“They say West the brains, and Benny is the star.
Conway the silliest with the bars, well I couldn’t agree more.”
After exploding onto the scene with Tana Talk 3 in 2018, Benny the Butcher has molded himself into one of the most notable and consistent lyricists in Hip-Hop. The Griselda MC has dropped multiple projects that were subject to critical acclaim and has been featured on tracks with top lyricists as well. While this activity turned him into a force, the hip-hop world was waiting for the next Tana Talk, which Benny has heavily hinted at throughout the years.
After nearly four years, Tana Talk 4 (TT4) is finally here. Like the last Tana Talk, the cover art is a painting that features his brother, Machine Gun Black. The painting by Mariella Angela also features a young Benny along with his cousin and fellow Griselda member, Westside Gunn. This set the stage for the project to deliver the same energy as its predecessor. It has 12 tracks and has a runtime of approximately 40 minutes.
As Benny promised, the lyrical content of Tana Talk 4 would consist of street tales and his experiences of selling drugs prior to his rap career. While it’s often the focus of his lyrics, he takes it to a new level on Tana Talk 4. His ability to paint pictures and turn his verses into movies sets him apart from most rappers. He also has an uncanny ability to make references to sports and pop culture seamlessly, which helps keep his rhymes interesting and entertaining. An example of this is on the track, “Back 2x.”
“I took orders cookin’ fancy in kitchens like Gordon Ramsey (Haha)
Agents make sure they payin’ me, my trap like a Morgan Stanley
For niggas knew what happened, I was on Montana with white
Arm & Hammer with ice, connected like Joe Montana and Rice.”
Benny’s biggest strength has always been his ability to flat-out rhyme — no gimmicks, just letting “his rhymes do all the talking.” This is on full display on Tana Talk 4. His multisyllabic rhyme schemes steal the show on each track. One of the best examples of this skill is in the Notorious B.I.G. ode, “Ten More Crack Commandments.”
“Seventeen, take care of the people around you
They only appreciate how you value loyalty when they eatin’ beside you
You a worker, the boss wouldn’t be here without you
You do the dirty work from the first to the thirty-first, but I see they forgot you.”
This elite wordplay dominates the track and makes it a clear standout. It feels like watching an old Mike Tyson fight. In this context, each bar is a haymaker thrown from Benny as he takes the reverse approach Biggie took as he rhymes each crack commandment backwards from 20. Diddy’s exit speech only cements the tribute to the legendary rapper and Bad Boy Records.
“Guerrero” is a tribute to Benny’s own career. The lyrics feature track titles from his catalog, which include “Scarface vs. Sosa Pt. 2,” “97 Hov,” and “Joe Pesci 38.”
Benny continues to flaunt his lyrical prowess on each track. While he certainly has a notable resumé in hip-hop, his delivery is still full of hunger and sounds like someone who has everything to prove.
The production credits go to a familiar list of names: Daringer, The Alchemist, and Beat Butcha. While Benny has done projects with other producers including Hit-Boy and Harry Fraud, he gives ownership of the Tana Talk series to Daringer and Alchemist because they perfectly capture the dark sounds that TT3 was known for. Beat Butcha is the perfect addition for its signature sound. Some of the standout beats are “Back 2x,” “Weekend in The Perry’s,” and “Bust a Brick Nick.” While the producers showcase their abilities, Benny’s ability to select the right beat creates an engaging listening experience.
TT4’s feature list is very intriguing. While most Griselda projects feature a track that features all three Griselda members, Benny continues to stick to the TT3 formula with a track that features Conway and a separate track that features Westside Gunn. Conway’s verse on “Tyson vs. Ali” reminisces on his past life experiences and memories that include Benny. Gunn’s verse on “Guerrero” contains references to drug-dealing, fashion ,and paintings, which have become staples in his rhymes. Long-time collaborators Boldy James and 38 Spesh also highlight a stacked feature roster.
The standout features are from Stove God Cooks on “Back 2x” and J. Cole on the album’s opening track and lead single, “Johnny P’s Caddy.” Stove God is not the most active MC, but when he rhymes, he delivers memorable verses that are filled with witty punchlines and vivid tales of drug-dealing. His style and lyrical content are the perfect fit for TT4. His ability to captivate listeners and stay in a distinct pocket allows him to shine on every track he is featured on.
Ever since its release, debates on who had the best verse on “Johnny P’s Caddy” have flooded the hip-hop community. Both rappers speak to the lack of authenticity in today’s rap game. Cole’s wordplay is complimented effortlessly by the imagery he spits on the standout verse and leaves listeners yearning for more bars every listen.
Overall, Tana Talk 4 was well worth the wait. Benny’s lyrical ability is the focal point of the project and continues to move him up the ranks in hip-hop. The 12-song track list makes for an easy listening experience and shows the laser focus Benny possessed during the making of the project. Between the lyricism and top shelf beats, Benny created a body of work that is very refreshing in a musical climate that is geared towards producing inflated numbers and going after money grabs with albums that are too long and loaded with filler tracks.
His hunger and desire to be the best jumps off the page throughout the project and shows that Benny is here to stay.
STAND OUT TRACKS: “Johnny P’S Caddy” (Featuring J. Cole), “Back 2x” (Featuring Stove God Cooks), “10 More Crack Commandments” (Featuring Diddy), “Bust A Brick Nick”
Check out the full album right here and be sure to follow Benny The Butcher at his official Instagram and Twitter pages to see what he’s up to next.