada: Conway The Machine on Griselda, Benny The Butcher, Jay-Z & NEW ALBUM

Date: September 2, 2025
Guests: Conway the Machine, Fat Joe, Jada
Theme:
An in-depth conversation with Conway the Machine about the rise of Griselda, the Buffalo music scene, overcoming adversity, and the business of modern hip-hop. The episode is rich with personal stories, insights from within the industry, and previews of Conway's upcoming projects.

Main Themes & Purpose

This episode features Conway the Machine as he reflects on his journey from Buffalo’s gritty streets to becoming a pivotal voice in hip-hop. With Fat Joe and Jada facilitating, topics range from Griselda’s origins and industry evolution to personal philosophies, influences, and previews of new work. The discussion delivers a blend of humor, authenticity, and reflection on legacy while encouraging artists to remain true to hip-hop’s roots.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Conway’s Global Touring & Performing (03:07–05:24)

• Conway discusses performing internationally and the surprise of fans rapping his lyrics word for word, even when English isn’t their first language.
  • "For the motherfuckers to barely speak English and rapping my word for word, dog? It’s a different type of feeling." (Conway, 04:07)
• He credits legends like DMX and Busta Rhymes as major influences on his stagecraft.

2. The Origin of Griselda (05:24–07:24)

• Griselda began as a family movement in Buffalo, emerging organically: “It started with me, Wes, Benny, and Machine Gun Black. Rest in peace.” (Conway, 05:36)
• The group’s hustle was shaped by street realities and periods when members cycled in and out of jail.
  • After Conway was shot, the crew regrouped and focused on music seriously: “Once I got shot... it was just like, nah, bro, let’s just—go crazy. Just put everything in.” (06:45)

3. Breaking Out of Buffalo & Building a Movement (07:25–10:24)

• Buffalo’s distance from New York’s scene made success seem unlikely.
• Their rise was built on boutique, exclusive merch drops and independent spirit: "We was just letting nobody come to fuck with us; fuck it, we doing our own shit." (Conway, 08:53)
  • Hoodies and vinyl records sold out and fetched high resale prices, marking a new model for indie hip-hop collectibility.

4. The Fashion & Merch Factor (11:18–12:24)

• Fat Joe praises Griselda’s focus on aesthetics and merch: "They duct taped they merch to a rocket ship and took that." (11:42)
• The group’s embrace of style made their movement relatable to younger fans and distinctive in the underground.

5. Artistic Credibility & Influences (14:31–15:22)

• Respect from legends (Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Prodigy, etc.) means more to Conway than mainstream acclaim: "That’s the award... to get my flowers from the MCs I respect." (Conway, 13:04)

6. Beat Selection & Creative Process (15:24–19:14)

• Beat selection is emphasized as vital: many legendary MCs “didn’t know how to pick beats.” (Fat Joe, 15:24)
• Conway’s process is grounded, often working alone or with close collaborators:
  • "I don’t really need a party... Me and the engineer, maybe one of my mans. That’s it." (Conway, 17:02)
  • He rarely writes lyrics down, instead developing lines in his head and recording directly.
• Conway discusses the inspiration behind spontaneous creativity: "The beat’ll wake me up out my sleep… that beat crazy, I'm gonna stop in my track." (20:42)

7. Building Drumwork Music Group (27:55–28:24)

• Conway highlights the growth of his label, Drumwork, supporting artists like Jae Skeese and Kendricks, with a label compilation album coming.
  • "We gonna… put that shit out this year too, probably." (Conway, 28:23)
• He describes the satisfaction in helping others achieve their dreams: "There's nothing like that—putting somebody on." (Fat Joe, 28:47)

8. Touring & Global Hip-Hop Experiences (30:29–34:23)

• Conway’s future tour plans in the US and overseas (notably shows in Greece and South America).
• Both share wild travel stories—Colombia’s unique energy, the thrill and dangers of touring in regions like Bogota.
  • "South America… it's electricity, a whole different type of energy. The line was around two blocks." (Conway, 32:44)
  • Fat Joe's anecdote about a dangerous promoter vividly illustrates the unpredictable side of international hip-hop.

9. Expansion & New Ventures (39:10–40:32)

• Conway is diversifying: launching Drumwork Exotics (cannabis), writing a short film, considering podcasting, and investing in more artists.
• He also touches on carrying his Drum Work Fest music festival forward (“gonna reboot that, probably bring it back 2026”).

10. Major Moments—Recognition from Jay-Z (42:41–43:17)

• The moment Jay-Z pulled up to Griselda’s LA show stands as a career highlight.
  • "I go for a towel, I look up, he's standing there on the stage just watching. I'm like, yo, am I bugging?" (Conway, 42:54)

11. Legacy, Giving Back, and Community Uplift (51:15–52:18)

• The responsibility to inspire and uplift Buffalo’s next generation is central:
  • "We ain't had nobody to give us advice or… show us a blueprint… so it's important."
  • Conway views legacy as “pouring it back in, putting it back in the pot.”

12. Industry Reflections & Artistry (54:31–58:13)

• Conway cites living influences (Rock Marciano, Sauce Walka, G Herbo, Clips, JID) and recognizes the value of authenticity over fleeting trends (“Microwave shit”).
• Conversation on crossing over, open to mainstream features: “I would love to… I can't wait to” (on working with big pop names, 57:27).
• New album announcement: “You Can’t Kill God With Bullets” dropping soon via Roc Nation, marking a major evolution for Conway and Drumwork.

Memorable Quotes

• Conway on foreign fans:
  “For the motherfuckers to barely speak English and rapping my word for word, dog? It’s a different type of feeling.” (04:07)

• On the origins of Griselda:
  "It started with me, Wes, Benny, and Machine Gun Black. Rest in peace.” (05:36)

• On not chasing trends:
  "We ain't want to even sign no deals… Fuck it, we doing our own shit… We was getting into this stream era, this was the beginning of that, we went against that." (08:53)

• Fat Joe on Griselda’s approach:
  "They duct taped they merch to a rocket ship and took that." (11:42)

• Conway on rewards:
  "To get my flowers from the MCs I respect—that’s the award." (13:04)

• On creativity:
  “I don't really need a party. Me and the engineer. Maybe one of my mans. That’s it.” (17:02)

• On legacy:
  “It's important, you know what I mean? And that's what this is all about, you know what I mean? You can’t take none of this shit with you, man. But you can leave it here.” (51:15)

• New album tease:
  “Can't Kill God With Bullets. About to drop that, man… It was important to, you know, have this as part of my chapter.” (58:30)

• On faith:
  “God is the greatest, man.” (Conway, 59:17)

Notable & Entertaining Moments

• Fat Joe’s stories about international touring mishaps, near-danger in Colombia, and quirky observations about Buffalo (“they got the Bronx crackheads up there!”) infuse the episode with humor and authenticity (06:58, 31:18–38:32).

• Conway’s creative quirks, like needing to sweep the studio before writing (18:02–18:25).

• Fat Joe and Conway bond over the importance of beat selection and authenticity in art, punctuated with industry-insider tales and playful banter.

Important Timestamps

• 04:00–05:24: Global touring and performance influences.
• 05:24–07:24: Griselda’s formation and early family ties.
• 07:25–10:24: The struggle and blueprint for Buffalo’s hip-hop success.
• 12:24–15:24: Merch, fashion, and cultural influence on younger generations.
• 15:24–19:14: The art of beat selection and Conway’s creative process.
• 27:55–28:24: Drumwork Music Group’s growth and plans.
• 30:29–34:23: Touring stories—South America, Greece, danger and excitement.
• 39:10–40:32: Conway’s business ventures: cannabis, film, podcast, festival.
• 42:41–43:17: Jay-Z attending Griselda’s show: the validation moment.
• 51:15–52:18: Community uplift and giving back to Buffalo.
• 58:13–58:34: New album reveal (“Can’t Kill God With Bullets”).
• 59:07–59:34: Reflections on faith and spirituality in life and career.

Conclusion

This episode offers both inspiration and insight, tracing the unconventional, DIY path Conway the Machine and Griselda took from Buffalo to the global stage. It’s a masterclass in staying true to culture, balancing business with artistry, and leveraging success to make room for the next generation. Conway’s humility and drive, supported by candid stories from Fat Joe and Jada, make this a standout conversation for hip-hop fans, creatives, and anyone interested in perseverance and legacy.