Member Since: 4/30/2006
Band Members:
SEE TO THE RIGHT FOR BAND MEMBERS, PROJECTS, etc! For THE STORY SO FAR (pretty much), then read on: BENNY DICTION has been gigging and appearing at open mics in Liverpool since his arrival in the city back in 2001, when he used to solo under the name of MC FUNKTION. Although he penned his first verse back in 1997 ("We had to do a song about Christmas in music class so me and my mate thought we'd do a Christmas rap"), Ben didnt start writing properly until 1999, inspired by Golden Age names like DE LA SOUL and WU-TANG. In 2000, he formed a group with schoolmates DJ SIMON B and MC D-FINE which would go on to be called THINKTANK. The first time he rhymed before a "proper" hip-hop audience was as a 17 year-old at RODNEY P's Sheffield gig in 2001, an intimidating experience at the time but ultimately enough of a buzz to motivate him to carry on . . .
When he came to Liverpool to study, he immediately became involved in the University HIP HOP SOCIETY, promoting and performing at society-organised nights such as Sunday Service, the longest-running night at the Magnet EVER (big up to SKETCHY BWOY). In early 2003 still under the Funktion moniker, he formed another group, FU-2, with Liverpool-based rhymer FUSE (now OSCILLATE), before taking a hiatus to teach in France. On his return, with a new AKA and Fuse now known as Oscillate, FU-2 became R.A.H (RHYMES AGAINST HUMANITY) . . .
Although Oscillate has since returned to his hometown of Crouchend, N. London, Benny has retained his ties with the original North London specialist and there's still more to come from the dynamic duo. Recently, friendships with other Liverpool-based emcees RO JISTA and LOUIS CYPHER mean that Benny D I now rolls thick with the PUNNING CLAN, alongside new recruits TONY SKANK and 2WOTOES. Combined they are a force to be reckoned with! . . .
Over the years, both solo and with either Sketchy, the 'Clan or the 'Tank, Ben has supported and performed alongside the likes of ASPECTS, PHI-LIFE CYPHER, BROKE'N'ENGLISH, KAMANCHI SLY, FOREIGN BEGGARS (all @ SUNDAY SERVICE) RONI SIZE (@ CHIBUKU), DJ FOOD, PETER PARKER, DJ WOODY (w/ KINETIC FALLACY @ CHEAP THRILLS) and spat in spots as far away as Bavaria (big up all my PASSAU peeps), but the biggest/best gig so far has to have been with SOULS OF MISCHIEF @ the last ever Sunday Service. You can watch videos of our slot there here on this page - BIG UP DJ RASP for the footage. EXTRA SPECIAL SHOUTOUTS go to TONY LOCO, ODDBWAR and the NO EXCUSES crew for putting the 'Clan on back when we first formed properly . . .
Coming from a musical background (having played piano, violin, guitar and drums growing up), it also makes sense that Ben's ear for noise extends to beatmaking which, along with his freestyling and writing ability, is getting ever stronger . . .
As well as ThinkTank and Punning Clan EPs, Ben intends to put out a SOLO EP ("HARD GRAFT, ARTS & CRAFTS & HEARY LAUGHS"), along with collabos with musician DYLEMMA (of Kinetic Fallacy) and fellow punners 2woToes ("THE DICTOETORSHIP") and Ro Jista ("STRAY MATTER"). After starting to work more closely with one of Merseyside's finest, DJ RASP, the Clan were also asked to spit on and host his throwback mix, "THE RASPUTIN SESSIONS VOL. 1", which will be available FREE as a PODCAST and on CD at gigs. Expect more from Rasp and the Clan. Besides all that, expect to hear Benny's beats and/or rhymes on releases from the other Punners and affiliates in the near future. You might even see him doing a drunken DJ set at a Merseyside venue near you (maybe). Hip hop ya don't stop.
Influences: De La Soul, D.I.T.C., Organized Konfusion, RZA, GZA, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface, Raekwon, Redman, Oasis, The Verve, Braintax, Jehst, Company Flow, Cannibal Ox, Juggaknots, Tame-Wizza, Roots Manuva, The Roots, TTC, Saian Supa Crew, Orishas, Common, Bill Withers, Super Furry Animals, Erykah Badu, London Posse, Pulp, MF Doom, Lootpack, Dilated Peoples, Tha Alkaholiks, Cage, Non-Phixion, High & Mighty, Sir Menelik, Pendulum, Reprazent, Jean Grae, Ty, Big Daddy Kane, Big Punisher, Big L, Notorious B.I.G., Rakim, Kool G Rap, KRS-ONE, Mindbomb, Microdisiacs, The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, Faithless, Massive Attack, Nate Dogg, Cappo, Scor-zay-zee, Love, PEP LOVE!!!!!!!, Murs Millionaire, The Byrds, Paul Simon, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, King Tubby, Soft Hearted Scientists, Jimi Hendrix, Duke Ellington, Lewis Parker, Digital Underground, Kanye West, Premier, Vadim, Pete Rock, Beck, A Tribe Called Quest, Little Brother, Beastie Boys, Styles of Beyond, Ras Kass, Planet Asia, Aesop Rock, Blak Twang (Dettwork SE-era), Simon B, D-Fine, the Punning Clan, Soft Hearted Scientists, world music, jazz, classical music, random psychedelia and prog rock, banjos, Aphex Twin, Leftfield, yer ma, sounds in general, the list goes on...
Sounds Like: Me.
Record Label: Punning Clan Productions
Type of Label: None