Benny The Butcher, Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice And More Explosive New Music Friday Releases

Today is Friday, which means there are a ton of new releases to look forward to from some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists. To help you unwind and enjoy the weekend, check out VIBE’s picks of songs and albums you should hear and add to your soundtrack of weekend festivities.

Benny The Butcher- Everybody Can’t Go

Benny The Butcher’s alliance with Def Jam Records was hailed a win for the underground when one of its most championed lyricists took his talents to an even bigger stage. More than three years after the ink dried on his contract with the historic label, the Buffalo, N.Y. native has made his official Def Jam debut with his new album Everybody Can’t Go.

Renowned for his “plug talk,” Benny delves a bit deeper beneath the surface on this long-awaited longplayer by providing verbal snapshots of the past while basking in the present and looking to the future. On “Jermaine’s Graduation,” he harkens back to his formative years with candor, rapping “Me, teary-eyed and gullible/ I lived it with a mother who struggled through/ Addiction, I know every side of drug abuse” on dancing piano keys laid by The Alchemist.

Benny gets into “championship condition” on “BRON,” a bruising salvo inspired by the NBA’s career points leader, while he’s joined by vocalist Kyle Banks on the album’s sample-driven titular track. Far from a mercenary, The Butcher enlists a formidable infantry of spitters on Everybody Can’t Go with Lil Wayne (“Big Dog”), Snoop Dogg (“Back Again”), Jadakiss and Babyface Ray (“Pillow Talk & Slander”), and Peezy (“Big Tymers”) joining the party throughout the LP’s 12 selections.

His Griselda cohorts provide further reinforcement, as the collective’s core members join forces on the standouts “One Foot In,” “Buffalo Kitchen Club,” and “Griselda Express.” From clever conceptual cuts like “How To Rap” to high-powered collaborative efforts, Everybody Can’t Go covers various bases and proves Benny The Butcher isn’t a mere one-note rapper; he’s someone who possesses layers that have yet to be fully explored. – Preezy Brown

Megan Thee Stallion – “Hiss”

Megan Thee Stallion has bars for everyone on “Hiss.” The laudable element of this record is the title aligning with her last single “Cobra.” While that track was a vulnerable outpouring of how the last four years have made her feel, “Hiss” is a warning shot and she is willing to fight back at anyone. Meg had bars for Nicki Minaj, her consistent foe over the last few years, and Drake, a more recent enemy following his supposed comments about her on Her Loss. One thing Meg will always do is rap with conviction, even if her bars can be somewhat simple and the flows a bit rough. – Armon Sadler

Ice Spice – “Think U The Sh*t”

Ice Spice has risen to stardom with her catchy lines, abrasive Bronx flow, and boastful flexes. Where many of her songs have hit, “Think U The Sh*t (Fart)” missed. For starters, it follows the same structure as her breakthrough hit “Munch (Feelin’ U)” with the call-and-response format, but to a much worse degree. Many of the lines on this record are repetitive and uncreative. The production tries to do too much with the clash of synths and drum patterns, and she allows the beat to carry the record more than her lyrics with a lot of space in between lines. If the goal was to make another twerk song with easily memorable and repeatable lines, she hit that mark. But this record fails to match up to the quality of tracks like “Munch,” “Bikini Bottom,” and “Deli.” It just goes to show that not every snippet or TikTok sound needs to be turned into a full record. – AS

Kevin Gates – The Ceremony

After taking time off in 2023 during the anniversary of his landmark releases Stranger Than Fiction and The Luca Brasi Story, Kevin Gate reemerges from the shadows with The Ceremony.

The follow-up to his 2022 album Khaza, this effort finds the Baton Rouge native delivering street-friendly anthems belied by an air of spirituality and introspection. Twangy guitars power the introductory title track, as Gates professes the manners and conduct learned during his rites of passage, rapping “Men greet men, how to show respect/ Eye contact anywhere you standing” amid nods to his plush lifestyle and legendary status.

Teaming up with fellow Louisiana native B.G. and St. Louis rep Sexyy Red on “Yonce Freestyle,” Gates turns in his requisite raunchy anthem with “Eater,” but fully hits his stride in the midsection of The Ceremony. “Universal law governs all events,” he professes on “Speed Dial.” He shuns any whispers of his demise on “It Won’t Happen,” one of the more heartfelt offerings of the album’s 17 songs.

Emotional wounds are revealed on “Healing” and prayers for the welfare of the youth are given on “Protect Children,” accounting for two moments which speak to where his heart truly lies. – PB

Cole Bennett & Lyrical Lemonade – All Is Yellow

Music video director Cole Bennett has become one of the go-to visionaries in Hip-Hop, as he’s gained notoriety from creating visual backdrops for some of rap’s biggest stars. Bennett steps beyond the scope of the lens with All Is Yellow, his blockbuster compilation in collaboration with multimedia company Lyrical Lemonade. Grouping Sheck Wes, Ski Mask The Slump God, and JID on “Fly Away,” All Is Yellow kicks off in strong fashion and retains that staying power throughout.

Highlights like the Lil Durk and Kid Cudi-helmed “Guitar In My Room” and the contemplative “This My Life” only lead to even more impressive showings, particularly Eminem’s scathing takedown of longtime nemesis Benzino on “Doomsday Pt. 2.” With a guest list including the likes of Lil Yachty, Latto, Swae Lee, Joey Bada$$, G Herbo, Jack Harlow, Juice WRLD, and more, All Is Yellow is a great step in Bennett’s transition into curator and if sure to speak to Hip-Hop’s current homogenous climate. – PB

Skepta – “Gas Me Up”

Skepta went postal on “Gas Me Up (Diligent).” Every song is a reminder that he has one of the most sonically pleasing rap voices and can skate over any type of production. Though this beat is more downtempo and sounds more fit for a modern R&B record, the UK artist simply tells listeners “Hold my beer” and brings his aggressive flow to the arena. With a performance like this, he deserves all of the gas fans can offer. It’s been a few years since we have gotten a Skepta album; it might be that time. – AS

NBA YoungBoy – “Act A Donkey”

“Act A Donkey” is a nice offering from NBA YoungBoy due to the inclusion of instruments. There’s a classic organ that shows up throughout the record and adds layers to what would otherwise be a standard record in the Baton Rouge, La. native’ rapper’s canon. His menacing croons rattle across the almost three-and-a-half-minute song’s runtime, asserting how easily he can turn up on someone if need be. At one point, he says he “can’t f**k with Jay-Z” because he is too ignorant and stands on business. An interesting note is the song’s title is a reference to Charlemagne’s daily “Donkey Of The Day” award, which he received after his comments on fatherhood. The track is seemingly a response to the controversial host, but starting a rap beef with someone who doesn’t rap has a very limited level of entertainment it can bring. – AS

Masta Ace & Marco Polo – Richmond Hill

A veteran wordsmith and beatsmith collide on Richmond Hill, Masta Ace and Marco Polo’s latest collaborative effort. The follow-up to their 2019 release A Breuklen Story, Richmond Hill takes on a similar approach, as Masta Ace pays homage to another storied neighborhood in The Big Apple. Set in the borough of Queens, N.Y., Richmond Hill wastes no time drawing listeners in. Its booming opener “Brooklyn Heights” finds Ace separating he and Polo’s brand of music from the lackluster tunes he laments about muddying the genre.

“It ain’t dead, just check the vitals, it’s still alive,” he raps, before harkening back to his days spent in front of the television on the Inspectah Deck-assisted standout “Hero.” Other selections on Richmond Hill that are likely to entice include “Life Music,” “Money Problems” featuring Che Noir, and the pro-vegetarian cut “Plant Based.” – PB

Che Noir – The Color Chocolate Vol. 1

After furthering her ascent with 2023’s Noir Or Never, Buffalo rhymer Che Noir returns with The Color Chocolate, Vol. 1, a four-track holdover that finds her ringing in the new year in grand fashion. Lyrical miracles are abundant, as Noir is joined by Ransom (“Peaches and Herb”), ICECOLDBISHOP (“Greek Scholar”), and Your Old Droog and Evidence (“Junior High”), before flying solo on the outro cut “Vanilla Skies.” With her ongoing streak of impressive releases and a full year ahead, Che Noir is primed for yet another leap in profile and fanfare. – PB

41 & Kyle Richh – “Trick”

41 & Kyle Richh’s “Trick” is the follow-up to their cult hit “Bent” and immediately feels like a watered-down version of that record. Still, it hits the mark due to gritty vocals and bouncy production. The duo discusses women who enter their section at the club, a common theme in nightlife. They offer kisses but 41 and Richh are just looking for sex, raving about the BBLs they are witnessing. As newer artists, this similar song structure can be overlooked as the record is enjoyable, but it would be encouraging to see some variety as they continue. It’d be unfortunate to see a duo with such potential become a one-trick pony that flames out. – AS

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