by Benny the Butcher
Released March 11, 2022 via Griselda Records / EMPIRE
Reviewed March 21, 2022
Top tracks (based on community voting)
John P’s Caddy (71%), Weekend In The Perry’s (39%), 10 More Commandments (32%)
Reprising a beloved series always carries a fair bit of risk, and Benny the Butcher has taken on this challenge with great pride in releasing the fourth iteration of his Tana Talk mixtape and album series. Any sequel across any medium is best when centered around evolution, reflection, and growth; conversely, sequels are best left unsaid when inspiration and purpose has run dry. When listening to Tana Talk 4, it is clear what a sharp, seasoned, wise and ambitious emcee Benny has brought himself to be. Across all metrics, TT4 is an improvement upon, and a remastering of the series’ core traits. Expect some nostalgia for TT3, which for many, feels to be the true launchpad of Benny’s formidable solo career. Griselda’s core fanbase loved TT3 for a handful of iconic tracks, as well as its slightly more conventional take on the Griselda listening experience. TT4 has its own set of tracks that could potentially be classics: “John P’s Caddy,” “10 More Commandments,” and “Weekend In The Perry’s” come to mind. And, once again, Benny has struck progressive real estate in marrying the sound of the streets to the sound of internet-era hip-hop in outstanding fashion. – DeVán (8.5/10)
Benny the Butcher’s rise to fame came largely with his project Tana Talk 3 in 2018, and now he has decided to add onto the famed series with a fourth entry. Tana Talk 4 takes the Griselda formula and boils it down to its most essential parts, creating a no-nonsense record that deserves to be put next to its third entry. The Buffalo MC finds a way to keep his personality at the forefront, while also exploring some more accessible creative choices that could bring in newcomers. Although the series’ third installment still stands alone as Benny’s best,, Tana Talk 4 is a great reminder as to why Griselda is on the top of the world right now in their respective lane. – Jared (8/10)
Benny the Butcher is clearly a lynchpin of the coke rap revival that Griselda’s been at the forefront for. However, since Tana Talk 3, his solo work has slowly dropped in quality; if for nothing else, a lack of intrigue. The more we’ve heard from him, the less he’s had to say lyrically. That isn’t to say that Tana Talk 4 is a bad album by any stretch. It just delivers less replay value than its predecessor, or any of Benny’s work on other Griselda projects. Reuniting with The Alchemist and Daringer on production makes this record a much more captivating listen than Burden of Proof or The Plugs I Met 2, but it’s still unable to reach the heights that were able to define the genre Benny’s helped revitalize in the past several years. – Ben (Synth) (7/10)
DeVán: 8.5/10 | Dominick: 8/10 | Jared: 8/10 | Cam: 7.8/10
Pax: 7.8/10 | Alan: 7.6/10 | Ben (Synth): 7/10
