Benny The Butcher’s Tana Talk 4 was one of the most highly-anticipated releases of the year for a reason.
The Griselda artist’s unapologetic street swagger illicit a hunger and energy unlike any other rapper in the game. While fans were treated to a barrage of bars from both the Buffalo native and J. Cole on its lead single “Johnny P’s Caddy” as well as his appearance on Conway The Machine’s latest effort God Don’t Make Mistakes, TT4 seems to be the classic Benny promised.
“Just don’t get no more authentic than this. I BEEN makin classic music but it’s more to it than that,” he wrote via Instagram, thanking his Griselda family in Conway and Westside Gunn and looking forward to “walkin in to the Def Jam office as an underground king.”
Before the album’s release, Benny dropped by Power 106 for a visceral LA Leakers freestyle. Bodying DMX’s “N***az Done Started Something” off of It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot, Benny peels off hard-hitting verses about his origins in Buffalo, his collective empire Black Soprano Family and his mountain of wealth flexing his luxury “Mercedes’ doors” and aiming to sit atop Forbes.
Tana Talk 4 is Benny’s last independent album with Griselda Records, and his first following his signing to Def Jam Records last year. Since the release of his magnum opus Tana Talk 3 (2018), the gritty Griselda wordsmith has seen a stratospheric rise from the streets to revered rap prestige. Benny also visited Kenny Beats ‘The Cave’ last month to drop off yet another bone-chilling verse ahead of TT4.
After a handful of projects over the last four years, the Hit-Boy-produced Burden Of Proof (2020) further showcased Benny’s range and appeal as an enticing top-tier lyricist. Benny is as real as it gets on “Johnny P’s Caddy” — ushering in his new era boasting deeply narrative verses stricken with genuine quips of trapping, perseverance, respect and the brutality of street life. With tracks like “Tyson vs. Ali” with Conway The Machine and “Guerrero” with Westside Gunn, Benny is clearly shooting for hip-hop’s coveted crown — showcasing that he truly is one of the best rappers the game has to offer at the moment.
With Cole, Conway, 38 Spesh, Stove God Cooks, Boldy James, Diddy and Westside by his side, each emcee turns in a performance that convincingly feeds into Benny’s refined star power. As Benny makes his rhymes look effortless once more, fans can sink their teeth into an “Album Of The Year” contender right off the bat.
Listen to Benny’s “Tana Talk 4” below!
