Spragga Benz
(born Carlton Errington Grant
, 30 May 1969, Kingston, Jamaica), [1] [2] is a Jamaican dancehall deejay.
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SPRAGGA BENZ TICKETS
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Career
He began his career around 1991. 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-demend 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
.
2002 saw the release of his fourth album,
Thug Nature
.
In 2003, Benz recorded a number of duets, with the likes of
Carly Simon and
Shannon, with the aim of breaking into the US market.
[3] In July 2007, Benz co-hosted the
Urban Music Awards in New York with Foxy Brown.
[4] Benz was nominated for three awards at the first Caribbean Urban Music Awards, held in Jamaica in April 2008.
[5]
Personal life
In the late 1990s, Benz founded the
Stay In School
programme which provided help for needy students in his hometown of Franklin Town.
Carlton "Carlisle" Grant Jr., his 17-year-old son who had played a younger version of Benz's character in the film
Shottas
, was shot and killed by local police in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday August 23, 2008.
[6] 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.
[7]
Discography
Albums
- Jack It Up
(1994) VP
- Uncommonly Smooth
(1995) Capitol
- Two Bad DJs
with Beenie Man (1999)
- Fully Loaded
(2000) VP
- Thug Nature
(2002) Empire Musicwerks
Singles
- "Oh Yeah" feat. Foxy Brown;# 63 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
- "A1 Lover"
- "Jack It Up"
- "Run Things"
- "Wi Nuh Like"
- "Chicken Head Remix" feat. [Wyclef Jean]
- "Turn Me On" feat. Kevin Lyttle; # 4 US, # 20 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
- "She Nuh Ready Yet" / "Backshot" feat. Lady Saw
- "Mad House Tek Him"
- "No Way Remix" and more.
Notable appearances
- "Fire" Kelis feat. Spragga Benz
- "The Best Man" Kardinal Offishall feat. Spragga Benz and Darryl Riley
- "Gangsta Gal" Tanya Stephens feat. Spragga Benz
- "Iron Bars" Stephen Marley feat. Julian Marley and Spragga Benz
- "Lullabye" Toni Norville feat. Spragga Benz
- "Bounce With Me Remix" Lil Bow Wow feat. Spragga Benz
- "We Can" Alison Hinds feat. Spragga Benz (WI Cricket Theme Song 2002)
- "Spanish Harlem (feat.Ben E King) (uncommonly smooth 1995 capitol)
- "Another One Partner" Machel Montano feat. Spragga Benz, Red Rat and Buccaneer (album: Same High)
Filmography
- Shottas
(Source Award Winner 2004) (Wayne)
- Brooklyn Babylon
(1999) (Himself)
References
- Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p.23-24
- Huey, Steve "Spragga Benz Biography", '''Allmusic'', Macrovision Corporation
- Jackson, Kevin (2003) "Spragga Benz gears up for crossover rush", ''Jamaica Observer'', 9 May 2003
- Walters, Basil (2007) "Spragga Benz, Foxy Brown to co-host Urban Music Awards", ''Jamaica Observer'', 29 June 2007
- Cooke, Mel (2008) "Nominees announced for first Caribbean Urban Music Awards", ''Jamaica Gleaner'', 12 March 2008
- Walters, Sacha (2008) "Shattered Dreams - Carlton Grant Jr's mom reflects on lost possibilities", ''Jamaica Gleaner'', 10 September 2008
- "Spragga Benz reaches out", ''Jamaica Gleaner'', 30 April 2009