Benny Starr
Charleston, South Carolina, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2010
Music
Press
Standing before 1,000 or so audience members who filled the Charleston Music Hall on Sept. 22 last year, rapper and activist Benny Starr wanted to make his intentions clear.
“We’re going to be black as hell in here tonight,” said Starr, 31. “So, if being black as hell is too much for you all tonight, then there’s two exit signs here.”
Starr — accompanied by social and political activists and community leaders in addition to his band, the Four20s — was there to record “A Water Album.” The 12-track LP is set for vinyl release on June 19, just 10 days after he made history as the first rapper to perform in the Spoleto Festival USA finale. - Post and Courier
Benjamin Starr speaks softly when he's not in a recording booth. His words are regularly full of emotion but sound as if they were chosen prudently. Starr's tactful diction and cool mood out of the spotlight stand in contrast to his talkative vigor on stage and his take-no-prisoners attitude in the rhyme book.
Maybe it's his adaptability, maybe it's his peaceful confrontation of social injustice, or maybe it's just his beats and words, but Starr knows how to captivate a room. And that's a skill he will put to good use with his latest release, titled A Water Album. - Charleston City Paper
The Charleston Music Hall played host to one of the most significant cultural events in recent city history September 22, 2018 as South Carolina-bred rapper Benny Starr spearheaded a seminal moment with the live debut recording of his second album, entitled “A Water Album.” Strengthened by dynamic guest performances, symbiotic band chemistry, and an impassioned audience, Starr held the crowd in the palm of his hand with flair and affection. The artistry on this display that night will soon be able to be experienced once again as Starr prepares for the “A Water Album” June 19 vinyl and digital commercial release. - The Charelston Chronicle
Discography
" A Water Album Recorded Live" (June 2019)
"Free Lunch" (June 2015)
"The SOULoist" (April 2013)
"Guns & Roses" (October 2012)
"The Scorsese Session" (April 2011)
"The Experience"(August 2010)
Photos
Bio
Through his masterful flow, lyricism, and magnetic stage presence, Pineville, South Carolina’s Benny Starr is an artist both timeless, and perfectly poised for his time and place.
The buzz around Starr’s talent has been growing for years through his singles, EPs, mixtapes, and freestyle performances, leading to the release of his first LP in 2015 entitled Free Lunch. Charleston City Paper’s Kyle Peterson described the record as “a soul and R&B sample-infused effort that showcased the emcee’s formidable technical skills and keen political and social consciousness, music that harkens back to hip-hop titans Nas and Talib Kweli.”
Starr continues to further his reputation as a deft collaborator and community leader. In 2016, he released a live band EP with Very Hypnotic Soul Band. VHSB is a group of socially conscious artists who collaborate on high concept genre-bending projects.
His sophomore LP, A Water Album (ft. The FOUR20s), was recorded live at Charleston Music Hall, and released on Juneteenth 2019. This blend of gospel, soul, jazz, and Hip-Hop continues to highlight Benny Starr as an undeniably powerful artistic force.
Band Members
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