A great deal of talent with just the right mix of audacity. If you were asked to describe JeffreyBenson and you went with the above phrase, you would be accurate enough. Everything about this artiste is interesting and intriguing, from the curious nature of his backstory to the daring ideals that guides his creative process. But the most interesting thing about the singer and songwriter is, thankfully, the one thing that matters the most; the high level of music he makes.
Born Jeffrey Okonkwo, the Canadian-based Afrofusion sensation found a genuine love for music at a very early age. His affection for sounds and lyrics were initially of a hip-hop persuasion. At the age of 15, Jeffrey would often be found penning down rap verses and spitting over any instrumentals he laid his hands on. By the age of 18, he had started ghostwriting songs for the artistes around him. At about this time though, he started to make the transition from a rapper to the artiste we know him as today. Exploring the legacy of Fela Kuti and Afrobeats music, and coming to terms with the potential of his baritone voice lit a spark in him. He made the decision to purse music professionally, and the current iteration of JeffreyBenson was born. But like in every intriguing story, the protagonist has to face some form of obstacle that makes or mar him. His own obstacle? His father, Benson Okonkwo.
In typical African father fashion, his dad greatly opposed the idea of his son pursuing music as a career in lieu of medicine, law, or a masters’ degree. That kind of opposition can often be a crushing force for creatives but not JeffreyBenson, no. He responded, and did so in style. Not only did he persist with a career in music, but he also included his father’s name – Benson – in his stage name to spite his father. And as if to reward him for his determination, he scored his major breakthrough moment with the release of his debut EP, “Sorry Dad, I Do Music Now” in December, 2020.
The gratification was not exactly immediate though. The success the EP enjoyed came a short while after, when he superimposed the tracks on his project onto popular scenes from classic Nollywood movies. The edited videos did numbers on social media, and a new audience became alive to JeffreyBenson’s music. Perhaps it was the relatability of the lyrics or the delightfulness of the Afrofusion sounds; whatever it was, it worked like a spell out of a Harry Potter movie. And considering how hard he worked and how minimal a budget he had to work with, no one could begrudge him of the win.
11 months later, he followed his debut up with his second project. This one was titled “Some Love & More”, and consisted of 10 tracks. The most striking thing about the Afrofusion music we were treated with was the evidence of the growth and increasing mastery in his sound. He delivered smooth music that was easy on the ears and mind. His style on this project was more polished and refined than the last, and it earned him comparisons with many of the industry big hitters – Burna Boy in particular.
You sense there’s a lot more to come from JeffreyBenson. He definitely has more levels to unlock in terms of sound exploration and refinement of his style and lyrics. On the evidence of where he’s at now, the possibility of getting even better is a truly exciting one. While he cooks up whatever his next releases, be sure to take a tour through his current discography. By doing so, you will bear witness to a well-rounded artiste who is on the rise.