Benga (artist)
Encyclopedia
Benga is a dubstep
music producer from Croydon
, South London
. He was born in Beni Uthman in East London. He is part of the Tempa and Big Apple Records label. He was also one of the first dubstep producers when the style was emerging in the early 2000s. He has been featured on a variety of compilations including Mary Anne Hobbs
's Warrior Dubz
, Tempa's The Roots of Dubstep and the BBC Radio 1Xtra
anniversary mix. Benga is also noted for using acoustic drums
on some songs, including "Live Drums" and "Evolution".
In 2007 Benga, along with fellow producers Skream
and Artwork, formed the dubstep supergroup
Magnetic Man
.
Benga released the cross-over anthem Night with DMZ
's Coki in early 2008, followed by his second album, Diary of an Afro Warrior
, both on Tempa. Resident Advisor
described it as "one of the most anticipated LPs in dubstep yet."
From January 2011, Benga joined BBC Radio 1
with Skream as part of 'In New DJ's We Trust'. Skream and Benga will be performing together at Field Day music festival in Sydney
, Australia
on New Years Day 2012.
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
music producer from Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
. He was born in Beni Uthman in East London. He is part of the Tempa and Big Apple Records label. He was also one of the first dubstep producers when the style was emerging in the early 2000s. He has been featured on a variety of compilations including Mary Anne Hobbs
Mary Anne Hobbs
Mary Anne Hobbs is an English DJ and music journalist from Garstang, Lancashire. She launched a new Primetime show on Xfm on 9 July 2011-Early career:...
's Warrior Dubz
Warrior Dubz
Warrior Dubz is a dubstep compilation released in 2006 on the Planet Mu label. The album was compiled by Mary Anne Hobbs.-Track listing:#Milanese vs...
, Tempa's The Roots of Dubstep and the BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1Xtra is a digital radio station in the United Kingdom from the BBC specialising in new black music, sometimes referred to as urban music. Launched at 18:00 on 16 August 2002, it had been codenamed Network X during the consulation period and is the sister station to BBC Radio 1...
anniversary mix. Benga is also noted for using acoustic drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on some songs, including "Live Drums" and "Evolution".
In 2007 Benga, along with fellow producers Skream
Skream
Skream is a dubstep producer based in Croydon. One of dubstep's first and most prominent producers, he has played an important role in the genre's development. His debut album Skream! was released in 2006, and was followed up by Outside the Box in 2010...
and Artwork, formed the dubstep supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Magnetic Man
Magnetic Man
Magnetic Man is an electronic music project consisting of dubstep producers and DJs, Benga, Skream and Artwork. The trio first met in the late 1990s at the Big Apple Records store in Croydon, England. They perform using three computers, one playing drum samples, one playing basses and the third...
.
Benga released the cross-over anthem Night with DMZ
Digital Mystikz
Digital Mystikz are a dubstep production duo from the South London suburb of Norwood. Along with Loefah and Sgt. Pokes, they operate the DMZ record label and host the influential bimonthly nightclub DMZ, held at the Mass club complex in Brixton, London...
's Coki in early 2008, followed by his second album, Diary of an Afro Warrior
Diary of an Afro Warrior
Diary of an Afro Warrior is the second album by dubstep producer Benga. Released in 2008 it was met with favourable reviews and has been credited – along with fellow Tempa artist, Skream – with introducing the genre to a more mainstream audience....
, both on Tempa. Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor is an online electronic music magazine dedicated to the global dance music scene. The website won a People's Voice award in the 12th Annual Webby Awards in 2008.-Site History:...
described it as "one of the most anticipated LPs in dubstep yet."
From January 2011, Benga joined BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
with Skream as part of 'In New DJ's We Trust'. Skream and Benga will be performing together at Field Day music festival in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on New Years Day 2012.
Discography
- Skank / Dose (Big Apple Records, 2002)
- The Judgement (Big Apple Records, 2003) with Skream
- Benga Beats Volume 1 (Benga Beats, 2004)
- Hydro (Big Apple Records, 2004) with Skream
- Newstep (Benga Beats, 2006) CD only album
- Newstep (Cheese on toast, 2006) CD only album
- 10 Tons Heavy (Planet µ, 2006) with Hatcha
- Comb 60s / Killers About (Planet µ, 2006)
- Invasion (Big Apple Records, 2006)
- Military (Hotflush Recordings, 2006) with Walsh
- Spooksville / Dreamscape 24 (Immerse, 2006) with Walsh
- The Southside EP (Southside Dubstars, 2006)
- Benga EP Volume 2 (Southside Dubstars, 2007)
- Bingo (Hotflush Recordings, 2007) with Walsh
- Crunked Up (Tempa, 2007)
- Night (Tempa, 2008) with Coki. Chart Position: #98 (UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
) - Diary of an Afro WarriorDiary of an Afro WarriorDiary of an Afro Warrior is the second album by dubstep producer Benga. Released in 2008 it was met with favourable reviews and has been credited – along with fellow Tempa artist, Skream – with introducing the genre to a more mainstream audience....
(Tempa, 2008) CD & vinyl album. Chart Position: #139 UK) - Pleasure EP (Tempa, 2008)
- Rinse Mix (DJ Magazine)
- Buzzin' / One Million (Tempa, 2009)
- Phaze One EP (Tempa 2010)
- TruBen (Tempa 2010) with Paul Trueman
- Smack Your Bitch Up (Tempa 2011)