Tana Talk 3 by @BennyBsf is one of the best albums of the 2010s and my 2018 album of the year. Today I’ll be reviewing my favourite coke rap album, I’ll talk about a few of the tracks and give my overall opinion on it, enjoy.

Benny continued this series which was started in 2004 with Tana Talk 1. Benny was on house arrest while working on that project and it was really his first time messing around in the studio. A year later in 2005, Benny dropped Tana Talk 2 and 13 years after that, Tana Talk 3.

Track 1: Intro: Babs
Length: 2:29
Producer: Daringer
Feature: Keisha Plum

The start of this album differs a bit from the theme of the album. The production on this track is a lot lighter than most of the other tracks on this album. Keisha sets the tone of Buffalo on the outro.

Track 3: Scarface vs Sosa, Pt. 2
Length: 3:47
Producer: Daringer

Now we get right into the grimy stuff. This track starts off an incredible 4 track run and Benny’s best of his career. The way he tells stories really makes it feel like you’re with him in the era he talks about.

The “catchphrase” of this song: “Everything relate back to drug dealing” is a staple of this song. During the outro, The Butcher explains by giving examples such as politics and the streets. An absolute incredible track over a perfect grimy, hard beat with elite lyricism.

Track 4: Rubber Bands & Weight
Length: 3:54
Producer: The Alchemist

The duo of legendary producer, alchemist and one of the best rappers in the game, Benny The Butcher absolutely dominated as a duo.

The simple yet dark beat was perfect for Benny to glide over as he provided his elite lyricism and wordplay. I enjoyed how the beat came in really strong yet gradually took a back seat to Benny. This track also provides us my favourite hook on the project and combines perfectly.

Track 5: Fast Eddie
Length: 4:49
Producer: Daringer

I enjoyed how Daringer managed to change the production up a bit by still being able to keep the grimy sound but also throwing it back a bit with some older 90s type of vibe.

Benny’s best showcase of storytelling is presented on this album talking about his life on the streets, making coke and hustling. With clever word play displayed such as this:

“Bought a gun and had to shoot like I was winning an ESPY”

His wonderful delivery and flow really separates him other lyricists. Wonderful job of keeping the listener engaged even without a hook and dark beat, a skill that he’s damn near mastered.

Track 6: Broken Bottles
Length: 3:58
Producer: The Alchemist

The beat comes in the same way as the former track he produced. Hard and forceful right from the gate and then it settles in behind Benny. The Butcher talks a little bit about his personal life.

His nephew and his dawgs who died in shootouts. My favourite part of this song is the 2nd half of the first verse, here’s a little sample of it:

“I’m tryna see so much bread, I gotta take counselling
Y’all like these rappers, but I don’t find it amusing, no
I don’t buy they movement, so I don’t buy their music
I wrote get rich manuals where I provide the blueprint”

Paying homage to New York legends 50 Cent and his idol Jay Z, displaying is impeccable lyrical ability, clever wordplay, strong flow and hard hitting deliver over an Alchemist produced beat is a recipe for a monstrous track which is what the butcher delivered.

Track 7: ‘97 Hov
Length: 4:11
Producers: The Alchemist and Daringer

On this track we get to see the two masterminds behind the production collab in Alchemist and Daringer. Daringer’s half comes in with a fast tempo yet soft sound.

This is the best I’ve heard Benny flow on this album and it’s perfectly delivered. Pimp C starts off Alchemist’s half with a skit and Benny’s signature catchphrase. A stronger, soul burning sound on the 2nd half brings something completely different than the first half.

Track 10: Who Are You
Length: 3:20
Features: Royce da 5’9” & Mélanie Rutherford
Producer: Daringer

A very beautiful beat with some humming and lightly hitting cymbals. Royce comes in right away with a strong tone and really talking while providing his all world lyricism.

A great verse from Royce is backed up by an absolutely astonishing chorus from Mélanie Rutherford. Her beautiful vocals spoke on people claiming they bleed loyalty then asking “But who are you?”

The Butcher slaughters this beat by coming in with the same energy as Royce. Benny talks about his experiences, his mom who was an addict and the pain he felt when he sat in N.A meetings knowing his mom was still gonna smoke again. Another beautiful track added to this album.

Track 14: All 70
Length: 4:42
Feature: Conway The Machine & Westside Gunn
Producer: Daringer

The Griselda big 3 joins forces on this Daringer produced beat. The guitar serves as the main instrument on the beat. The drums and cymbals are also a large part of the instrumental.

Benny starts off by waking up the streets and then he talks about slanging narcotics and being the hero of his city (Buffalo). The chorus features Westside Gunn’s signature adlib. It then leads us to Conway’s verse where he talks about his superiority to other rappers.

Conway’s laid back, technical and strong flow ends off this collab with a bang.

Benny The Butcher, one of the best rappers in the game, Pablo Escobar with a microphone, dropped one of my favourite albums ever and continues to be one of my favourite artists in the world.

From being in jail, his brother passing away and being shot himself, it’s been a slow yet incredible grind for Benny and his cousins. I’m glad he’s been able to give us masterpieces such as Tana Talk 3 and I know he’ll continue to do so, thank you.