Benny The Butcher has just released his first 2021 album, The Plugs I Met 2. The Black Soprano Family founder teamed with Brooklyn, New York veteran producer Harry Fraud for the nine-track LP, which features 2 Chainz, Fat Joe, Jim Jones, French Montana, the late Chinx, and Benny’s protege, Rick Hyde.

On the latest episode of What’s The Headline?, the Ambrosia For Heads team reacts to Benny’s newest release (at the 49:10​ mark). In discussing more growth and a different sound for the Buffalo, New Yorker, AFH debates where exactly The Plugs I Met 2 falls within Benny’s discography rankings. However, there is agreement that not only is the project the best rap release of 2021 to date, but it cements a discussion point: Benny The Butcher is the best MC of the last two years. The chatter acknowledges past two-year runs of note. It also recognizes recent work from Freddie Gibbs, Boldy James, Royce 5’9″ and others, but after a string of work that includes 2020’s Burden of Proof, 2019’s The Plugs I Met, Statue of Limitations (with Smoke DZA and Pete Rock), plus Griselda’s WWCD, along with countless feature spots, singles, and BSF mixtape work, Benny is on his own level—and ought to be celebrated for such.

Westside Gunn, Benny & Conway Explain Why Griselda Was The Best Rap Crew Of 2019

The episode discussion comes after a round-by-round, in-depth breakdown of Raekwon Verzuz Ghostface Killah.

Here Is What Else Is Happening Of Note (as discussed in the podcast)

(0:20)​ Raekwon vs. Ghostface Killah Was The Best Hip-Hop Verzuz Battle Yet & AFH Weighs In, Round By Round 

(48:00​) Method Man Verzuz Redman Announced For 4/20

(1:13:30​) Kanye West Is Now Hip-Hop’s Wealthiest Mogul According To Forbes

(1:29:10​) A Short Film Featuring Joey Bada$$ Was Nominated For An Academy Award

(1:34:00​) More New Music of The Week, Including Songs By Gotham (Talib Kweli & Diamond D), Cypress Hill, and a new collaboration album from Statik Selektah & Kota The Friend.

Ambrosia For Heads readers can catch regular discussions about the culture on our What’s The Headline podcast. Additionally, What’s The Headline has recent interviews with Pharoahe Monch, Prince Paul & Don Newkirk, Statik Selektah, Lyric Jones, The LOX, MC Eiht, Mobb Deep’s Havoc, Duckwrth, and Lord Finesse. All episodes of the show are available wherever you stream your pods.

#BonusBeat: AFH’s most recent interview with Benny The Butcher, covering The Plugs I Met: