Buffalo, New York independent hip hop label Black Soprano Family Records getting together for their 3rd showcase compilation. Founded in 2016 by Benny the Butcher of Griselda fame, the roster has significantly grown throughout the years with the likes of Duffel Bag Hottie to Rick Hyde & even battle rap icon RJ Payne. They even had a distribution deal with MNRK Music Group since everything was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic & put out an eponymous debut extended play hosted by DJ Drama not too long after, coming off Long Live DJ Shay to give us a sequel to A Friend of Ours.
“Chanel Boots” by Benny the Butcher & Elcamino encourages everyone to follow their lead over an orchestral boom bap beat from Ill Tone whereas “Broad Day Viewpoints” by Fuego Base & Rick Hyde produced by Chup goes for a blues rock vibe to tell it how it is. “Make It Make Sense” by Benny, Flames Dot Malik, Fuego & Sule hops over a soulful Conductor Williams instrumental sending a message to those fuckin’ with opps but Fuego Base admits to being “Traumatized” since Biggie’s murder, “My City” by Benny & Duckman ends the 1st half talking about running theirs.
Benny the Butcher & Fuego both appear during “Caine Sales” to discuss selling crack while “Butch in This Bitch” by Benny & Elcamino talks about learning how to cook rocks with them. “$20” by Flames Dot Malik & Moving Base O.T. breaks down the worth of every time a bitch blows her nose while “West End Tavern” by Elcamino, Rick Hyde & Sule depicts the lives of gangstas. “Elevate” concludes A Friend of Ours 2 with a decent Benny solo track talking about growth.
“India” has been widely considered by many to be one of Benny the Butcher’s greatest songs & considering that Black Soprano Family Records has changed A LOT since the summer of 2018, I was intrigued to see him showcasing all the artists who’ve joined since Long Live DJ Shay came out 4 years ago other than the exception of Elcamino being the only one who contributed to the original A Friends of Ours & it’s sequel that I’d place above the Ashes in the $afe collab EP Benny did with Fuego Base in April.
Score: 7/10