griselda – The Concordian

The Buffalo-bred MC teams up with super producer Hit-Boy for his biggest album to date.

Griselda Records has been having a banner year. With several projects from both Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine being released, as well as debuts from new signees Boldy James and Armani Caesar, the Buffalo-based label has been on an extremely hot streak. With his latest solo effort, Benny the Butcher is looking to continue that streak.

This project serves as both a celebration of Benny’s newfound success and a reflection on the struggles that he endured getting to where he’s at now. His raps show an understanding that his present status and wealth wouldn’t exist if not for the troubled waters he swam through in his past. The perils and pressures of drug dealing helped get him to where he is, and he hasn’t let his luxurious new lifestyle cause him to forget that.

Still, Benny’s change in lifestyle is apparent through the sonic shift of the instrumentals in comparison to his past work, his lyrical content, and the star-studded guest list that this album boasts. Throughout its tracklist, we see appearances from Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Big Sean and Freddie Gibbs, among others, all of which are a perfect fit for their respective tracks and deliver fantastic verses.

This was a pretty risky move, as the Griselda crew has historically kept things mostly in-house and have built a fanbase on their dark, throwback sound. Going with more commercial artists and lavish production could’ve been a huge detriment, but they pay off in a major way, thanks to Benny himself.

Benny is at the height of his powers throughout this LP, delivering sharp bars, cautionary tales and words of wisdom from a man who’s seen it all. He never feels the need to water down his lyrics or change how he raps, he just makes his style fit every track from the project’s bombastic intro to its impeccable closer, “Legend.”

This is an album that is rife with highs. From the Freddie Gibbs-assisted “One Way Flight” to the soulful and reflective “Thank God I Made It,” none of the songs stick out as bad. The only real negative here is the skits, and while they are absolutely horrible, they still don’t take much away from the quality of the music. This is an extremely solid outing from front to back and cements Benny as a force in the modern hip hop landscape, and he has a discography to back that status.

Throughout his catalogue, Benny has routinely started verses by delivering his now-famous ad lib, “The Butcher’s coming.” While those same words are the first uttered on Burden of Proof, it’s clear by the outro that things have changed – the Butcher isn’t coming, he’s here.

Rating: 8.5/10

Trial Track: One Way Flight (feat. Freddie Gibbs)

The Buffalo MC comes through with his third release of the year, and his best solo work to date

Throughout the last few years, the Griselda crew have solidified themselves as one of hip hop’s most highly regarded acts. With multiple high-quality projects released every year and a consistent signature sound, the group has set a high standard for their releases. On his latest release, founding member Conway The Machine continues the tradition, with yet another gem being added to the crew’s catalogue.

On From King To A GOD, Conway’s mastery of his craft is apparent, and though he was already elite, he is in rare form on this LP. He spends the album’s runtime spitting verses like a seasoned veteran in the genre, even going bar-for-bar with legends like Method Man and Lloyd Banks. His unique drawl — the result of his Bell’s Palsy — paired with his fiery flow and distinct delivery make him completely captivating on every instrumental his voice touches.

Lyrically, the album contains a good balance of Griselda’s signature gritty street raps, and more intimate moments of introspection, grieving and reflection on society’s ills. On “Front Lines,” we see Conway delivering an extremely potent verse responding to the murder of George Floyd, over a grimy, sinister Beat Butcha instrumental that perfectly captures the horror, pain and aggression in Conway’s lyrics.

On the emotional, Erick Sermon-produced “Forever Droppin Tears,” Conway reminisces about close friends that he’s lost over the years, including Griselda producer DJ Shay, who passed away earlier this year. His reflections on losing some of those closest to him and the trauma attached to it are felt through the pain in his voice. It’s a touching moment on the album, and one of the most personal songs in Conway’s entire catalogue.

There are several soundbites peppered throughout the album of DJ Shay being interviewed regarding the Griselda crew, and Conway specifically. It’s clear that Shay had a deep admiration for Conway and his craft, and vice versa, and Conway misses him dearly. These interview clips serve as a fitting tribute for DJ Shay, while showcasing just how highly Conway’s peers think of his abilities.

With From King To A GOD, Conway reminds us how elite of a lyricist he is, while also showcasing sides of himself that fans may not be familiar with. Striking that balance between the street raps, and the new, more personal content, he shows growth while keeping the album’s sound familiar. This project is his most well-rounded work to date, and with it being billed as the prelude to his Shady Records debut, it looks like Conway is gearing up for something special.

8.5/10

Trial Track: Forever Dropping Tears