Born and raised in Kansas City’s south side, Big Ben grew up amid the dreary scenery of the lower middle class fit tightly between the suburbs and the slums. His surroundings split between gangland affiliations and organized crime, Ben had to rely on his natural entrepreneurial spirit to avoid becoming just another victim of street circumstance. “Kansas City is a place where you either sink or swim, there’s no in between. You’re either a victim or a product of this environment…and everyone is for themselves.†With his peers choosing sides in the streets campaign, Big Ben chose to work towards an exit from the high stakes street life gamble and take his earnings with him.
With encouragement from his brother and business partner Chubby, Ben made a move to legitimize his hustle and live for his first love, hip-hop. They quickly assembled one of the highest quality local studios in Kansas City and in 2003, Rek Room Entertainment was established. A poster boy for the lavish “get money†lifestyle, Ben took the lively production resonating inside Rek Room Studios and began to broaden the appeal of the cliché’ gangsta rap that so heavily weighed down the local scene. But KC isn’t the environment to breed local love and making ends meet via a rap career proved to be tougher than planned. Ben spent time in and out of the studio, struggling to balance the allure of the street with positive intentions of making it in the rap game. After a brief hiatus, opportunity presented itself as news came of talent showcases in various cities and Rek Room was ready to bet on Big Ben. He took the crown at each of the showcases and began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Word of mouth proved to be the promotional tool of choice in his hometown though, and after hooking up with Kansas City pioneer The Popper, the collaboration resulted in the 2008 independent mix tape release The Wait Is Ova. “We recorded the album in three days. We tore it up, we ran short on beats quicker than rhymes!†The response was immense and calls began to flood Rek Room Studios, every local artist in KC wanted to work with Big Ben. Staying on his studio grind, he began recording his first solo effort Poison: The Prequel while simultaneously collaborating with artists such as The Popper, Ron Ron, Chauncy Clyde, Tay Diggs, Rivlocc, Paul Mussan, Donta Slusha, and Hustlemade Bugzy .
Fresh off the road from touring, Big Ben arrived home to find one of the city’s living legends had put a search out for him. Kansas City native and independently platinum recording artist Tech N9ne was recruiting for his second collaboration album Sickology 101: The Study of Being Sick(2009) and wanted Ben to be a part of history. “Tech talked me into taking the music more serious. You know, explaining what it took for him to get where he’s at…it gave me a better outlook on where hard work could lead me.†After spending a studio session listening to beats arranged for the album, Ben chose the YoungFyre produced track “Party and Bullshit†featuring Tech N9ne and Shadow. Sickology 101 debuted on the Billboard 200 at 19.
In 2009, Big Ben wrapped production for Poison: The Album, reaching out to the producers he knew could build a project unlike anything Kansas City had heard before. “On Poison I really wanted to step outside the box that KC has been in for quite some time. I’m not your average beat shopper, I like to see where the producer is coming from and build right into the track.†The album features beats provided by in house producer Church Boi, Elmo of Analog Music, Boy Genius, Krush Groove with 64111 Studios, Rawbeatzz and the young upcoming Monster Music.
Raising the ante, and realizing how invaluable artist networking is, Ben has recently agreed to join forces with the KC Landmark movement- a collaborative effort of local artists promoting an all-star touring ticket in the KC area. The movement is monumental considering Kansas City’s history of hood on hood discrimination. They’ll be performing at local venues throughout the city. “There’s risks I’m taking if I don’t give it my best shot, I never want to get to the point where I’m saying ‘I wish I only would’ve. It’s all or nothing.†The stakes are higher than ever before, and Big Ben is in it to win.
Big Ben is currently in the studio listening to production submissions and recording his new album The Kid Fly anticipated to be completed by early 2010. Rek Room Entertainment will be hitting the road this fall promoting Poison: The Album and the smash singles “We Ain’t That Close†and fan favorite “He Can’t Do It Like Me†in cities such as Dallas, St.Louis, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston , Omaha and Austin. They will make their Core DJs Retreat debut in Las Vegas in October and travel to Florida in December for the 5th Annual Florida Entertainment Summit.
