God Don't Make Mistakes was originally intended to be prolific rapper
Conway the Machine's official debut studio album. After
Griselda signed a deal with Shady Records in 2017,
Conway and
Griselda founder
Westside Gunn periodically gave updates on the album's progress, stating that it would include features by
50 Cent and
ScHoolboy Q, among others. 2020's
From King to a God, not released by Shady, ended up being
Conway's studio debut, as he continued releasing countless underground mixtapes and collaborations.
God Don't Make Mistakes finally appeared in early 2022, just days after
Conway announced his departure from
Griselda, and it clearly reflects an untold number of changes in his life, and the long road he's taken in order to get where he is at this stage. Tracks like the singles "John Woo Flick" and
the Alchemist-produced "Piano Love" are classic
Griselda-style grimy New York street rap, but much of the album finds
Conway addressing troubles in his life and confessing his fears, exposing a vulnerability unheard in most of his catalog. The record sounds no less personal even with the presence of guest appearances by rap heavyweights like
Rick Ross,
T.I., and
Lil Wayne. "Wild Chapters" (with
T.I. and Novel), in which
Conway mentions the death of his son, is framed by a crunchy lo-bitrate beat and a touching, atmospheric vocal/synth loop. The gospel-tinged "Guilty" addresses the 2012 shooting that nearly claimed
Conway's life and left him with Bell's palsy, affecting his speech. "Stressed" is downright startling in its thorough depiction of depression, anxiety, addiction, and helplessness. He reflects on the history of his career on "So Much More," addressing the confusion of his status within
Griselda and looking forward to the expansion of his own Drumwork label. "Chanel Pearls," with a poetically sexual guest verse by
Jill Scott, feels more hopeful, but the macabre "Babas" features a grim spoken intro by Keisha Plum and a woozy backing track that sounds like
Portishead. Easily
Conway's most impressive work to date,
God Don't Make Mistakes is a culmination of everything he's experienced and achieved so far, and a bridge to the next phase of his life. ~ Paul Simpson