Matt B

Matthew David Benson, better known by his stage name Matt B, is a Grammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer whose genres have been generally classified as R&B, Hip hop, and Afrobeats. His album, Eden, debuted in the Top 40 on Billboard's R&B albums chart.[1][2]

Matt B
Benson in 2022 at the Grammy Museum
Born
Matthew David Benson

(1989-09-08) September 8, 1989
Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2004–present
Spouse
Angela Benson
​
(m. 2012)​
AwardsGrammy Award Nomination
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Labels
Websitemattbworld.com

In 2022, Benson's, Gimme Love (Matt B featuring Eddy Kenzo), was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance[3] and charted at #36 on Billboard's US Afrobeats Songs chart.[4]

Early life

Matthew David Benson was born in Oak Park, Illinois and is one of seven siblings. He began singing in the church choir and church events when he was a young child. Benson was inspired to become a singer by his grandmother. In 2005, Benson and his brothers formed a singing trio, TriEnd (pronounced trend). TriEnd dissolved in 2008 and Matt B began his solo career in 2009.[5]

Music

Matt B is a singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He has cited his influences as Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, Usher, and The Temptations.[6] He began his solo career in 2009 and has released six studio albums. In 2019, Benson performed at the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, which was nationally televised.[7][8] In 2022, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his single, Gimme Love, which features Eddy Kenzo.

Love and War was released and distributed by Tokyo-based, StarBase Records in 2014.[9] The album charted at #1 on iTunes R&B Chart as well as the lead single, Plain Girl, charting at #1 in Japan. The album was a compilation of songs that were previously released, and was well received in Japan.[6]

Dive, Benson's self-produced sophomore album was released in 2016. The album charted at #1 on iTunes R&B Chart in Japan.[10]

Benson teamed up with producer, Bryan-Michael Cox and recorded the EP, RISE, which was distributed by Priority Records in 2018. His single, Losing You, earned him Best R&B Male Artist at the Indie Music Channel Awards.[11]

In 2021, Benson released his US debut album, Eden, produced by Bryan-Michael Cox and Tricky Stewart, which received favorable reviews and charted on Billboard's Top 40 R&B Albums.[12] The album's single, Deep received favorable reviews.[13]

  • Gimme Love

In 2021, Benson teamed up with Ugandan recording artist Eddy Kenzo and co-wrote and recorded, Gimme Love. In 2022, the single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Global Performance[3] as well as charting at #36 on Billboard's US Afrobeats Songs chart.[14]

The single's music video won numerous awards at film festivals including winning Best Song at the New York International Film Festival as well as his wife and manager, Angela Valarie Benson winning an award for the single's music video, which she directed.[15][16] Benson and Kenzo performed, Gimme Love at the Eddy Kenzo Festival at Kololo Airstrip in Uganda to an audience of over 100,000, including Uganda's Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.[17][18][19]

Awards
Year Nominated Work Category Award Result
2022Gimme LoveBest Global Music PerformanceGrammy Award[3]Nominated
2022Losing YouBest Male R&B ArtistIndie Music Channel Award[20]Won
2022Gimme LoveBest Special VideoIndie Music Channel Award[21]Won
2022Gimme LoveBest SongOniros Film Awards[22]Won
2022Gimme LoveBest SongNew York International Film Award[15]Won
2022Gimme LoveBest Male Vocal, Male Artist, Music Video, Best Song, Best Rhythm & BluesLIT Talent Award[23]Won

Discography
  • 2011 - Matt B:301B[24]
  • 2014 - Love & War[6]
  • 2016 -Dive[25]
  • 2018 - RISE
  • 2019 - Homecoming[26]
  • 2021 - Eden[12]

References
  1. "GRAMMY® Contender Matt B's new album 'Eden' shows range, complements today's R&B by Ryan White". Grunge Cake. 5 April 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  2. "With Over 150 M Streams Worldwide South Side RB Artist Poised to Make it Big Stateside by Tom Barnas". WGTV. May 20, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  3. "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List". GRAMMYs. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  4. "Billboard US Afro-Beats Song Chart". Billboard. November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  5. "MATT B THE DRIVEN ENTREPRENEUR AND INTERNATIONAL R&B RECORDING ARTIS". Grey Journal. 22 November 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  6. "Matt B The Driven Entrepreneur And International R&B Recording Artist by D.A Romo". Grey Journal. 22 November 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  7. "ABC 2019 Magnificent Mile Lights Festival - Matt B Performs - @ 37:25". dsfdderek. November 24, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  8. "Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Chicago". ABC Chicago. November 25, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  9. "Matt Bs Journey From a Label deal in Japan to Becoming a Grammy Voting Member". Kuul Peeps. September 16, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  10. "Matt B Releases New Single "Deep"". Behind the Curtains Media. August 5, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  11. "MATT B REFLECTS WITH SILKY-SMOOTH R&B SINGLE "I SPOILED YOU" by Hanna Yando". Behind the Curtains Media. April 28, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  12. "Matt B Releases New Single 'Reassured'". Broadway World 1. October 28, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  13. "GRAMMY® Contender Matt B's new album 'Eden' shows range, complements today's R&B by Ryan White". Grungecake. 5 April 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  14. "Billboard Chart History - Eddy Kenzo and Matt B". Billboard. November 5, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  15. "New York International Film Festival Awards List" (PDF). New York International Film Festival. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  16. "New Video By Matt B feat. Eddy Kenzo "Gimme Love"". Skope Magazine. March 16, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  17. "Eddy Kenzo Uganda's First Grammy Nominee". Africa News. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  18. "Matt B Scores GRAMMY Nomination for Best Global Music Performance". Broadway Magazine 2. November 15, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  19. "Kenzo's festival counted a success as Beenie man's concert flopped". Capital Radio UG. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  20. "Indie Music Channel Awards - R&B Winners 2022". Indie Music Channel. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  21. "Indie Music Channel Awards - Special Video Winners 2022". Indie Music Channel. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  22. "Oniros Film Award Winners 2022" (PDF). Oniros Film Awards. November 24, 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  23. "LIT Talent Awards List 2022". Lit Talent Awards. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  24. "Matt B:301B". Amazon. January 25, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  25. "Chicago RB Artist Matt B Delivers Smooth New Pop Single Deep". Divine Magazine by Avatar of Behind The Curtains Media. July 31, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  26. "Homecoming by Matt B". Apple. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
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