Benny the Butcher turned heads when he announced title of his new album. Summertime Butch seemed tailor made for mockery. The rapper was either going to put a unique spin on his tried and true sound, or flop attempting a glossy, shiny suit detour.
Thankfully, Benny went with the former. The album has more of a summer vibe than, say, the Tana Talk series, but the whole point of those is to make the listener feel like they're experiencing a chilly NYC winter. Summertime Butch is a cool change of pace in this regard.
It's the sound Benny the Butcher waxing poetic in a white linen shirt. "One Verse Butch" is vintage Mafioso rap. Benny the Butcher drops Pacino references over a wicked piano loop, and true to form, he knocks out his stellar verse in one extended run.
The production is the biggest change on Summertime Butch , and the best songs on the album know to keep it simple. Benny the Butcher's flow is so captivating that he doesn't need a lot of musical flourishes to make a compelling track. "Knightfall" and "Summer '24" are perfect examples of this formula.
The latter is a candidate for best on the album thanks to the pocket Benny finds on the second verse. "The Blue Building" is a close second, thanks to Amber Simone's soaring chorus. Bottom line: Benny the Butcher did it again.
Read More: Benny The Butcher Reveals That He Recently Spent Four Days In Jail Summertime Butch tracklist: One Verse Butch The Most (featuring Ray Moon) Sundress & Sandle Season (Interlude) Knightfal.