Benny The Butcher, an artist from Buffalo, New York, has accumulated an impressive list of notable collaborations throughout his career. However, his unreleased song featuring Drake continues to be a major source of disappointment.
During an interview with Joe Budden on his Amazon Amp show Conversation Lovers Only, Benny shared his feelings about the track, revealing that he was “frustrated” by its lack of an official release.
“I have to admit, I was genuinely frustrated,” he expressed. “I mean, it’s a Drake record! Undoubtedly, it was going to be my biggest record… And yet, it remains untouched.”
When questioned by Budden regarding the reasons behind the shelving of the song, Benny found it difficult to provide a concrete answer. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the intricacies of music releases, particularly when it involves arguably the most prominent rapper in the industry.
“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what happened,” he responded. “I can’t speak for Drake and his team… I have my own schedules too. Sometimes, I collaborate with someone, and they’d say, ‘Benny, we’re ready to release this next Tuesday.’ And I’d be like, ‘Hey, you can’t drop it on Tuesday because we’re holding off. I have something else lined up.'”
“He’s the biggest artist in the world, so I understand that his release schedule might be demanding, or he might have other commitments that prevent the release at the moment. I get that. He represents a lot of individuals he works with, and his decisions impact numerous people. So, I understand that aspect,” Benny elaborated.
Benny also made it clear that he holds no resentment towards Drake for the collaboration’s absence from the public eye. He expressed appreciation for the fact that the renowned OVO hitmaker reached out to collaborate with him, despite the outcome.
“I don’t take it personally,” he affirmed. “In no way did I think, ‘Oh, he screwed me over!’ I swear to God, I didn’t perceive it that way because we’re talking about Drake, the biggest artist in the world. Even the fact that he personally reached out to me speaks volumes about his stature.”
Although the collaboration has not received an official release to date, a leaked version of the track surfaced online in September 2021, dubbed “Buffalo Freestyle.”
“Beyond any doubt, I’m sicker than the illnesses they wish upon me. Drake jokes around, but life wasn’t like Nickelodeon or Disney. Are you kidding me? My credentials surpass Nicki’s, I’m constantly busy. I remember performing during halftime in Jackson, Mississippi. I wasn’t driving a Cadillac back then, but things quickly escalated. I wanted people to yearn for me, so I made changes after Nipsey,” Drizzy rapped in the leaked song.
2 comments
[…] In the wake of building anticipation for his highly awaited forthcoming album, J Hus is preparing to release a fresh single featuring a rumored appearance by Drake. […]
[…] policies historically lacked inclusivity towards Black individuals, sparking a backlash against Benny The Butcher. One commentator even playfully referenced Benny’s recognizable catchphrase and mixtape series, […]