Johnny P's Caddy
by Benny the Butcher (featuring J. Cole)

Album: Tana Talk 4 (2022)
Charted: 72
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Johnny P's Caddy" finds Benny The Butcher boasting about his rise to the top of the rap game. The hip-hop artist, born Jeremie Damon Pennick, is reaping the rewards of all the hard work he put in and perseverance he showed.
  • Later on in the verse, Benny defends the work he's put into Griselda Records. His two older cousins and fellow artists, Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine, founded the Buffalo-based collective and independent record label in 2012. Benny has played a key role in consolidating and preserving its status.
  • The song title, which doesn't appear in the lyrics, refers to an old-school Cadillac the rapper's dad owned when Jeremie Pennick was growing up. Benny credits the car with encouraging him to get into hip-hop, as his father used to take him and Westside Gunn for drives to listen to music. "Johnny P was someone who instilled pride in me early when I was young. Cadillacs, cars, and jewelries," explained Benny. "Those were like trophies, and he was always known for having a nice, big, shiny Cadillac."
  • J. Cole steps in halfway through with a braggadocios verse in which he says he was destined to be a great rapper. The Dreamville head honcho kicks off his bars by recounting his dramatic birth. Perhaps intentionally, Benny released the song on Jermaine Cole's actual birthday, January 28th.
  • Eminem's tour DJ, The Alchemist, created the beat. He samples the drums from Dexter Wansel's 1976 track "Theme From the Planets." Cole has twice used the same sample: on his 2009 cut "Lights Please," and his 2016 single "Everybody Dies."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Grateful Dead Characters

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.