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. In 2022, Benson's, Gimme Love (Matt B featuring Eddy Kenzo), was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance[4] and charted at #36 on Billboard's US Afrobeats Songs chart.[5] In 2024, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Global Music Album" for "ALKEBULAN II."[6]
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.[7]
Love and War was released and distributed by Tokyo-based, StarBase Records in 2014.[11] The album charted at #1 on iTunes R&B Chart as well as the lead single, Plain Girl, charting at #1 in Japan.[citation needed] The album was a compilation of songs that were previously released, and was well received in Japan.[8]
Dive, Benson's self-produced sophomore album was released in 2016. The album charted at #1 on iTunes R&B Chart in Japan.[12]
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.[13]
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.[14] The album's single, Deep received favorable reviews.[15]
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.[17][18] 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.[19][20][21]