Benga

Benga is a UK producer from Croydon, born in 1986, who works in dubstep, future house and UK garage. He is also part of Magnetic Man. His name is Adegbenga Adejumo.

Career

He is associated with Big Apple Records and is identified with the early development of dubstep in the south London scene. He is influenced by Wookie and works alongside Skream, with whom he co-produces material.

His debut 12-inch single, Skank, appears in late 2002. A co-production with Skream, The Judgement, appears on Big Apple in early 2003 and also on Dubstep Allstars Vol. 1, mixed by Hatcha. He then starts his own label, Benga Beats, and issues the three-track 12-inch Benga Beats, Vol. 1 in 2004.

Style and releases

Benga is described as an important figure in dubstep’s development because he combines the existing South London dubstep sound with the newer grime sound from East London. He is also one of the first dubstep producers active when the style emerges in the early 2000s.

He appears on a range of compilations, including Mary Anne Hobbs’s The Warrior Dubz, Tempa’s The Roots of Dubstep and the BBC 1Xtra anniversary mix. His album Diary of An Afro Warrior is published in 2008.