Benny the Butcher has a lot of eyes on him. He’s one of the most respected New York rappers in the game at the moment. He’s also worked with multiple superstars. Yet somehow, Benny the Butcher was locked up for four days without the general public realizing. The rapper recounted his unexpected stay encounter in Gwinnett Country via Instagram. Even more unexpected, the experience turned out to be a wholly positive one.
Benny the Butcher was vague about the circumstances in which he was arrested. He didn’t want to delve into the specifics. “That’s the first time i ever made it on a unit in 11 years,” he said. “I had some bullsh*t probation hold.” The real heart of the story lies in time behind bars, however. The Griselda rapper stated that he encountered someone that he was actually able to help. “I met some brothers that I probably wouldn’t have been able to meet if i wasn’t in there,” he noted. I got to meet somebody and got the opportunity to help him with his lawyer. Somebody who i just met, ain’t even know him.”
Benny the Butcher’s legal history has been well-documented. The rapper was arrested violating his parole shortly before the death of his brother in 2006. His past, coupled with the power that he’s been able to accrue as a rapper, resulted in a full circle moment. “I helped that n**ga, just out of nowhere,” he explained. “That’s the least I could do. Being back in there just opened my eyes up and showed me what’s still going on.” Benny noted that God works in mysterious ways.
He did clarify, however, that he didn’t help the unnamed man out so he could brag about it on social media. “I ain’t do that shit to get on here and tell y’all I did that sh*t,” he asserted. Rather, he did it because it made him feel like he was making a difference. “That sh*t just made me feel good in my soul,” he added. “I was able to do it because I’ve been in that position before. I just be trying to help strangers.” Benny’s parting words to viewers was to help one’s own self whenever possible. “Can’t nobody save you but your muthaf**kin’ self,” he explained. “But that person in the mirror, your own worst enemy.”
According to a recent interview with Art Of Dialogue podcast, 1999 Club NY shooting victim Natania Reuben says that not only was Diddy the person who pulled the trigger and not Shyne, but Reuben contends that the Bad Boy mogul intended to hire a hitman to kill her.
Reuben suffered a gunshot wound to the face during the Club NY shooting in 1999 and won a $1.8 million settlement in a civil lawsuit against the music, fashion and spirits mogul. Former Bad Boy artist Jamal “Shyne” Barrow served eight years in prison for the shooting, however, Reuben asserts that Diddy was actually the one who pulled the trigger on that fateful night just days before the turn of the millennium.
In the most recent episode of The Art Of Dialogue, the shooting victim says that the troubled living legend put ahit out on her during the trial, which forced her to relocate.
“I was born in Brooklyn [and] I was raised in Brooklyn,” she said. “I had no intentions of leaving, and probably had this [not] happened, I probably would have never left, but when the District Attorney’s office gets information from one of their confidential informant sources saying that there’s a bag on my head, and I’m calling the District Attorney’s office and I’m calling everybody because I look out my window where I was living in Canarsie, Brooklyn and there’s four, stretched, blacked-out SUVs — I lived on the corner — there’s one on that corner, that corner, one in front of my house, one on the next corner.”
“What should I do? Sit there and wait for them to come get me or submit to the will of people who have my best interest and want to move me and my family to preserve my safety? […] I had businesses. Why would I pick up and just leave everything I knew but for the fact that my life depended on it?”
She also is adamant that even with her criticism of Diddy, it by no way is a claim that Shyne is innocent.
“I said on my TikTok, Shyne did not shoot me because he didn’t, but Shyne is a con artist,” Reuben said. “Everybody’s like, ‘Oh, we knew Shyne was innocent.’ No, you don’t know a damn thing because he’s far from innocent.”
Two months ago, I tweeted: “Best year of hip-hop. EVER. #2024.” and the Internet’s feisty commentators tore me up. Pardon my excitement and wild proclamation, but I haven’t felt this good about the state of rap music since life before the pandemic. The 2020s have stunk — until now. What’s not to love today? Older rappers like Nas are showing and proving that great lyricists don’t have a retirement age. The historic, long-awaited showdown between Aubrey “Drake” Graham and Kendrick Lamar Duckworth lived up to the hype and transcended it. Plus, I’ve lost count of how much terrific content Future and Metro Boomin can cook up.
Still, everybody can’t get a trophy. It’s time to recognize the best of the best. I dare you to disagree. Ha! Spoiler alert: No Ye. No Q. No Vince Staples. No J. Cole on my albums list. You got a problem with that? Turn that frown upside down and turn the music up. Here’s the best hip-hop songs and albums of 2024, so far.
The Top 10 Hip-Hop Songs Of 2024 So Far
10. Nas & DJ Premier — “Define My Name” (Mass Appeal)
Three decades since working together on his classic debut, Illmatic, Queenbridge’s finest reconnects with Preemo for some classic Big Apple boom bap. Hopefully the promise of a future full-length project between the hall-of-fame duo comes to fruition.
9. Bossman Dlow — “Mr. Pot Scraper” (Alamo/Sony)
One of hip-hop’s most celebrated freshmen, Big Za has got plenty of digestible dope boy raps, but this one is the best. He’s a hustler, baby.
What’s better than one good Atlanta female MC? Two. Newcomer Nene gets a big assist from ATL Birthday Bash headliner, Latto. The fellas better pay attention — you don’t wanna piss these ladies off.
7. Cash Cobain — “Fisherr” Feat. Bay Swag (Giant)
Bronx-bred rapper/producer, Slizzy takes his sexy drill NY sound nationwide with this irresistibly catchy, tender ode to young love. Should you play this one multiple times? For sure.
6. 21 Savage — “Redrum” (Slaughter Gang/Epic)
Murderous material made by a mad man? Yeah, that’s a pretty good summation of Savage’s haunting anthem, which pays homage to the horror classic movie, The Shining. And I still can’t believe that’s Usher at the end, gettin’ his “Vincent Price on Thriller” on.
5. Sexyy Red — “Get It Sexxy” (Open Shift/Gamma)
It’s a rallying cry to act ratchet as Ms. “Pound Town” stomps all over producer Tay Keith’s kinetic track. Whoop! Whoop!
4. GloRilla — “Yeah Glo” (CMG/Interscope)
Suffice it to say, this self-affirmation selection slaps. Who can resist cheering along to this assertive chorus? Go, Gloria!
Before ultimately losing his intense exchange with rival Kendrick Lamar, Drizzy captivated with this sonic triumvirate of lyrical warfare. Too bad that he probably foreshadowed another K Dot Grammy triumph.
Over Metro aka hip-hop’s best producer’s best beat, Compton’s most wanted deads all comparisons to Aubrey and Jermaine and declares his dominant position. There can only be one.
1. Kendrick Lamar — “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar/Interscope)
It’s a diss song and a hit song. Over DJ Mustard’s masterful canvas, King Kendrick simultaneously ends hip-hop’s greatest beef and empowers the West Coast hip-hop scene. A true victory lap.
The Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums Of 2024 So Far
10. Mach-Hommy — #RichAxxHaitian (Mach-Hommy)
Mach-Hommy
Hip-hop’s most mysterious MC delivers a musically diverse magnum opus that commands your attention from beginning to end.
9. Flo Milli — Fine Ho, Stay (‘94 Sounds/RCA)
Flo Milli
Anchored by her biggest single, “Never Lose Me,” Flo defies sophomore jinx pressure and captivates with her most compelling body of work to date.
8. Benny The Butcher — Everybody Can’t Go (5 To 50/Def Jam)
Benny The Butcher
With a co-sign from West Coast icon, Snoop Dogg, this Griselda spitter subtly takes his signature gritty raps to new heights. Growth is good.
7. Rapsody — Please Don’t Cry (We Each Other/Jamla/Roc Nation)
We Each Other/Jamia Records
You can’t handle the truth? Too bad. Marlena Evans bares her mind and soul on this sprawling but still soothing soundtrack.
6. Bossman Dlow — Mr. Beat The Road (Alamo/Sony)
Bossman Dlow
A ferocious force from Florida, Dlow delivers a riveting, raw mixtape that moves him one step closer to mainstream exposure.
5. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie — Better Off Alone (Highbridge/Atlantic)
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
New York’s most consistent MC of the past seven years releases his best album and you all lame out? Don’t let the low numbers fool you, The Artist is on his A-Game here.
4. Gunna — One Of Wun (YSL/300)
Gunna
Although his career remains riddled in controversy as long as Young Thug is on trial, Gunna remains musically unfazed, following his should’ve-been-Grammy-nominated 2023 album, A Gift & A Curse, with a melodic masterwork that only he could put together.
3. 21 Savage — American Dream (Slaughter Gang/Epic)
Slaughter Gang/Epic
Fresh off his successful collab album with Drake, Her Loss, Savage subtly addresses his immigration saga and delivers his most cohesive collection of music.
1. TIE: Future & Metro Boomin — We Don’t Trust You + We Still Don’t Trust You (Wilburn Holding/Boominati/Epic)
Future X Metro BoominFuture / Metro Boomin
How can I choose? Same foundational premise: “The elimination of Drake.” Ha! But the execution is pure flawless excellence on both sides. We Don’t uses Mobb Deep’s Prodigy as a muse, as the two Atlanta heavyweights set their mark in hip-hop history. The follow-up, We Still Don’t, hearkens back to 2017’s HNDRXX as Pluto proves his singing can be just as potent as his rhymes. The aftermath of these two releases still resonates, as it single-handedly led to the Kendrick-Drake showdown. Future and Metro did the impossible. Then they did it twice.
In a roundabout way, one of Doja Cat’s unspoken wishes might have just been granted. The “F*ck The Girls” rapper’s X (formerly Twitter) account appears to have been hacked by “Crypto Bros.”
Back in March, Doja Cat announced her hiatus from social media, stating mental health concerns due to the public’s constant criticism. But shortly after, she returned to tease her single, “Masc.” Today (July 8), Doja Cat took to her official Instagram page to confirm that her latest posts on X were indeed not her.
“My Twitter’s been hacked,” she wrote. “These messages are not from me.”
Instagram
The messages in question are several calls for her followers to invest in cryptocurrency.
Other uploads include shady notes directed at her rumored musical foes, Iggy Azalea and Nicki Minaj. Ironically, Azalea nearly found herself in a feud with SZA after she took to her page to promote another cryptocurrency in May.
Sketch was the talk of the internet on July 8. Leaked photos of the Madden streamer engaging in sexual acts with other men leaked online. There was speculation that he’d had an OnlyFans account before his Twitch career took off. Instead of denying these claims, Sketch confirmed them. He hopped on stream and admitted that the photos were real. He owned his past, but the backlash has been swift. So swift, in fact, that fellow streamers have come forward to defend Sketch. Kai Cenat is one of them.
Cenat was confused as to why so many people would want to cancel Sketch over the leaked photos. “Why do people care so much,” he wondered aloud. “I understand it’d be shocking to a lot of people, but bro. Why does something that somebody else do get you so mad to the point where you gotta go on the internet and bully the n**ga.” Kai Cenat went on to discuss the outsized reaction to Sketch’s past, and the ways in which social media users have resorted to bullying.
The Twitch streamer liked the severity of the backlash to Sketch committing a crime. “You would think that [Sketch] murdered somebody,” he asserted. “You would think this n**ga murdered somebody by the way n**gas is talking.” Kai Cenat urged his followers to practice empathy with regards to Sketch and the other people who amass this level of bullying online over their past. He also made it clear that he was not bothered by what Sketch had done. “I’m not in no space to judge anybody for what they do or what they have done,” he added. “It doesn’t bother me, I don’t care.”
Antonio Brown, who was one of the most prominent bullies of Sketch initially, even walked back his comments after realizing how bad things have gotten. After tweeting images of Sketch with the “f” slur, Brown urged his followers to lay off. “My page comedy & entertainment,” he asserted. “But I wanted to make sure I let you know I spoke with @thesketchreal this morning. Jokes are jokes but making sure his mental health good. Never know what people got goin on or are goin through.”
Kodak Black appeared on a July 8 episode of the No Jumper podcast. The conversation between the rapper and host Adam22 was cordial for the most part, but things took an awkward turn when the latter insisted on discussing drug use. Adam22 told an anecdote about interviewing a rapper who was high, and then urged Kodak Black to shed light on how often he does drugs. Kodak did not appreciate being called out. He called out the podcast host and even mentioned his wife.
The confrontation started innocently enough. Adam22 asked if they could “settle” once and for all if Kodak Black is a habitual drug user. The rapper did not take the bait. Kodak explained that he doesn’t recall the instances in which he was on illegal substances. He tried to change the subject, and Adam22 pushed again. “Usually, if you get loaded,” the podcast host noted. “It’ll last a good two hours, right?” Things came to a halt there. “I ain’t come up here for you to be playing detective,” Kodak Black stated. Adam22 tried to walk back the questioning by claiming that him and Kodak had talked about it off mic.
Kodak became frustrated. In fact, he made reference to Adam22’s wife, Lena the Plug. “I ain’t trying to exploit your bullsh*t,” Kodak Black added. “I ain’t even come up here and talked about your wife or non. Cuse I don’t know her and I don’t know you.” Adam22 makes a joke to diffuse the situation, but it’s clear things never fully get back on track. The podcast host didn’t even attempt to hide the confrontation. He uploaded the clip to YouTube with a clickbait title.
Kodak Black’s suspicion makes sense, however. Adam22 does not have the best reputation when it comes to interviewing artists. He’s considered a “culture vulture.” He’s repeatedly criticized for exploiting the rappers who appear on his podcast. Sometimes, he exploits the people who allegedly killed rappers. Joe Budden called out Adam22 for reposting content of image consultant Kevin Samuels after his death. “I don’t like what you did after he died,” Budden told the No Jumper host. “It’s disgusting. Disgusting. The nastiest performance I’ve ever seen.” Adam22’s viral moment with Kodak Black will continue the hate train, and it’s easy to see why.
Lil Wayne is the biggest star to come out of Cash Money bar none. Juvenile has classics, and Birdman rode coattails, but Weezy is the main attraction when it comes to the label’s legacy. His absence at the recent Cash Money reunion was deafeningly loud, as a result. The thing that made it worse is that Wayne was already at the Essence Festival, where the reunion took place. He simply refused to celebrated 30 years of Cash Money onstage. Instead, he waited and performed a solo set after the rest of his former label wrapped up their time.
Lil Wayne hopped on Instagram Live on July 7th to give his side of the story. Well, sort of. Instead of issuing an apology, or offering an excuse as to why he didn’t show up, he shared an anecdote. “Funny story,” the rapper explained. “I got hit up by somebody, somebody text me. I guess they had been at the show too long or something and they said, ‘You wrong. You know you should have came out. You’re wrong, Wayne. You had all these f*cking fans out here… didn’t come. You know you should have.’”
Weezy didn’t shut down the idea that he should have attended, but he didn’t take it seriously, either. He instead took a playful tone with the person who messaged him. “I’m like, ‘What you talking about?,” the rapper recalled while smiling. “The afterparty or something?’” Lil Wayne clearly did not have an interest in revisiting the past, but that doesn’t mean he has ill will towards the rest of the label. He didn’t mention Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, or B.G. by name but he did a general shout out to “all the artists that performed” at the Essence Festival.
Lil Wayne has always pleaded ignorance with regards to the rumored Hot Boys album. Hot Boys was the Cash Money group consisting of Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G. and Turk, and rumors have swirled for a few months that a comeback project is in the works. Let Weezy tell it, though, and he has no clue what’s happening with it. During a June appearance on the Not Just Football podcast, the rapper claimed he wasn’t involved at all. “Sh*t, you just told me,” he quipped. It’s a difficult time to be a Cash Money fan.
Doja Cat isn’t afraid to be polarizing. It was the promotional game plan for her last album. It worked too, as the album contained massively successful singles. That being said, die-hard Doja fans were confused on July 8. The rapper seemingly targeted Iggy Azalea, and began to leave insulting comments under the “Fancy” artist’s posts. After a series of increasingly bizarre posts, however, fans determined that Doja’s account had been hacked. Iggy Azalea even addressed the hacker directly.
The first sign that something was off was when Doja Cat’s account left a childish insult underneath a photo ad of Azalea. “Shut up b*tch,” the tweet response read. It was the follow-up, however, that made it clear Doja Cat was not the person behind this attack. “F*ck that stupid b*tch @IGGYAZALEA,” the hacker posted. “And buy $DOJA.” It didn’t take long for Iggy Azalea to notice the bizarre string messages, and she promptly responded. Azalea made it clear that she’s the one running her social media account, and she sees these posts firsthand.
Hackers on celeb girl accounts again making it about me cause I’m their fixation but they didn’t consider the fact that I may actually interact w ppl in real life and it’s not fitting into reality lol https://t.co/cTeV1VSJno
“Hackers on celeb girl accounts again making it about me,” she tweeted. “Cause I’m their fixation but they didn’t consider the fact that I may actually interact w ppl in real life. It’s not fitting into reality lol.” Iggy Azalea then cleared the air between her and Doja Cat. She assured fans that they didn’t have any problems with each other, and were merely being pitted against each other by trolls. “Get rugged if yall want but I’m cool w that girl irl,” she added. “So yall f*cked up w that tweet hackers.”
Doja Cat and Iggy Azalea haven’t had too many interactions over the years. Ironically, Doja Cat went viral for comparing Azalea to Donald Trump in 2015. In a series of since-deleted tweets, Doja claimed that she hated Azalea’s music contributed nothing to the art form. “Iggy doesn’t do sh*t for me emotionally,” she explained. “Except for annoy the f*ck out of me immensely. It’s like if Donald Trump made music. Rich waste.” If Azalea’s claims of being “cool” with Doja Cat are truthful, then we can only assume the latter has changed her harsh tune.
In the music industry, Christian Ward (whose stage name was formerly Yung Berg and currently Hitmaka) has taken on many different roles. Although he first became famous as a rapper during the mid-2000s, his career reached new heights when he started producing and writing songs for others. This career transformation saved his profession and ensured everybody knew he was a hitmaker. Some of these include No. 1 singles in hip-hop and R&B. It further shows his versatility in making catchy melodies and beats.
Additionally, he has worked alongside some of the biggest names in the business over time, contributing to their success, too. This makes him a crucial person in contemporary music because he can adapt to changes in style without losing what makes artists sound like themselves. Here are five tracks that cannot be missed for anyone who wants to understand this artist-producer’s impact on music or how they have changed over time.
1. “Sexy Can I” (Ray J Featuring Yung Berg) (2008)
Released in 2008 under his previous stage name, Yung Berg, featuring Ray J, “Sexy Can I” was Hitmaka’s first thriving song as an artist. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved platinum certification. Known for making catchy songs ready for clubs, this marked the beginning of Hitmaka’s success. He became known for creating these types of tracks. Its irresistible chorus and sleek production attracted many listeners, securing Hitmaka’s place as an up-and-coming figure in hip-hop and R&B.
The success of “Sexy Can I” was pivotal in Hitmaka’s career. It further emphasized his ability to craft hits that resounded with listeners. The song’s party vibe made it a staple on radio stations and clubs, solidifying his presence in the music industry. This track introduced Hitmaka to a broader audience and set the stage for his transition from rapper to a renowned producer and songwriter.
2. “The Business” (Yung Berg Featuring Casha) (2008)
“The Business,” released in 2008, is another major hit from Hitmaka’s early career when he was still performing under the name Yung Berg. Featuring singer Casha, the track is a smooth, melodic tune that further established his reputation for creating memorable tracks. “The Business” performed well on the charts, reaching No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became a favorite on radio stations. Its win helped to solidify Yung Berg’s status as a hitmaker during the late 2000s.
The production and chorus make this song stand out, as they would later become trademarks for Hitmaka as a producer. “The Business” showed how good he was at mixing hip-hop with R&B so smoothly that it could be enjoyed by anyone listening. This is just one example of his early abilities on display, followed by an even more successful career after he changed roles into being mainly behind-the-scenes talent.
3. “Thot Box” (Featuring Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, YBN Nahmir, A Boogie wit Da Hoodie, & Tyga) (2019)
“Thot Box,” which was released in 2019, is a big collaboration that really demonstrates Hitmaka’s ability as a producer. Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, YBN Nahmir, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, and Tyga all feature on this track. They delivered vigorous performances over its hard-hitting beat, and it quickly picked up steam. The fact that it had such an energetic performance paired with a tremendous instrumental made it do well on streaming services.
On “Thot Box,” Hitmaka shows off his skill for creating current yet impactful instrumentals. He always has strong melody lines and driving rhythms that never lose their catchiness. The connections made between different musicians through this one song prove how well-known Hitmaka is among other artists. He brings together people who may not usually collaborate to make something special.
“Bounce Back,” released in 2016, is one of Big Sean’s most successful tracks, and it prominently features Hitmaka’s production skills. The song reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a massive hit and an anthem for overcoming challenges. Hitmaka’s production on this track is characterized by its seamless integration of modern hip-hop elements, making it radio-friendly and club-ready.
Moreover, the success of “Bounce Back” was a significant milestone in Hitmaka’s career as a producer. It showcased his ability to create a sound that perfectly complements the artist’s style and message. The track’s motivational vibe and Big Sean’s confident delivery made it a standout hit. “Bounce Back” emphasized Hitmaka’s production skills and cemented his status as a key player in shaping contemporary hip-hop sounds. This track is a prime example of his skill in producing chart-topping hits that echo with a broad audience.
5. “Sorry Not Sorry” (Bryson Tiller) (2015)
“Sorry Not Sorry” is one of the best songs from T R A P S O U L, Bryson Tiller’s debut album, released in 2015. It was produced by Hitmaka, who has been proven versatile enough to create R&B hits. The beat of this song is smooth and sultry, and it goes well with Tiller’s unique blend of trap music and soul. What stands out about Hitmaka’s work on this track is that he always polishes it up until everything sounds exemplary, then adds an emotional layer through lush production, adding depth to Bryson’s voice.
This became a fan favorite and contributed greatly towards critical acclaim and commercial success for the album, establishing him as one notable figure in contemporary R&B. Through “Sorry Not Sorry,” Hitmaka showed us just how good at making such different types of music sound great together, thus cementing himself as being not only adaptable but influential across various areas within the industry, too.
Skilla Baby has build a lot of buzz in the 2020s. The rapper protege of Sada Baby has established a unique sound and delivery. He’s also vocal about being from Detroit, and repping the city’s history of legendary artists. That being said, Skilla Baby does not prescribe to the theory that Eminem is the best the city has to offer. He said as much during a recent appearance on This Is Keke Palmer podcast. He not only pushed back against the Em theory, but articulated a greater issue within Detroit hip-hop.
Skilla Baby had no claiming that Eminem does not have a stranglehold over Detroit hip-hop the way the rest of the country assumes. “I don’t know because if you think number-wise Eminem is the best Detroit rapper,” the rapper posited. “But the gag is nobody would say that in Detroit.” He conceded that he was a fan of Shady when he was younger, but notes that the rapper’s status among younger Detroit artists has faded over time. “I was an Eminem fan as a kid,” he noted. “I’m a fan of Eminem but do we consider him our best rapper? I don’t think Detroit does.”
Skilla Baby Feels That Detroit Doesn’t Have A GOAT
Keke Palmer knew that her guest was veering into controversial territory, and asked Skilla who his pick for Detroit’s best is. He didn’t named a single artist, but rather a revolving door of them. In Skilla Baby’s estimation the mantle for the city’s best is constantly changing. “Everybody had their turn being Detroit’s favorite rapper,” he theorized. “Sada Baby had his turn, Tee Grizzley had a turn, [42] Dugg had a turn, Babyface Ray had a turn.” Skilla Baby also have love to some of the younger artists who have brought attention to Detroit in recent years. Selflessly, he didn’t include himself.
“Veeze is one of Detroit’s best rappers now,” Skilla added. “Baby Smoove, Big Kizz – a lot of artists had their turn. Rocaine… Everybody had their turn being the best in the city.” The rapper claimed that the lack of a definitive GOAT Detroit rapper is a bug and not a feature, however. “What we lack is consistency,” he asserted. “Nobody’s consistently been Detroit’s best rapper.” Maybe Skilla Baby is one of the artists who can correct this perceived inconsistency.
