The Future: Benga

I thought when I wrote a post last month about Skream, I figured I would have to write one too for Croydon's other dubstep phenomenon: Benga.

Benga, along with Skream, is one of the genre's originators beginning with 'Skank / Dose' for Big Apple in 2002, followed by singles for his own Benga Beats starting in 2004. In 2007, Benga appeared on the Planet µ compilation '200' with the track 'Broken Dubstep'. During the same year, he released what has become one of dubstep's most enduring singles: 'Night' with Coki. In 2008, he released his debut full length album 'Diary of an Afro Warrior', which includes heavy cuts like 'Crunked Up' and the single 'Pleasure'. Most recently, Benga has released his 'Buzzin' / One Million' single with the chunky A-side track 'Buzzin'' and the Fatboy Slim sampling cut 'One Million' that nabs some of the vocals from 'Star 69'.

For Seattleites: Benga will be appearing at this year's Decibel Festival, be sure to check him out.

The Lowdown:
Benga 'Skank'
from 'Skank / Dose' (2002) (MP3 not available/CD not available)
Benga 'Broken Dubstep'
from '200' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Benga and Coki 'Night'
from 'Night' (2007) (MP3/CD)
Benga 'Crunked Up' and 'Pleasure'
from 'Diary of an Afro Warrior' (2008) (MP3/Import CD)
Benga 'Buzzin'' and 'One Million'
from 'Buzzin' / One Million' (2009) (MP3/CD not available)
Fatboy Slim 'Star 69'
from 'Halfway Between the Gutter and the Star' (2000) (MP3/CD)

Related Posts:
The Future: Flying Lotus
The Future: Skream

The Future: Skream

There haven't been many posts in the category for The Future and this one may not be the best way to restart it as this dude's been the future for a while, but the focus of this post will be on Croydon dubstep artist Skream.

After early appearances on the Big Apple label, one of the few labels breaking the dubstep sound at the time, Skream hit it big in 2005 with the single 'Midnight Request Line', which is still in the pantheon of the most recognizable singles of the genre. Following the single's success, Skream began to issue music with his Skreamizm series, starting in 2006 with 'Skreamizm Vol. 1' which contain slamming cuts like 'Glamma'. In the same year, Skream released one of dubstep's first full length albums: 'Skream!'. The album contains tracks like the JME backed single 'Tapped' and the B-side cut 'Dutch Flowerz'.

More recently, Skream has honed his style on newer singles like 2008's 'Hedd Banger', which pulls a clever sample from Missy Elliott's Timbaland produced hit 1997 single 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)'. Just a few months ago, Skream released a split single with the dubstep artist Benga with a new intense track titled 'Trapped in a Dark Bubble', which will surely ignite dubstep heads.

If you are in Seattle this week, Skream will be playing at Trinity on Wednesday, June 10th. See you there!

The Lowdown:
Skream 'Midnight Request Line'
from 'Midnight Request Line' 12" (2005) (MP3/CD not available)
Skream 'Glamma'
from 'Skreamizm Vol. 1' (2006) (MP3/CD not available)
Skream 'Tapped' and 'Dutch Flowerz'
from 'Skream!' (2006) (MP3/CD)
Skream 'Hedd Banger'
from 'Hedd Banger' (2008) (MP3/CD not available)
Missy Elliott 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)'
from 'Supa Dupa Fly' (1997) (MP3/CD)
Clean: 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)'
Skream 'Trapped in a Dark Bubble'
from 'Trapped in a Dark Bubble' (2009) (MP3/CD not available)

Bonus Cuts:
'Midnight Request Line' is so popular that it has spawned two fairly high profile remixes: Switch's remix of 'Midnight Request Line' adds signature blog house grinding synths to a slowed down rhythm while Hot Chip's remix of 'Midnight Request Line' banks on the band's indefinable style.