Buffalo, New York emcee Benny the Butcher is back, preluding the highly anticipated The Plugs I Met III with his 10th extended play. Having spent two decades honing his craft, Benny—alongside his cousins Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine—eventually took the culture by storm with seminal projects like Tana Talk 3 and the original The Plugs I Met. Following the mature sounds of Burden of Proof and the gritty return-to-form of Tana Talk 4, this new project arrives as a swift, impactful follow-up to his recent Summertime Butch duology.
A Masterclass in Mafioso Rap
The EP opens with “The Dog & The Wolf,” setting a somber tone before transitioning into “Rise & Fall,” featuring 38 Spesh and Elcamino. The track utilizes a soulful instrumental from Harry Fraud, exploring the hidden costs of the street life. This is followed by “Big Difference,” which features Bruiser Wolf and Fuego Base. Produced by the late DJ Shay, the track employs a symphonic boom-bap beat that serves as a defiant response to critics of the group’s recent success.
Refining the Sound
As the project moves into its second half, Daringer and Beat Butcha take over production duties on “Once Upon a Time.” The track trades light strings for a more sinister, atmospheric backdrop, delivering a poignant reflection on the transition from soldier to leader. The momentum continues with “Talk Shows,” which reunites Benny with Harry Fraud to address the lack of respect for those who haven’t truly earned their stripes. The EP concludes with “Can’t Be Much,” a symphonic trap outro that finds Benny firmly in his signature coke-rap element.
While many fans will debate where The Plugs I Met 2.5 sits in his discography, it is undeniably a significant improvement over his previous work, offering a cohesive bridge to the forthcoming trilogy chapter. The production remains a stellar blend of the series’ roots, with Harry Fraud’s influence grounding the project alongside contributions from Daringer and the late DJ Shay.
Score: 9/10