After sharing the critically-acclaimed Tana Talk 4 earlier this year, Benny the Butcher and his collective Black Soprano Family have released their fifth project, Long Live DJ Shay.
The album officially dropped Friday (Sept. 9) and features m BSF regulars in Benny, Rick Hyde, Heem B$F, Jonesy, FlexxBaby and LoveBoat Luciano. The group has been relentless in building up their official catalog together in recent years with their last LP, Trust the Sopranos (2021), meeting widespread praise from fans. It is safe to say that BSF replicated the same energy with LLDJS.
Dedicated to the late DJ Shay, who was part of both Griselda and the BSF collective, the album pays homage to the fallen emcee who passed away due to COVID-19 complications in 2020. LLDJS also features Griselda star spitters in Westside Gunn, Conway, Boldy James, Stove God Cooks with production from The Alchemist, Shay, Rick Hyde and more.
The new project is a perfect commemoration for the late DJ Shay, and is also a warning to anyone who tries to mess with any of the group’s members and any other connections. While the feature list is stacked and has to give lots of spotlight to multiple members, the album perfectly shows off each emcee’s talent and why they are a force to be reckoned with.
The album was first announced in early August, along with the lead single “Times is Rough” which contains verses from Benny, Heem B$F and Rick Hyde as well as production from the legendary DJ Premier. The lead single proved to be a teaser for the rest of the project, as the LP features heavy, in-your-face boom-bap instrumentation that fits perfectly into BSF’s signature style and flow.
Long Live DJ Shay adds on to an already incredible year for Benny, where he’s provided multiple features in addition to the fourth entry of his beloved Tana Talk series. Collaborations with J. Cole on “Johnny P’s Caddy” — which earned him Billboard Hot 100 chart honors — as well as Maxo Kream, Conway the Machine, Money Man and more have all contributed to his dominant run in 2022.
With the release of LLDJS, Black Soprano Family proves they are a threat you don’t want to mess with.
Listen to “Long Live DJ Shay” Below!
