You know a rapper is serious about their bars when they can make them sound as hard at home as on a record. For Benny The Butcher, it's all in a day's work. Today, the Griselda lyricist has come through with his first NPR Tiny Desk Concert, holding it down with a thirteen-minute set from the comfort of his living room couch. There's an interesting juxtaposition going on, as The Butcher weaves intricate street tales flanked by potted plants. But don't let that deceive you, he's as sharp as anyone in the game.
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Off the bat, Benny sets it off with a performance of "Crown For Kings," a highlight off his acclaimed The Plugs I Met EP. Next up is "Rubber Bands & Weight," a deep cut from his Tana Talk 3 project. Once the grimy cut wraps up, Benny invites his Black Soprano proteges Rick Hyde and Heem to step up and hold it down for "Da Mob," which is part of his upcoming compilation tape Benny The Butcher & DJ Drama Presents: Gangsta Grillz X BSF Da Respected Sopranos.
And of course, it wouldn't be a Benny set unless the Griselda movement was represented -- on that note, Benny makes sure to slide in WWCD banger "Cruiser Weight Coke." Last but not least comes "5 to 50," a return to The Plugs I Met and a strong note for the Butcher to end on. Despite laying his vocals in an unconventional setting, Benny still came through with a strong performance, no backing track required. Stay tuned for his upcoming project to arrive in the imminent future, and check out his first NPR Tiny Desk Concert below.