Spragga Benz

Last updated

Spragga Benz
Birth nameCarlton Errington Grant
Also known asSpragga Benz
Born (1969-05-30) 30 May 1969 (age 54)
Kingston, Jamaica
Genres Dancehall
Occupation(s) Deejay, actor, musician
Years active1991–present
Labels VP, Capitol

Carlton Errington Grant (born 30 May 1969), better known as Spragga Benz, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay.

Contents

Career

He began his career around 1991. He was once known to his friends as "Spaghetti" (tall and slim), but this was later shortened to Spragga. The Benz in his name comes from the sound system for which he used to work for, L.A. Benz, and it is through this that he found his way into the music industry at a dubplate recording session with Buju Banton. The famed elder DJ was slated to do four tracks for L.A. Benz but only voiced two and suggested that Spragga do the other two. Since he was new to recording, he freestyled a couple of lines of what would then become, "Love Mi Gun", a popular tune.

He soon became an in-demand performer for numerous producers, including Bobby Digital, and hits followed with "Could a Deal" (produced by Winston Riley) and "Girls Hooray" (Steely & Clevie). A series of well-received singles followed, many included on his debut album, Jack It Up (1994). This success led to a deal with Capitol Records, who issued his second album, Uncommonly Smooth, in 1995, featuring duets with Chevelle Franklyn ("A-1 Lover") and "Spanish Harlem" (with Ben E. King). The album didn't sell well enough for Capitol, who dropped him, after which he spent a few years releasing further singles in Jamaica, also collaborating with the likes of Wyclef Jean and KRS-One. In 1999, he recorded a 'clash' album with Beenie Man, Two Badd DJs, and had a number one Jamaican hit single with "She Nuh Ready Yet (Hype Up)", which was also included on his third album, Fully Loaded (2000). This album featured duets with Lady Saw (on "Backshot") and Foxy Brown (on "Too Stoosh"), and was co-produced by house music legend Todd Terry. In the same year, Benz made his film acting debut in Brooklyn Babylon , and the following year played a leading role in the gangster film Shottas . [1] 2002 saw the release of his fourth album, Thug Nature.

In 2003, Benz recorded a number of duets, with the likes of Carly Simon, Kevin Lyttle and Shannon, with the aim of breaking into the US market. [2] In July 2007, Benz co-hosted the Urban Music Awards in New York with Foxy Brown. [3] Benz was nominated for three awards at the first Caribbean Urban Music Awards, held in Jamaica in April 2008. [4] On 31 August 2010 Spragga Benz released his sixth solo album Shotta Culture. [1] [5]

His 2019 album Chiliagon topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. [6]

Personal life

In the late 1990s, Benz founded the Stay in School program which provided help for needy students in his hometown of Franklin Town. [7]

Carlton "Carlyle" Grant Jr., his 17-year-old son who had played a younger version of Benz's character in the film Shottas , was killed by local police in Kingston, Jamaica, on 23 August 2008. Police say they stopped two men on a bicycle in the Kingston 8 area, and when they approached them, one of the men began firing at them. The police said they returned fire and the men fled. When they searched the area they found Grant Jr. suffering from gunshot wounds and in possession of a .45 semi-automatic pistol. Grant Jr. was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Following his son's death, Benz founded the Carlisle Foundation, with the aim of helping local youths.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Notable appearances

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bounty Killer</span> Jamaican musician

Rodney Basil Price, known as Bounty Killer, is a Jamaican lyricist and reggae and dancehall deejay. AllMusic describes him as "one of the most aggressive dancehall stars of the '90s, a street-tough rude boy with an unrepentant flair for gun talk". He is considered one of the best dancehall lyricists of all-time.

Lescott Kevin Lyttle Coombs, is a Vincentian soca artist, who had a worldwide hit with "Turn Me On" in 2003, recorded with the dancehall artist Spragga Benz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kardinal Offishall</span> Canadian rapper, record producer and DJ

Jason Drew Harrow, better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, DJ, and record executive. Often credited as Canada's "hip hop ambassador", he is regarded as one of the country's best hip hop producers, and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip hop.

<i>Shottas</i> 2002 Jamaican film

Shottas is a 2002 Jamaican crime film about two young men who participate in organized crime in Kingston and Miami. It stars Ky-Mani Marley, Spragga Benz, Paul Campbell and Louie Rankin and was written and directed by Cess Silvera. Despite its low budget, the distribution of an unfinished bootleg made it a cult favourite long before its official limited release in the United States by Triumph Films and Destination Films in 2006.

Cham is a Jamaican-born dancehall singer-songwriter and actor, mostly known for his 2006 single "Ghetto Story" from his major label debut album of the same name, a song which led to multiple "story" songs by other artists in a similar vein. He is currently signed to Atlantic Records, and was known as Baby Cham until 2005. He is still called Baby Cham by his Jamaican fans and fans from around the world despite the name change.

Madhouse Records is a record label founded by Dave Kelly and his business partner Janet Davidson. The label is named after its out-of-the-box approach to making music, which earned the label the name Madhouse. In 1987, Janet was living in London, running Germain Music along with producer Donovan Germain. She was also the manager of Maxi Priest. Dave's brother Anthony "Tony" Kelly was assistant engineer at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong label and Dave soon joined him there, learning the trade of engineering. Soon, the Kelly brothers joined Maxi Priest on the road as tour engineers. In 1988, Dave Kelly partnered with Germain to start Penthouse Productions, where he worked out of Penthouse studios as engineer, producer, writer, mixer, and beat maker for the label's records, playing a crucial role during Penthouse's glory days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mavado (singer)</span> Jamaican dancehall singer

David Constantine Brooks, better known by his stage name Mavado, is a Jamaican dancehall singer, who is signed to We the Best Music Group and formerly to Cash Money Records.

<i>Eye & I</i> 1997 studio album by Kardinal Offishall

Eye & I is the debut album of Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, released independently in December 1997, on Capitol Hill Music, and distributed by St. Clair Entertainment. The album was critically acclaimed. One single, "On wit da Show", was released from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dangerous (Kardinal Offishall song)</span> 2008 single by Kardinal Offishall featuring Akon

"Dangerous" is a song by Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall featuring American singer Akon. Produced by DJ Kemo and hAZEL, it was the first single from his fourth album, Not 4 Sale. It was released to radio in March 2008, and on iTunes on April 1. On the week of May 13, at the American iTunes Store, the song was offered as a free download. The song won the award for Single of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards. In January 2023, the single was certified 4× platinum by Music Canada and 3× platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BaKardi Slang</span> 2000 single by Kardinal Offishall

"BaKardi Slang" is a hip-hop song by Kardinal Offishall. Produced by Solitair, it was the first single from his second album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1. The single was released in Canada in 2000, before being re-released in the U.S. the following year. It became his first single to appear on a Billboard chart, as well as his first Top 40 hit as a solo artist in Canada.

Dwayne Chin-Quee, better known as Supa Dups, is a Jamaican record producer, a drummer, and selector based in Miami, Florida. He is a member of the Black Chiney sound system. His father is a second generation Chinese Jamaican, and his mother is of Hakka Chinese, German, and African descent.

Andrew Bradford, known by the stage name Buccaneer is a Jamaican dancehall artist He first emerged in 1994 and has released three albums. He later went into production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money Jane</span> 2000 single by Baby Blue Soundcrew featuring Kardinal Offishall, Sean Paul, and Jully Black

"Money Jane" is a song recorded by Canadian DJ group Baby Blue Soundcrew featuring Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall, Jamaican musician Sean Paul, and Canadian singer-songwriter Jully Black. It was released by Universal Music Canada in 2000, and was the first single from the group's debut studio compilation album Private Party Collectors Edition; a remix was included on Offishall's 2001 album Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1. "Money Jane" is a Canadian hip hop and dancehall song with lyrics about a wealthy woman who provides financial and material support for her male companion. The song is noted for its influence on Toronto's hip hop music scene, and is credited with launching Paul's international music career.

Collin Demar Edwards, better known by his stage name Demarco, is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae recording artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghetto Love (Karl Wolf song)</span> 2011 single by Karl Wolf featuring Kardinal Offishall

"Ghetto Love" is a 2011 single by Canadian artist Karl Wolf from his 2012 album Finally Free. The single released in May 2011 features Canadian artist Kardinal Offishall with downloads made available on May 17, 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assassin (deejay)</span> Jamaican dancehall DJ

Jeffrey E. Campbell, better known as Agent Sasco, and Assassin, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Wade Keusch</span>

Peter Wade Keusch, more commonly known as Peter Wade, is a record producer, recording engineer, mixer, songwriter and A&R. His artist development projects include MNDR, Party Nails and numerous songwriters and producers signed to his record label WonderSound and publishing company 120 Music. Wade's production and writing credits include Kid Ink, Jennifer Lopez, Martin Solveig, Kylie Minogue, and Flume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellowman</span> Jamaican reggae singer

Winston Foster, better known by the stage name Yellowman, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, also known as King Yellowman. He first became popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, rising to prominence with a series of singles that established his reputation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smoke DZA discography</span>

The discography of Smoke DZA, an American hip hop artist, consists of eight studio albums, twenty-five mixtapes, and thirteen singles,.

Nateshia Lindsay, better known by her stage name Ms. Thing, is a Jamaican dancehall vocalist and deejay. She is best known for providing vocals on the international hit song "Dude" by Beenie Man, which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.

References

  1. 1 2 Morgan, Simone (2013) "What's Spragga up to?", Jamaica Observer , 13 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013
  2. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (2003) "Spragga Benz gears up for crossover rush", Jamaica Observer , 9 May 2003
  3. ↑ Walters, Basil (2007) "Spragga Benz, Foxy Brown to co-host Urban Music Awards", Jamaica Observer , 29 June 2007
  4. ↑ Cooke, Mel (2008) "Nominees announced for first Caribbean Urban Music Awards Archived 17 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Gleaner , 12 March 2008
  5. ↑ artist: Spragga Benz album: Shotta Culture iTunes
  6. ↑ Jackson, Kevin (2019) "Spragga cruises to Billboard top", Jamaica Observer , 9 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019
  7. ↑ "Spragga Benz reaches out Archived 3 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine ", Jamaica Gleaner , 30 April 2009
  8. ↑ Peter Wade Keusch
  9. ↑ "Red Dot Special (Rha-Ta-Ta-Ta) – Single by Spragga Benz". iTunes Store . Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "Pop It Off REMIX (feat. Smoke DZA & Sierra Leone) - Single by Spragga Benz". iTunes Store . Retrieved 1 October 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.