Benny The Butcher To Drop ‘Excelsior’ EP on May 2
Buffalo-bred lyricist Benny The Butcher is once again making waves in the hip-hop world. On May 2, he’ll drop his second project of 2025—a tightly focused, 7-track EP titled Excelsior. Packed with appearances from some of the grimiest wordsmiths in rap, including Boldy James and Styles P, the project is expected to deliver Benny’s trademark brand of street wisdom and lyrical craftsmanship.
With this release, Benny not only strengthens his catalog but also reinforces his role as one of the most consistent voices in New York hip-hop. Excelsior follows the March deluxe edition of Stabbed & Shot 2, a collaborative mixtape with fellow Buffalo rapper and longtime associate 38 Spesh.
Benny The Butcher: Buffalo’s Finest
In a city often overshadowed by New York City’s five boroughs, Benny The Butcher emerged from Buffalo to become a leading figure in East Coast hip-hop. A founding member of the Black Soprano Family (BSF) and a key part of the Griselda Records movement (alongside Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine), Benny’s reputation has been built on sharp rhymes, vivid street narratives, and an uncompromising approach to authenticity.
Since his breakthrough mixtape Tana Talk 3 in 2018, Benny has earned the respect of both underground purists and mainstream legends. Collaborations with legends like Jadakiss, Nas, and Freddie Gibbs—and even an appearance on a Drake track—show just how wide his reach has become.
Despite the industry attention, Benny remains deeply connected to his roots. His music continues to reflect the realities of life in Buffalo, his experiences with crime, incarceration, and hustle, and his commitment to growth without compromising integrity.
Excelsior: What the Title Suggests
The word Excelsior, which translates to “ever upward” or “still higher,” offers a powerful message. It symbolizes ambition, progression, and constant elevation—key themes in Benny’s personal journey.
Choosing a title like this is no accident. Benny has always positioned himself as an artist striving for longevity rather than chasing trends. Excelsior likely serves as a nod to his intent to continue rising above industry expectations, commercial distractions, and personal adversity.
What We Know About the Excelsior EP
While the full tracklist hasn’t been revealed, confirmed features include Boldy James and Styles P—two emcees known for their gritty realism and lyrical depth.
Boldy James, a Detroit native affiliated with Griselda Records, has a long-standing relationship with Benny and the Griselda camp. His laid-back delivery and vivid tales of the street complement Benny’s more urgent flow perfectly. The two have collaborated in the past, and their chemistry always delivers.
Styles P, a living legend from The LOX, brings decades of experience and credibility to any record. His appearance here continues Benny’s tradition of working with icons who helped pave the way for lyrical street rap in New York.
Fans can expect Excelsior to feature hard-hitting beats, introspective bars, and the kind of no-frills storytelling that Benny has mastered.
A Follow-Up to Stabbed & Shot 2 Deluxe
Benny’s Excelsior EP lands just weeks after the deluxe release of Stabbed & Shot 2, his full-length collaborative mixtape with 38 Spesh. That project showcased Buffalo’s tight-knit lyrical scene and delivered 16 tracks (18 with the deluxe additions) of relentless raps over grimy production.
Guests on the project included Busta Rhymes, Dave East, Ransom, and ElCamino. The production, helmed by trusted names like Daringer and V Don, was deliberately classic—built on loops, soul chops, and sample-heavy arrangements that gave Benny and Spesh space to go bar for bar.
What made Stabbed & Shot 2 stand out—especially in an era dominated by melodic rap and trap—is that it refused to compromise. It was a love letter to boom bap, to bars, to grit.
Excelsior, while more compact, is expected to follow a similar sonic and thematic path, offering a focused dose of the same raw energy.
Benny The Butcher and New York’s Underground Revival
In recent years, Benny has played a key role in reviving New York’s underground rap scene. With Griselda leading the charge, there’s been a resurgence of interest in bar-heavy, sample-driven hip-hop reminiscent of the early 2000s.
What sets Benny apart is his ability to operate in multiple lanes. He can tour the world with Griselda, drop solo projects with DJ Drama (Everybody Can’t Go), collaborate with Drake, and still hop on a grimy posse cut with underground favorites. This versatility has made him a blueprint for independent artists looking to stay true to their craft while building a sustainable career.
His Black Soprano Family label is also nurturing a new generation of talent, giving Buffalo artists a platform that didn’t exist before. With acts like Rick Hyde and Heem making noise, BSF is becoming a recognized brand in its own right.
For New Fans: Where to Start with Benny The Butcher
If Excelsior will be your first time listening to Benny, consider it a good entry point. But to truly appreciate his depth, here are five essential projects to explore:
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Tana Talk 3 (2018) – His breakout album, with haunting production by Alchemist and Daringer.
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The Plugs I Met (2019) – A tight, guest-packed EP featuring Pusha T and Black Thought.
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Burden of Proof (2020) – A more polished, Hit-Boy-produced album that broadened his sound.
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Tana Talk 4 (2022) – A return to form with storytelling and bars that cut deep.
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Everybody Can’t Go (2024) – A Gangsta Grillz collaboration that mixes hunger with polish.
Benny’s Appeal Is Timeless
Why do listeners keep coming back to Benny The Butcher? Because he offers something increasingly rare in modern hip-hop: consistency, depth, and a voice you believe.
He’s not chasing radio hits or TikTok trends. He’s crafting albums and EPs that feel like chapters in a larger story. That’s why each project, including Excelsior, isn’t just a “release”—it’s an event for fans of real rap.
As music evolves and hip-hop continues to diversify, Benny The Butcher stands as proof that there’s still a huge appetite for sharp lyricism and grounded storytelling. Whether it’s through his solo work, his collaborations, or his leadership at BSF, Benny is building a legacy that feels both modern and rooted in tradition.
With Excelsior, Benny The Butcher continues to write his own chapter in New York rap history. The EP may only be seven tracks, but if his track record is any indication, those seven songs will pack a punch.
Whether you’re a long-time Griselda fan or just stepping into the BSF universe, Excelsior offers a taste of what makes Benny The Butcher one of hip-hop’s most respected voices.
Don’t miss its release on May 2.
