Benny The Butcher, Fuego Base & Black Soprano – Ashes In The Safe (Album Review)

“Ashes In The Safe” smells like brick dust and expensive leather seats.

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TOP 3

3. Like It Is

I’ll be completely honest with you: I came here to listen to Benny The Butcher rap. “Like It Is” is heavy on the Benny The Butcher side, and I am not complaining.

Over production that sounds like a chandelier full of sharp pieces crashing into each other, Benny sets the tone with a commanding verse and chorus that I absolutely love. He spends the track reminding listeners how authentic he is, which means plenty of talk about dealing drugs, violence, and being completely unshakable.

Fuego does his thing, too, picking up the baton from Benny and running s**t to the finish line, but when it’s all said and done, this is one of the only tracks where folks are living in Benny’s world.

2. Warehouse 4 (Ft. OT The Real & Rick Hyde)

The biggest selling point of “Warehouse 4” is this: I absolutely love it when soulful production gets paired with street bars galore. That happens here, with a twist.

Each rapper brings a different street persona to the track. Rick Hyde sounds like the veteran who lost his voice arguing with people at the bodega. OT The Real comes across as the hungry grinder still trying to prove himself. Fuego Base feels like the hype man ready to crash out if his people need him to. Benny The Butcher, meanwhile, sounds like the one calling all the shots.

When it comes to posse cuts, you need variety like this to keep my interest.

1. Castellammarese War (Ft. OT The Real)

My favorite thing about “Castellammarese War” is Benny The Butcher’s verse. It is his best on the album.

After OT The Real sets the tone with a spooky, nasally verse, Benny comes through skating on the beat like a Black Bart Simpson with rocks in his pocket, delivering a flow that had me making the stank face for a very long time.

The second-best thing about the track is the production. That beat has a diabolical, mad scientist feel that only needed a few evil laughs to complete its villain arc.

Lastly, Fuego Base, who sounds exactly like Jadakiss on this track, delivers a pretty solid verse. He especially caught my attention with that Epstein bar (Epstein bars have gone triple platinum in 2026).

SONG-BY-SONG RATING

1. AITS (Intro) (N/A)

2. Sundial (3.5/5)

3. Pyrex & Prayers (3.5/5)

4. Like It Is (4/5)

5. Rev X (Ft. Sule) (3.5/5)

6. The Fighting Irish (3/5)

7. Warehouse 4 (Ft. OT The Real & Rick Hyde) (4/5)

8. Big Shirley (3/5)

9. Castellammarese War (Ft. OT The Real) (4/5)

RGM RATING

(71%)

In what setting are you supposed to enjoy this kind of music?

Ashes In The Safe is a project that sticks closely to the grimy formula that has long worked for Benny The Butcher’s camp. From the jump, the album is powered by cold, mob-influenced production, packed with eerie loops, heavy drums, and the kind of dark atmosphere Griselda has made a living off of. It is street rap music with no interest in softening the edges.

For listeners who love gritty bars about hustling, drug dealing, surviving rough environments, moving with dangerous people, and getting it out of the mud, this project will feel right at home. There is no identity crisis here. The album knows exactly what lane it wants to occupy and never swerves out of it. If you want love songs, press play on Kehlani’s upcoming album, which is coming out in a matter of hours.

Fuego Base is arguably the project’s engine. He shows up hungry, often setting the tone early on tracks and carrying a noticeable share of the momentum. What stands out most is how much he mirrors some of Benny’s strongest habits: sharp punchlines, steady flows, and a calm but dangerous delivery style. Frfr, he rarely wastes a verse.

Benny The Butcher brings the veteran presence you would expect. He sounds effortless, overloaded with swagger, and fully in command whenever he touches the mic. His verses are filled with street talk, flexes, and reminders that his authenticity is not for debate. Even when he is not trying to overpower tracks, he still adds weight to them. Guys like Rick Hyde and OT The Real fill the gaps, and they definitely leave their mark.

Let’s keep it honest, this project does not break new ground. If you have followed Benny The Butcher’s recent run, much of this will feel familiar. The themes, beats, and performances are solid, but there are not many moments that truly surprise or elevate it into must-hear territory. All in all, if you heard one of these tapes, you’ve heard them all.

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