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

dancehall Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Ro ...

deejay A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobil ...

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 The music industry consists of the individuals and organizations that earn money by writing songs and musical compositions, creating and selling recorded music and sheet music, presenting concerts, as well as the organizations that aid, trai ...

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 Voice or voicing is a term used in phonetics and phonology to characterize speech sounds (usually consonants). Speech sounds can be described as either voiceless (otherwise known as ''unvoiced'') or voiced. The term, however, is used to refe ...

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 Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007) is an American record label distributed by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-based record label of note ...

, who issued his second album, ''Uncommonly Smooth'', in 1995, featuring duets with

Chevelle Franklyn Chevelle Franklyn (born 4 March 1974) is a Jamaican reggae and gospel reggae singer. Early life and reggae career Born in the Tawes Pen area of Spanish Town in St. Catherine Parish, Franklyn was the fourth in a family of ten children. She was f ...

("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 Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, musician, and actor. At the age of nine, Jean immigrated to the United States with his family. He first achieved fame as a member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, ...

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 House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago's underground club culture in the late 1970s, as DJs began altering ...

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''.Morgan, Simone (2013)
What's Spragga up to?
, ''

Jamaica Observer ''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety ...

'', 13 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013 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 Lescott Kevin Lyttle Coombs (born 14 September 1976) is a Vincentian soca artist, who had a worldwide hit with " Turn Me On" in 2003, recorded with the dancehall artist Spragga Benz. Career Lyttle was encouraged by his family to pursue musi ...

and

Shannon Shannon may refer to: People * Shannon (given name) * Shannon (surname) * Shannon (American singer), stage name of singer Shannon Brenda Greene (born 1958) * Shannon (South Korean singer), British-South Korean singer and actress Shannon Arrum Wil ...

, with the aim of breaking into the US market.Jackson, Kevin (2003)
Spragga Benz gears up for crossover rush
, ''

'', 9 May 2003 In July 2007, Benz co-hosted the

Urban Music Awards The Urban Music Awards (UMA) is a hip-hop, R&B, dance, and soul music awards ceremony which was launched by Jordan Kensington in 2003 and is now held in several countries. The US version of the award ceremony, the Urban Music Awards USA, wa ...

in New York with Foxy Brown.Walters, Basil (2007)
Spragga Benz, Foxy Brown to co-host Urban Music Awards
, ''

'', 29 June 2007 Benz was nominated for three awards at the first Caribbean Urban Music Awards, held in Jamaica in April 2008.Cooke, Mel (2008)
Nominees announced for first Caribbean Urban Music Awards
", ''

Jamaica Gleaner ''The Gleaner'' is an English-language, morning daily newspaper founded by two brothers, Jacob and Joshua de Cordova on 13 September 1834 in Kingston, Jamaica. Originally called the ''Daily Gleaner'', the name was changed on 7 December 1992 to '' ...

'', 12 March 2008 On 31 August 2010 Spragga Benz released his sixth solo album ''Shotta Culture''. His 2019 album ''Chiliagon'' topped the ''Billboard'' Reggae Albums chart.

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.Spragga Benz reaches out
", ''

'', 30 April 2009 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

*''Jack It Up'' (1994), VP *''Uncommonly Smooth'' (1995),

Capitol A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity. Specific capitols include: * United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. * Numerou ...

*''Two Bad DJs'' with Beenie Man (1999) *''Fully Loaded'' (2000), VP *''Thug Nature'' (2002), Empire Musicwerks *''Live Good'' (2007) *''Shotta Culture'' (2010) *''Chiliagon'' (2019),

Easy Star Easy Star All-Stars is a reggae collective founded in 1997 by Michael Goldwasser, Eric Smith, Lem Oppenheimer and Remy Gerstein of New York City-based Easy Star Records. The band is known for its reinterpretations of classic albums in reggae sty ...

Singles

*"Oh Yeah" feat. Foxy Brown - US R&B #63 *"A1 Lover" *"Jack It Up" *"Run Things" *"Wi Nuh Like" *"Y" feat. Carly Simon *"Chicken Head Remix" feat.

*" Turn Me On" feat.

- US #4, US R&B #20, UK #2, AUS #3, AUT #6, BEL #5, DEN #1, FRA #10, GER #2, GRE #2, ITA #3, NETH #2, NOR #2, SWE #5, SWI #3 *"She Nuh Ready Yet" / "Backshot" feat. Lady Saw *"Mad House Tek Him" *"No Way Remix" *"Red Dot Special (Rha-Ta-Ta-Ta)"(featuring

Swizz Beatz Kasseem Daoud Dean (born September 13, 1978), known professionally as Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, rapper, disc jockey (DJ) and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, Dean embarked on his musical career as a DJ. At the ag ...

Shabba Ranks Shabba Ranks (born Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon; 17 January 1966) is a Jamaican dancehall musician. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was one of the most popular Jamaican musicians in the world. Throughout his prominence in his home cou ...

and

Kardinal Offishall Jason Drew Harrow (born May 11, 1976), 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 coun ...

) *"Shotta Culture" *"This Is the Way" feat.

Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air ...

*"Eat Buddy" feat.Poizn Ivy *"Hotter Dan Dem" 2012 *"Nothin' But Love (Feat. Black Pearl)"

WonderSound Records 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 ...

2014 *"Pop It Off" and "Pop It Off REMIX" (feat.

Smoke DZA Sean Pompey (born February 8, 1984), better known by his stage name Smoke DZA, is an American rapper and songwriter. Biography 1984–2007: Early life and career beginnings Smoke DZA was born February 8, 1984 at Harlem Hospital in New York ...

& Sierra Leone)

2014

Notable appearances

*"Fire"

Kelis Kelis Rogers-Mora (; born August 21, 1979), known mononymously as Kelis, is an American singer, songwriter and a professionally trained chef. At age 14, she was admitted to New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Perfor ...

feat. Spragga Benz *"The Best Man"

feat. Spragga Benz and Darryl Riley *" Gangsta Gal"

Tanya Stephens Vivienne Tanya Stephenson (born 2 July 1973),Lim, Ann-Margaret (2004)All Woman: Tanya Stephens", ''Jamaica Observer'', 3 May 2004. Retrieved 31 October 2010

feat. Spragga Benz *"Iron Bars"

Stephen Marley Stephen Robert Nesta Marley (born April 20, 1972) is a Jamaican-American musician. The son of Bob Marley, Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, three times as a solo artist, twice as a producer of his younger paternal half-brother Dam ...

feat.

Julian Marley Julian Ricardo Marley (born 4 June 1975) is a British-Jamaican reggae musician, songwriter, producer and humanitarian. He is the son of reggae music icon Bob Marley, and Lucy Pounder. He follows in his father's footsteps and is a devout Rasta ...

and Spragga Benz *"Working Ways"

feat. Spragga Benz

011 The following is a list of different international call prefixes that need to be dialled when placing an international telephone call from different countries. Countries by international prefix Countries using optional carrier selection code ...

*"Lullabye" Toni Norville feat. Spragga Benz *"Bounce With Me Remix" Lil Bow Wow feat. Spragga Benz *"We Can"

Alison Hinds Alison Amanda Hinds (born 1 June 1970) is a British-born Bajan soca artist based in Barbados. She is one of the most popular soca singers in the world. Biography Alison Hinds was born in London on 1 June 1970 and grew up in Plaistow.Batey, A ...

feat. Spragga Benz (WI Cricket Theme Song 2002) *"Spanish Harlem" (feat.Ben E King) (uncommonly smooth 1995 capitol) *"Another One Partner"

Machel Montano Machel Jesus Montano (born 24 November 1974)Thompson, Dave (2002), ''Reggae & Soca Music'', Backbeat Books, , pp. 300–301. is a Trinidadian soca singer, actor, record producer and songwriter. Known for his high energy, fast-paced, and often u ...

feat. Spragga Benz, Red Rat and Buccaneer (album: Same High) *"Jealousy" video with Charles & Eddie, 1995 *"Don't Walk Away" Skull feat. Spragga Benz

Filmography

*'' Shottas'' (Source Award Winner 2002) (Wayne) *''Brooklyn Babylon'' (1999) (Himself)

References

External links

*
News on Spragga Benz

Spragga claims that … COPS SHOT UP HIS SON’S MEMORIAL
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benz, Spragga 1969 births Living people Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican dancehall musicians Jamaican reggae singers Jamaican male songwriters 20th-century Jamaican male singers 21st-century Jamaican male singers Capitol Records artists Easy Star Records artists VP Records artists