jarren-benton

Another fresh face from the A, Jarren Benton definitely descends from the ATLien tree rather than the Southern gangsta of Jeezy and T.I. His rhyme style shows deference to Atlanta’s King of Hip-Hop but the mix of violence, personal intimacy and humor shows his ear is tuned to MCs from other areas as well, particular those calling Detroit home.

Admittedly, not all of the 28 tracks are memorable and Benton’s reliant on recycling popular beats for half the tracks. But the best moments, such as the bluesy coming-up ballad “Southern Man,” suggest a future for the Southern MC. The head-boppin’ piano loop bounces along and Jarren’s intimate family portrait gets you on his side.

But “Southern Man’s” traditional roots don’t properly capture the weirdo vibe of the album. “Wingz” spacey sound and helium sound effects are more revealing. There’s plenty of hazy rhyming about Jarren’s “condition,” as well as braggadocios boasts about future success. Yet even if his head’s amongst the stars, his seems to stay grounded—the product of someone who’s familiar with responsibility and struggle.

Grab the whole thing and ride out.

jarren_benton_mx_bc

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download — Jarren Benton – “Southern Man”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download — Jarren Benton – “Wingz”

Download — The Beatgods Present Jarren Benton – The Mixtape