RIP Claire buffalo Woman Featured on Rap Album Cover – A Western New York woman who was featured on the cover of a rap album has tragically passed away, as confirmed by Buffalo rapper Westside Gunn.
Gunn took to Twitter to express his condolences, saying, “My fav Buffalo Kid. You’ll be Loved Forever,” along with hashtags #IMMORTAL and #RIPCLAIRE.
My fav Buffalo Kid 💔 👼 You’ll be Loved Forever #IMMORTAL #RIPCLAIRE pic.twitter.com/Q5J0OhhJZq
— WESTSIDEGUNN (@WESTSIDEGUNN) May 24, 2023
The woman in question is Claire Melendez, also known as “Claire Mel,” a well-known homeless individual in the Buffalo area who was prominently featured on the cover of “WWCD,” the major label debut album from the Buffalo-based hip-hop group Griselda. Released in 2019 on Shady Records, the album received critical acclaim and featured collaborations with renowned artists such as Eminem and 50 Cent.
Not only did Griselda feature Melendez on their album cover, but they also made references to her in several songs. Westside Gunn’s solo track “Connie’s Son” includes the lyrics, “Claire need a dollar gave her two, now she want five.”
Claire Melendez had become a well-known figure in Buffalo, often referred to as the city’s mascot. Gunn expressed his fondness for her during an interview on “Sway in the Morning” in 2019, stating, “Everybody in the whole city knows (Claire). She’s like the Buffalo mascot, man.”
Gunn, along with his brother Conway the Machine and their cousin Benny the Butcher, co-founded Griselda Records, which has released numerous albums and mixtapes. They also established the Buffalo Kids lifestyle and clothing store at the Walden Galleria, where Gunn shared a photo of himself posing with Melendez.
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Details regarding the cause of Melendez’s death have not been announced publicly. According to her Facebook profile, she was a 1993 graduate of Burgard High School in Buffalo.
Tributes and messages of condolences have poured in from various individuals, including former Buffalo Bills cheerleader Tammy Shaw, local Western New York residents, and fans of Griselda from across the nation.
Tammy Shaw tweeted, “Rip Claire. We went for a cruise on the west side, and I was a little nervous when people I didn’t know were approaching the car. She said, ‘Don’t worry, I will protect you.’ Rest Well.”
Twitter user @XxvintageVibes wrote, “Claire was Buffalo’s favorite. Didn’t matter if you might have been annoyed by her or you enjoyed her, but she was everything. A little piece of normalcy when it’s crazy in Buffalo. I hope she finally gets her peace. RIP Mami.”
@niqniq0784 expressed their condolences, stating, “R.I.P TO CLAIRE. LOVE ALWAYS THE WHOLE #BUFFALO NY IYKYK. SHE WAS THE TOWN SWEETHEART. SAD DAY IN #BUFFALO.”
As the news of Claire Melendez’s passing spreads, people continue to remember her as a beloved and significant figure in the Buffalo community.
