Benny Sings is a prolific songwriter, multi-platinum awarded producer and artist from Amsterdam. Benny has made his name over a 2-decade career as a singer, songwriter and producer, with the the critically acclaimed latest album ‘Young Hearts' (released March 2023) on Stones Throw Records and amassed 1.5 billion streams across his catalogue so far. 

The album ’Young Hearts' includes the singles 'Pyjamas' ft Remi Wolf, The World & Young Hearts. For this project, Benny joined forces with producer Kenny Beats. The album was written & produced in Los Angeles, London & Amsterdam. 

Benny has honed a signature sound while creating a colorful catalog of essential pop gems that have led to loyal global following, with fans including John Mayer, Anderson .Paak and Jamie Cullum. Benny collaborated with a wide range of artists like Kenny Beats, Tom Misch, Mac DeMarco, Cory Henry, PJ Morton, Marc Rebillet, Emily King, Free Nationals, Mayer Hawthorne, Nulbarich, Polo & Pan, Mocky, Rae Khalil & Cornelius. He co-wrote and produced platinum awarded singles and chart topping albums for UK artist Rex Orange County including ‘Lovin Is Easy’ and ‘Who Cares’. He was nominated for an Edison Award in 2016, 2023 & 2024 and won a Buma Music In Motion Award in 2024. 

Benny Sings played live session for NPR’s Tiny Desk, KCRW & COLORS & plays sold out shows worldwide.


In 2023 Benny celebrated his 20th anniversary. 

“I’ll always be amazed by the magic of music – how something can spring into being that simply transcends everything.”

Management: jochem@soepermarkt.com
Bookings North America: Adam.Ogushwitz@unitedtalent.com
Bookings EU: clementine.bunel@teamwass.com
Bookings Asia: kota@stonesthrow.com

Much love!🙏🏾❤️🔅

Contact: eddie@abstract-mgmt.com

instargram : 9uyoungjun
e-mail : pyro99@naver.com

Biography

John Derek Yancey better known as “Illa J” (born October 13, 1986 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American rapper/singer & songwriter. He is a solo artist but also is currently an active member of Detroit based groups Slum Village and Yancey Boys. He also has another alias “John Regal”. He taught himself how to play the piano, had bass lessons and continuously has vocal training. 

As an independent artist, he has released three albums, 2008’s solo album Yancey Boys, 2013’s Evolution (as Slum Village along with rapper T3 and Producer Young RJ) and 2013’s Sunset Blvd. (as Yancey Boys along with Frank Nitt and Illa J’s big brother, James Dewitt Yancey (1974-2006) aka J Dilla, on the production). Illa J also has two EP’s, 2007’s Illa J, 2010’s 4 Past Midnite and two mixtapes 2012’s Dirty Slums and 2013’s Dirty Slums 2 (both as Slum Village). He magically has released all this work without being signed. He has done interviews and specials for Sway in the Morning with Sway Calloway, Mass Appeal Magazine, HipHopDX, URB Magazine, XXL magazine, etc. He also performs every year at DillaDayDetroit held at The Fillmore in Detroit which is a tribute event to celebrate the life of his big brother J Dilla. The 2013 event was headlined by Royce da 5’9 and Talib Kweli.

Since 2007, Illa J has toured in Japan, Europe and has had shows in Chile and Canada. As Slum Village, Illa J has also toured many times in Europe, the USA, Canada and have had shows in Greece, Chile and Brazil. However, 2013 has been the busiest year for Illa J in the studio and on the road.
With almost 100 booked shows with Slum Village for 2012-2013 he has recorded and released Sunset Blvd and Evolution. He also took part in the Welcome to DillaVille - A tribute to J Dilla Tour along with SlimKid3 from Pharcyde, Guilty Simpson, Frank N Dank and Slum Village. Illa J has been in a relationship for little less than two years with his Venezuelan but Montreal based girlfriend Maya. Montreal is where they spend most of their free time.

Illa J wrote and recorded his first rap at the age of 13 with his big brother J Dilla at Studio A in Detroit, Michigan. Later on, in his teenage years, he wanted to undertake a basketball career but music had always been part of his life. He joined the church choir at the age of six and he grew up seeing his entire family involved in music. His mother, Maureen Yancey, studied opera singing and was in the church choir, and his father, Beverly Dewitt Yancey (1932-2012), was offered a deal by Motown Music that he turned down but kept on doing music independently, Mr. and Ms. Yancey also had their own acapella group. His big brother James Dewitt Yancey better known as “J Dilla” was a record producer who was a great influence to the hip-hop scene by working with groups such as; A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, De La Soul, and artists such as; Busta Rhymes, Common, Erykah Badu and MF Doom. 

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