Description
Benny The Butcher – The Plugs I Met 2 – Vinyl Record
Released on March 19, 2021, Benny The Butcher’s The Plugs I Met 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to his acclaimed 2019 EP, The Plugs I Met. Known for his vivid storytelling, gritty realism, and intricate lyricism, Benny delivers another project filled with street narratives, reflecting on the aftermath of life in the drug game. Produced primarily by Harry Fraud, The Plugs I Met 2 expands on the themes of its predecessor while showcasing Benny’s growth as both a lyricist and a businessman, as he moves further into mainstream recognition.
While Benny is a core member of Griselda Records, which includes fellow Buffalo rappers Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine, The Plugs I Met 2 highlights Benny’s unique ability to blend intricate street tales with the polish of a veteran artist. The project is filled with luxurious production, mafioso-style storytelling, and reflections on the cost of success in the streets.
Benny The Butcher’s Griselda movement, built alongside Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine, has reintroduced gritty, 1990s-style East Coast rap to a modern audience. Their approach—rooted in raw lyricism, sparse production, and vivid street imagery—has earned them a loyal fanbase and critical acclaim. The Plugs I Met 2 is a continuation of Benny’s 2019 project The Plugs I Met, where he rapped about his interactions with high-level drug dealers and the consequences of living in that world.
On The Plugs I Met 2, Benny shifts focus from detailing his rise in the drug game to examining the consequences of success and survival. The project is less about glorifying the hustle and more about reflecting on its toll, both emotionally and psychologically. Benny’s raps delve into the sacrifices he’s made, the pain of losing loved ones, and the balancing act between maintaining street credibility and achieving mainstream success.
The Plugs I Met 2 features lush, cinematic production from Harry Fraud, who is known for his smooth, sample-heavy beats that are equally suited for storytelling and introspection. Fraud’s beats are atmospheric and polished, providing a contrast to Benny’s gritty, matter-of-fact lyrics about the harsh realities of street life. The album’s production often feels luxurious, underscoring the themes of wealth, power, and consequence that run throughout the project.
Harry Fraud’s production leans heavily on soulful, jazz-inflected samples, with tracks like ‘When Tony Met Sosa’ and ‘No Instructions’ featuring warm, smooth loops that give the album a cinematic feel. Fraud’s beats serve as a lush canvas for Benny’s storytelling, creating a seamless blend of high-class soundscapes and street narratives.
While the production is polished, it is also understated, allowing Benny’s voice and lyrics to take center stage. Tracks like ‘Plug Talk’ (featuring 2 Chainz) and ‘Overall’ (featuring Chinx) feature minimalistic beats that let Benny’s bars breathe, creating an air of tension and reflection that complements the album’s themes.
Much of The Plugs I Met 2 has a classic mafioso rap vibe, with references to crime bosses, power, and the darker side of success. The lush production and Benny’s narrative style evoke the feel of crime epics, with the album playing out like a series of vignettes about life at the top of the drug game.
Lyrically, The Plugs I Met 2 is a masterclass in street storytelling. Benny The Butcher paints vivid pictures of life in the drug trade, but with a reflective tone that acknowledges the cost of success. He explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, loss, and the struggle to maintain integrity while navigating the world of crime and success.
One of the main themes of the album is the emotional toll of success in the streets. On tracks like ‘No Instructions’ and ‘Live by It,’ Benny reflects on the sacrifices he’s made and the pain of losing friends and family along the way. His lyrics are filled with regret and introspection, as he grapples with the reality that success in the drug game comes at a steep price.
Benny frequently touches on themes of loyalty and betrayal, both within the context of the streets and the music industry. In ‘Plug Talk,’ he addresses the delicate balance of maintaining relationships with those who helped him rise to power, while also watching out for those who may betray him as he climbs higher.
While Benny reflects on the dangers of street life, he also revels in the power and wealth that come with success. Tracks like ‘When Tony Met Sosa’ and ‘Plug Talk’ celebrate the spoils of his success, with Benny describing luxurious lifestyles, high-level business deals, and the feeling of being at the top of the game. However, this is always tempered by the knowledge that this power is fleeting and comes with significant risk.
On tracks like ‘Survivor’s Remorse’, Benny explores the complex morality of his life choices. He reflects on how far he’s come and the guilt that comes with surviving while others around him have perished. This duality—celebrating survival while mourning those who didn’t make it—is a recurring theme throughout the project.
Notable Tracks
‘When Tony Met Sosa’: The album opener sets the tone with its cinematic production and vivid storytelling. Benny’s lyrics compare his life to that of a crime boss, with references to Scarface and the world of high-level drug deals. The lush, jazzy beat by Harry Fraud provides the perfect backdrop for Benny’s mafioso bars.
‘Plug Talk’ (featuring 2 Chainz): One of the standout tracks on the album, ‘Plug Talk’ pairs Benny with 2 Chainz for a laid-back yet gritty track about the intricacies of dealing with suppliers and maintaining power in the drug game. The smooth, minimal production allows both rappers to deliver clever, introspective verses.
‘No Instructions’: A deeply introspective track, ‘No Instructions’ sees Benny reflecting on his journey and the hard lessons he’s learned along the way. The jazzy, soulful production provides a contemplative mood, and Benny’s lyrics are filled with wisdom about survival and the costs of success in the streets.
‘Survivor’s Remorse’: This track finds Benny grappling with feelings of guilt for surviving the streets while others didn’t. His lyrics are raw and emotional, with Benny acknowledging the pain that comes with being one of the few to make it out alive. The soulful production enhances the track’s somber tone.
‘Overall’ (featuring Chinx): On this track, Benny is joined by the late rapper Chinx for a reflective song about the dangers of success and the weight of their respective legacies. The haunting beat and Benny’s introspective lyrics about surviving in the drug game make this a standout on the project.
The Plugs I Met 2 was met with widespread acclaim from both critics and fans, with many praising Benny’s continued growth as a lyricist and storyteller. The album was noted for its cinematic production, courtesy of Harry Fraud, and its balance between celebrating the spoils of success and reflecting on the darker consequences of life in the streets. Benny’s ability to paint vivid pictures of the drug game while also offering introspective commentary on its moral and emotional complexities was widely praised.
The album further cemented Benny The Butcher’s place as one of the top lyricists in modern hip-hop, and his collaboration with Harry Fraud showcased his versatility as an artist capable of thriving in both raw, underground settings and more polished, mainstream productions. The Plugs I Met 2 is a significant addition to Benny’s growing discography and the Griselda movement’s dominance of the underground rap scene.
The Plugs I Met 2 is a masterclass in modern street rap, combining vivid storytelling with luxurious production and introspective lyricism. Benny The Butcher continues to evolve as both an artist and a storyteller, offering a nuanced look at the highs and lows of life in the drug game. The album’s themes of success, loyalty, survival, and morality resonate deeply, while Harry Fraud’s cinematic production elevates the project to new heights.
For fans of Benny The Butcher and Griselda’s gritty, authentic style of hip-hop, The Plugs I Met 2 is an essential listen, offering a thoughtful continuation of Benny’s street narratives while showcasing his growth as one of the genre’s most skilled lyricists.
Includes the track ‘Thanksgiving’ – first time available on vinyl
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
When Tony Met Sosa
Overall Featuring – Chinx
Plug Talk Featuring – 2 Chainz
Live By It
Talkin’ Back Featuring – Fat Joe
No Instructions 3:38
Longevity Featuring – French Montana, Jim Jones
Survivor’s Remorse Featuring – Rick Hyde
Thanksgiving
