Marcus ''BeNda'' Boyd was born Feb 4, 1981 into a body of love, determination and sincerity. His mother a licensed hair stylist/entrepreneur and father a musician & hustler which gave him a very humbling balance. Wicker Park, a very diverse neighborhood in West Chicago, is where he enjoyed growing up because of all the different types of cultures. Wicker Park served as training for BeNda to make music for the world.
BeNda has been known to say''My grammar school was big as hell and I learned more there than I did in high school!'' Being faced with gangs and other harsh realities often left him with the ultimatum to make right decisions; sometimes he did and other times he didn't. This of course isn't uncommon when you grow up in Chicago.
His introduction to Hip Hop came from his older brother, Marlo, who also rapped. He came to find his true gift by following in the footsteps of his brother, where rocking a crowd ,at an early age, came easy for him especially with the support of his brother's group, ''Lerical Tribe''. Bouncing around in different groups didn't satisfy BeNda. He wanted and needed to show his creative abilities using his own launch pad. By traveling from bus, to train, to plane, as a determined young BeNda, he landed on the ''Jenny Jones Show''.
After winning the talent show there, BeNda was offered a deal with ''Red Zone Entertainment''. Also, a respect winning battle in the studio gained BeNda the roll of hype-man for a local rapper named ''Gotti''. Next, a new door opened with platinum rapper, ''Belo'', of the group ''Do or Die''. As a business decision BeNda did not accept the offer. Three years later, ''Gotti'' was signed to ''R.Kelly's" label, Rockland Records. It was in the first video ''Boo & Gotti'' performed in entitled, ''I Wish'' (Remix) with R. Kelly that BeNda can be seen in some candid cameo shots.
Back in the studio, looking to take what he felt was his, BeNda had a chance encounter with ''Burundi (Bun P.) Partlow''. Although Bun P. slighted doubted BeNda's talent /networking abilities, he offered BeNda an opening performance for ''Twista''. Burundi's interest was sparked because BeNda brought down the house. Bun P. was working on a song produced by ''Kanye West" when BeNda heard it and asked if he could write to it. At Kanye's house, BeNda cut the vocals and everybody loved it. This helped him develop a mutual working and business relationship between him and Kanye. Now with a deeper understanding of the business world, BeNda was given a chance to work with ''Hustle'' (marketing and promotions) firm as a paid intern. On the set of yet another video, BeNda faced another battle. This time attracting attention from platinum producer, Steve "Stone" Huff. In two days, Huff had BeNda at Jive/Battery Studio recording. Buzzing off what happened at the video shoot, BeNda was given an opportunity to play music for Wayne Williams, Sr. Vice President or A& R for Jive Records. He liked what he had heard and told BeNda to "stay in his face".
The mixtape era was in its takeover mode and BeNda scored big with DJ Scrap Dirty on a Violator Allstar DJs Mixtape with the song entitled "Rub 1 Out" (Xavier Exon feat. Elepahant Man & BeNda).This was a Reggaeton smash before it was mainstream! Another catalogued favorite which also made it to stores was ''DJ D-Mans'', "Destroy & Rebuild" which was a double CD mixtape. DJ D-Man is known widely for his national aired house music anthems "Booty Call" & "Dookie Booty".
BeNda was now ready for his shot at the spotlight. The deal came from LegitBallaz/Koch Entertainment. BeNda's first national release as part of the group ''LegitBallaz'' was released Feb 21, 2006, entitled ''THA TRUTH Vol.4". Pre-selling an estimated 13,000 copies, the label was in no way disappointed in the overwhelming response it received for their newest arrival. Since this date he has been in numerous videos including ''Barnfire'', for the Midwest monster group ''Crucial Conflict''. BeNda has recently performed in L.A, ST.LOUIS, Chicago's HOUSE OF BLUES, Excalibur, Transit, WILDHARE, Radio Star, and Chicago's Puerto Rican Day Parade in 2005 and 2006, plus the JAMAL SMALLZ CHARITY CAR & BIKESHOW with YUNG BERG, JUELZ SANTANA and BEN 1. BeNda has also had the opportunity to have been on stage with Kanye, Common, DAY 26 and LIL WAYNE, in addition to an opening performance for R&B superstar ''Ne-Yo''! With hopes of a bright and successful career, BeNda hopes to be your next best artist. CHA-CHING!LAYOUT
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