April 27, 2022

Last updated on May 2, 2022

Backstage at Coachella: A Conversation With Conway the Machine

Pete Forester

Pete is a writer, host, and producer based in New York City. He is the Editorial Director of StockX.

Conway joined Griselda this year at Coachella, and we got the word on his style inspiration, what’s coming up for him, and a one-of-a-kind perspective on the most overrated thing in the world.

Conway joined Griselda this year at Coachella, and we got the word on his style inspiration, what’s coming up for him, and a one-of-a-kind perspective on the most overrated thing in the world.

This article is part 23 of 17 in the series: Coachella 2022

Conway the Machine helped forge a new path when he cofounded Griselda Records with his family, Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn. And even though he’s decided to go his own way this year, officially parting from Griselda, the love is still strong. Conway joined his partners on stage at Coachella this year as a part of the Griselda set and we got to catch up with him after he came off stage to talk about his style inspiration, what’s coming up for him, and a one-of-a-kind perspective on the most overrated thing in the world.

StockX: How are you feeling today?

Conway the Machine: I feel amazing. I feel blessed and thankful and grateful to be here at Coachella. And just in this position, you know what I’m saying? Be here with the homies and we living on our dreams, man. I feel blessed.

What are you most excited about right now, besides Coachella?

Waking up this morning, you know what I’m saying? My son and my kids are straight. My guys are straight. We got another day, another 24 hours to be great. And I’m excited for that most every day. But if you mean as far as Coachella, otherwise I’m just excited for the entire event, man. This is my second time, but this a hell of an experience, man. I’m thinking it’s something like a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you know what I mean? It’s dope. It’s dope.

What’s your inspo for style? How do you try to dress?

Just different than everybody else? I don’t know. I just want to be comfortable. You know what I’m saying? I don’t like to follow what everybody else doing, no trends or none of that. I try to, you know what I mean? I got my own two-step, so that’s my wave.

What’s most overrated right now?

BBLs.

BBLs?

Yeah.

Amazing answer. What’s most underrated?

Lyricism, real lyricists.

It’s a lot of talent. It’s a lot of real talent and lyricists, man, music, musicians, instrumentalists, painters, artists, everything. But we get caught up in what’s popular or what’s trendy, what’s everybody talking, you know what I’m saying? And we kind of overlook the true gems that’s just lying there, that just need to be dusted off, kind of. You know what I’m saying?

As an artist, how do you stay focused on avoiding the trends and just keeping your lane?

I just mind my business to me. You know what I’m saying? I do what I like to do. You know what I’m saying? And fortunately, what I like doing is cool shit. You know what I mean? I’m one of the cool kids, you know what I’m saying? So that’s just me though, when you be yourself, man, you take it wherever you take it and you are okay with that, you sleep better at night. You know what I’m saying?

What’s next for you?

Hopefully, a Grammy for God Don’t Make Mistakes, the album I just dropped, you know what I’m saying? Making sure my artists, taking off and doing what they need to do and just, you know what I mean? Keep putting on and making my family proud, and my city proud.