Benz (group)
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Hackney, London , United Kingdom |
Key people | Paul Hendricks (manager) |
| Products | Music singles and album |
Benz was a musical ensemble originating from Hackney, London, composed of B.I.G. Ben (Benedict Spencer Ofoedu), Tim Shade (Benjamin Balogun), and Darkboy (Anthony Benedict Thompson). The group's name was inspired by the fact that all members shared the name Ben. They achieved chart success on the UK Singles Chart with tracks such as "Boom Rock Soul" (peaking at No. 62), "Urban City Girl" (No. 31), "Miss Parker" (No. 35), "If I Remember" (No. 59), and "On a Sun-Day" (No. 73).
Career
The formation of Benz occurred after Ofoedu invited Balogun, who performed as Overlord X, to collaborate on producing a song for him. Following Balogun's retirement from his solo project, the two established Benz as a duo, which was subsequently expanded with the addition of Thompson, a collaborator connected to Balogun. Their early practice sessions were held at Hackney's Wally Foster Community Centre.
In July 1993, the group secured management under Paul Hendricks of Hendricks Records and later obtained a recording contract with RCA Records in December 1993 after presenting a demo tape. In November 1995, Hendricks sought to register the trademark "Benz Boom Rock Soul"; this led to legal action from Daimler-Benz and Mercedes-Benz over alleged copyright issues. The lawsuit was unsuccessful, and in August 2000, the court ordered the automotive companies to compensate Benz with £935.
Their single "Boom Rock Soul" entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 62 in December 1995, followed by "Urban City Girl," which reached No. 31 in March 1996. On 13 May 1996, they released "Miss Parker," which climbed to No. 35; simultaneously, they inaugurated Hacktown FM, a radio station showcasing R&B, rap, hip-hop, swing, and pop—genres that were also represented on their debut album 3 Men Called Ben, launched later that year. In 1997, under Hendricks Records, Benz released two additional singles: "If I Remember" (No. 59) and "On a Sun-Day" (No. 73).
Artistry
The musical style of Benz was shaped by influences including the Beatles, Public Enemy, their home area of Hackney, and Ofoedu's Christian faith—the initials B.I.G. in his stage name stood for "Believe in God." They characterized their sound as "Boom Rock Soul," a phrase created by their manager to represent each member's musical input: Balogun contributed the Boom element ("deep hip hop, hard bass"), Ofoedu brought the Rock aspect, and Thompson added the Soul component.