Benny The Butcher’s lyricism shines because of its authenticity and his ability to paint a picture -and he has used that same extraordinary sense of vision to create his new record label, Black Soprano Family.
Having his own label has been a goal of Benny’s for virtually as long as he's been rapping. He and childhood neighbor City Boy started recording in the latter’s house on Montana Ave in Buffalo, New York, and as Benny produced a buzz in the late 2000s with bars that were beyond his age, they collected a squad of artists who they mentored and worked with. But for years, Benny put the streets first; every time he would make career progress, he’d get locked up that would halt his momentum.
During his final prison stint in the early 2010s, he built the foundation of what would become BSF. He and longtime friend Bundy, who he met in jail, laid out the plan in 2012 shortly after Benny had arrived at Elmira Correctional Facility on a parole violation. City Boy would be the CEO, the new name would be Black Soprano Family, and they already had artists who they respected. Once he got out later that year, the three of them got to work, pumping their merch in the streets and preparing to drop the music when the time was right.
Benny had already established a fan base in Buffalo, but that audience grew worldwide once he joined Griselda Records, the brainchild of fellow hometown OGs Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine. With a consistent flood of mixtapes that filled the void of boom bap that rap was missing, Gunn and Conway signed a deal with Eminem’s Shady Records in 2017. Benny didn't sign, but family is still family: he made his mark with memorable appearances on their album WWCD,and joined his crewmates to perform on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The move widened his audience, and he made the most of his time. His November 2018 mixtape Tana Talk 3made him a name to watch and earned the respect of critics, fans, and his peers. Its 2019 follow up The Plugs I Metsolidified his position, showing Benny competing with rap’s elite: Pusha-T, Black Thought, Jadakiss, and his Griselda brother Conway. He would eventually sign a management deal with Roc Nation, and the first stage of the mission was complete: Benny The Butcher was officially a household name, so now he could use his reputation and his wealth of industry experiences to support artists he had believed in for so many years.
In April 2020, Black Soprano Family announced a deal with eOne Music and released the crew track “Da Mob” -the first offering from Benny The Butcher & DJ Drama Presents: Gangsta Grillz X BSF Da Respected Sopranos. Rick Hyde, Heem, and Loveboat Luciano all came up with Benny and City Boy. Hyde’s 2019 project Platestold emotional stories about late nights on the street and his hustle’s impact on his loved ones, while also showcasing his talents as a producer. Heem graduated from buying a feature from Benny to earning a record deal by showing dedication to developing his believable rhymes. Loveboat, who grew up on Nevada Ave, brings a slick, effortless demeanor to add further dimension to the team.
But BSF isn't limited to nostalgic street rap. Young World shows a catchy, autotuned flow with “On My Way,” and Flexx Babyy shows an eccentric, charismatic voice and personality on “Flex Onna Bih.” Both artists have the accessibility to take over radio in the way that Benny’s too-hot-for-TV raps have not.
Benny The Butcher has already established himself as one of the best rappers in the world. It’s only a matter of time until the game realizes that his business mind is just as powerful.
