Benny the Butcher

Editors note: Portions of this interview were redacted, both at the artist’s request, and at the editor’s best discretion. Redacted portions are marked by an asterisk. Edits were also made for clarity. Please note that this interview occurred on 8/14 into 8/15, thus, anything that may or may not have occurred after that date isn’t reflected in the interview.

“Butcher Comin’!”

That’s what I say to myself, rather unceremoniously, before sitting down to bother rapper Benny the Butcher, one of Buffalo’s finest, lover of all things mafia related, and Griselda collective consigliere, for a late night interview. He and I discuss some pretty interesting shit, such as the recent rumors about Griselda, rap beef, what makes Butch the artist he is, what he dislikes about certain fans, and his love for the new Clipse album. I don’t know about ya’ll, but for me, getting to interview a rap veteran, GxFR OG, and all around dope human was an honor and a privilege, so…enjoy, I guess?

Let’s get into it…

What’s it like being such a strong individual artist AND part of a collective that’s so well loved? Does one hold more weight for you at this point, and has that changed over time?

The brand will always be bigger than us individually. 

So does Griselda being “bigger” make it a priority for you? Where does Black Soprano Family (BSF) fall into things if that’s the case? As in, how do you prioritize both BSF and the OG brand?

As long as the Griselda train is running, everything is gonna flow better. BSF is running on its own, but GxFR (Griselda x Fashion Rebels) comes first.

What are your thoughts on the current rhetoric floating around the internet, Reddit in particular, that there’s dissension among the Griselda ranks?

I’m not gon’ lie, the Reddit/X fans are the most annoying and nerdiest. They need some type of rhetoric just to listen to the music. Plus, they don’t like me because I don’t need them as fans, and I’m vocal about it. For example, I saw that Dobson kid post about it (the alleged infighting) but he ain’t post my EP that just dropped. 

The underground fans feel like I’m too big for’em since the Def Jam deal, and since I work with other producers. It’s corny to me.

I mean, I honestly thought I was the most annoying and nerdiest, but I digress. I feel that. It seems like, depending on the post, ya’ll are either heroes or villains. With the shows in Europe alone I’ve seen people say you specifically either saved the day or they’ll never pay to see you live again. How does that land with you? If you could communicate something to people on either extreme, what would it be?

Those are the people that feel like I ruined Griselda. Respectfully, in the underground world Westside Gunn is the biggest artist, and outside of him, it’s me. That doesn’t sit well with people. I figured this out years ago. The situation* with Freddie pissed those fans off more because they feel like they’ve gotta choose sides.

That’s why I do what I want to do, as far as music, because my role has always been to expand the brand. Annoying fans who I make the same music, but when I work with other producers they cry. I have fans who’ve never heard of Tana Talk 3 or The Plugs I Met, and they hate boom bap beats, so I just do what I feel.

Damn, I wasn’t going to bring up Freddie, but since you opened that door, let’s just walk through it. What’s really good?

Nothing. He’s a pussy and a troll. He thrives off of shit those Reddit/X fans love. I’m the bad guy for the situation*. Those nerds love gangster rap, but not gangster shit, which is cool, but they have to know who’s who. 

Welp, that settles that. Tell me more about your process and what’s most important to you when it comes to making music. I mean, your beat selection is excellent, what else?

I pick the tempo first, which is around 93. I like triumphant beats. Horns, violins, pianos.

Who’s been your favorite producer to work with?

Daringer by far.

Keeping it in house, dope. Is there a producer you’d like to work with that you haven’t yet?

Ye.

What’s your favorite project of yours? What do you feel like is peak Butcher?

Burden of Proof, definitely.

Oh yeah, underground Reddit/X fans hated me for that too.

What’s your take on why people hated it as you suggest? Why do you love it?

They despise when I work with other (non-in house) producers. I feel like they felt I wasn’t “underground” anymore, but it’s like Griselda’s biggest album. Lot’s of people loved it and it opened so many doors for GxFR. The underground Reddit/X crowd complained while everyone else loved it.

I see this conversation a lot, whether or not Griselda is underground. It sounds like you would say no?

I would say yes. We’re just at the top, so it feels mainstream compared to ninety percent of other underground artists. The level we’ve brought it to…the majority of our albums are independent, we feature underground rappers all the time. Our music isn’t based on spins. The Griselda sound as a whole is definitely underground.

I actually couldn’t agree more. 

What do you love and hate about rap? Underground or otherwise.

I love the connection with the fans and the creative process. I hate the spotlight and the envious people who hate or dislike you just because of who you are and what you have.

Tell me about the project you just dropped. Summertime Butch 2. What should we know about it?

It’s Butch being Butch. Gritty and detailed, with range. Features from G Herbo and Bruiser Wolf. Production from Mike WiLL Made-It to completely unknown producers. I captured the Griselda essence with Jasmine’s, and just remained true to my sound and content.

…and there’s a video in the works?

There’s already videos for Jasmine’s, Gold Plated Leica, and Told You So. 77 Club I shot in London, waiting on the first cut.

What’s next? Music wise? Rap wise? Griselda wise? Butcher wise? Just generally…

We’re working on What Would ChineGun Do 2 (WWCD 2) right now. I just dropped and they (Westside Gunn and Conway) are both about to drop, so I feel like WWCD 2 is next.

I can feel my soul leaving my body at the thought of WWCD 2, not gon’ lie. Someone once referred to it as catching the Griselda Holy Ghost. What are you most excited about with regard to that project?

Not gon’ lie, the way people are hyping up mid shit right now, I know people can’t fuck with us. I know our shit is gonna go crazy.

Damn, what’s mid? Air it out.

What I heard from Freddie was mid as fuck. Must be my ears.

Clipse shit was hard.

Let God Sort Em Out is both an excellent album and a solid tactic, so there’s that. But it’s cool to know you listen to Clipse. What else do you like to listen to, rap or not…

Nineties R&B. Nineties rap.

Like?! Anita Baker? SWV? A Tribe Called Quest? Name names!

Yep. Jon B. Case. Dru Hill. 

Touch me, tease me. Got it. 

What’s one thing you want people to know about you and your music?

I really want people to understand I been the top talker in Western NY since 2005. For twenty years now. 

Tell me a secret…

Proceeds to tell me a secret that everyone needs to know, but no one will, because he swore me to secrecy.*

I exchanged numbers with a famous R&B singer to get a feature. We spoke for a couples weeks casually, but she must have read the room wrong, because when I mentioned I wasn’t single, she never answered my calls or texts again.

…and that concludes my interview with Benny the Butcher. Check out his upcoming tour, Money and Power, coming to a city near you soon. Thank you for reading, or whatever.