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Jarren Benton  

Rapper, Part of XXL's 2014 Freshman Class

Jarren Benton is an American rapper from Decatur, Georgia.

In 2009 he released his first official mixtape titled, “Jarren Benton: The Mixtape,” produced entirely by The Beatgods. In 2011 Benton released a collaboration mixtape with producer SMKA. The mixtape titled “Huffing Glue With Hasslehoff” was supported by the lead single "Get a Load of Me". He soon begun to gain attention after the release of his song "Skitzo", which has received over 1.3 million hits on YouTube. American underground rapper Hopsin would watch the video, and passed it on to Funk Volume CEO Dame Ritter. Ritter would contact Benton a few months later and then in 2012, Hopsin and Ritter signed Benton to their Funk Volume record label. Benton’s first project on Funk Volume, a mixtape titled “Freebasing with Kevin Bacon” would be released later on in 2012. The mixtape featured guest appearances from Dizzy Wright, 2 Chainz, Rittz, Freeway, Gangsta Boo, Jon Connor, and Planet VI among others.

In late 2012 he toured internationally with Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, SwizZz and DJ Hoppa for two-months, which included 54 shows in 60 days in the United States, Europe, and Australia. He explained his mindset going into his debut album saying, "This album has a different vibe. It’s a lot more personal stuff so people can learn who Jarren is." He also said it will feature a more refined production sound that translates more to his ambitions of being a household name. In 2013 Benton would release his debut studio album “My Grandma's Basement” on Funk Volume. The album featured guest appearances by Dizzy Wright, Hopsin, R.A. The Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz and SwizZz. “My Grandma's Basement” debuted and peaked at number 152 on the Billboard 200 and number four on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.

In the early fall of 2013 Benton toured the United States on the “Grandma's Basement Tour,” his first solo headlining tour. Then, Benton went on "The Life And Times Tour" with Strange Music rapper Rittz and Atlantic Records rapper Snow Tha Product. Benton also featured on Hopsin's third studio album “Knock Madness,” on the song "Who's There" with Funk Volume label mate Dizzy Wright. Benton received the most fan-votes votes, earning a spot on the 2014 XXL freshman class and was named the "People's Champ". He was the oldest rapper that had ever been selected to the list at 32.

Currently he is working on his second studio album.

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