Benny the Butcher - Excelsior

Far from trying to rebrand its image, the album confirms an identity that remains consistent: a core East Coast sound that now incorporates a hybrid sonic architecture, where each collaboration serves to enhance the raw aggression rather than dilute it. It's a concise manifesto, where the seven tracks form a logical sequence between STABBED & SHOT 2 (2024) and the upcoming album Summertime Butch 2 (2025), validating the evolution of the sound without betraying its codes.

Excelsior: Hybrid Sonic Architecture of Black Soprano Family

The production of this EP is an exploration of a universe where roles are precisely defined. Harry Fraud, Daringer, and the BSF collective forge a terrain that oscillates between the tension of the solo tracks and the complexity brought by the guest artists. This approach allows Benny the Butcher to maintain his signature "no-nonsense" style while exploring a greater rhythmic density. The sound remains true to the legacy of 90s rap, but with a modernization that doesn't seek to break the connection with fans. Each track acts as a natural extension of this identity, proving that the artist has found its definitive version without needing to change its fundamental direction.

I AM THE PROGRAM & Sign Language: Tension between solo flow and Harry Fraud's production

Track 2, I AM THE PROGRAM, featuring P.R.E.M.O., immediately establishes itself as a cornerstone of this project. The rapper's presence on this early track demonstrates a mutual trust that enhances, rather than overshadows, the main flow with a confirmed and complementary voice. Furthermore, track 3, Sign Language, features Harry Fraud not only as a vocalist but also as the producer. This dual involvement in a track that is even released as a single with a dedicated music video on May 7, 2025, shows how the artist and their favorite producer are building a tension between vocal performance and sound arrangement, validating a collaboration that goes beyond simply adding names.

$ & Power: double feature Daringer/Skylar Blatt as a technical cornerstone

On track 4, $ & Power, Benny the Butcher welcomes Daringer and Skylar Blatt for a double featuring that functions as a genuine exercise in orchestration. This arrangement is not insignificant in the artist's trajectory: it represents an evolution where producers become integral voices in the narrative, adding a layer of rhythmic texture that only a duo can achieve with this specific density. The double collaboration confirms that the track validates a strategy where each producer brings their own unique style without overshadowing the central MC, transforming the track into a technical crossroads that strengthens the EP's sonic identity.

Duffel Bag Hottie's Revenge: Boldy James, a powerful single

Track 5, Duffel Bag Hottie's Revenge, marks the culmination of early promotion with its status as an official single. The appearance of Boldy James on this track solidifies an alliance that recalls previous collaborations between the two artists, such as on track Weekends in the Perry's (2022) or Rabies (2024). Here, Boldy James' presence doesn't dilute Benny the Butcher's identity but rather amplifies it, confirming that the collective operates on a foundation of mutual respect and shared energy. This collaboration transforms each feature into a raw extension of the 'East Coast grit' flow, proving that the artist is capable of leading a project while remaining at the center of the narrative.

Toxic: Styles P, a collaboration that validates evolution without betrayal

Track 6, Toxic, features Styles P for a collaboration that resonates with previous collaborations between the New York rapper and Benny the Butcher, such as on Blam, Blam, Blam (2019). This time, Styles P's presence validates the evolution of the sound without betrayal: it shows that the artist can incorporate legendary voices while maintaining their own signature. The track functions as a stylistic interlude that doesn't break the unity of the project but enriches the overall narrative with a generational and geographical contrast that strengthens Benny the Butcher's credibility within the rap ecosystem.

The album concludes on a celebratory note with B$F, where Black Soprano Family, Sule, and Fuego Base join Benny the Butcher to form a final choir. This closing track is not just a sonic signature, but a validation of the connections within the label. It seals the integrity of the project by showing that the label has become a true artistic extension, transforming each feature into a raw extension of the 'East Coast grit' flow. Track 7 acts as a final seal, confirming the consistency of an artist capable of leading a collective while remaining at the center. Excelsior therefore presents itself as a compact EP, where each track confirms that Benny the Butcher has found his definitive version without trying to rebrand. In just seven tracks, the album validates an evolution without betrayal of the core, proving that the eclectic production of Black Soprano Family transforms each feature into a raw extension of the 'East Coast grit' flow. It is an album that does not seek to stray from its roots, but to strengthen them with strategic collaborations that add value without diluting the identity.

Technical Details

- Release Date : May 2, 2025 - Label : Black Soprano Family - Tracks : 7 (20 minutes 23 seconds) - Opening / Closing : The Corner / B$F - Guest Appearances : P.R.E.M.O., Harry Fraud, Daringer, Skylar Blatt, Boldy James, Styles P, Black Soprano Family, Sule, Fuego Base - Previous Album : STABBED & SHOT 2 (2024)