Benwah Kenobi – An Xperience Interview

By Joshua Scarselli.

Today we sit down with one of the hottest acts in local hip hop: Benwah Kenobi. Benwah Kenobi made time to talk before he performs this Saturday at No Fun in Troy.

RRX: Tell us about yourself. How did you get into hip hop music?

BK: My introduction to hip hop music was by my cousin, who was a fan of the music and would listen to various artists that were popular in the late ’80s and ’90s, as well as the soundtrack album to “Crooklyn” by Spike Lee, which had a song on it by Buckshot, Masta Ace, and Special Ed that I would listen to religiously.

RRX: Your music has a dreamlike style to it. How do you achieve this?

BK: Music is my form of escapism and expressionism, so when I write, I try to maintain a more holistic approach to the subject matter I’m writing about. I try not to ever speak about myself in my music, and when I do, I write from personal struggles and experiences rather than bragging about material goods. That’s not to say that I haven’t in the past, but now when I write, I try to maintain a third-person perspective.

RRX: Who do you draw your inspiration from?

BK: Most of my inspiration comes from my experiences I have gone through. In 2016, I was in a coma after falling 53 feet off of a roof, so learning how to navigate life after having that traumatic experience gives me plenty of material to write about, as well as struggling to make genuine human connections while having a TBI (traumatic brain injury) gives me plenty of material to write about because again, when you listen to my music, you’re essentially hearing my journal. I’m an open book haha.

RRX: What do you want people to take away from your performance?

BK: More than anything, I want people to understand that I take the craft seriously, I don’t rush my writing, and I never force it. So it may take me a while to make music, but know that when I do release music, it’s never going to sound rushed or lazy.

RRX: Where can people keep track of your music and upcoming performances?

BK: I am mostly active on Instagram; my Instagram handle is @benwah_kenobi. I post my releases on that platform as well as my upcoming show dates. I have no problem interacting with people, so anyone can feel free to contact me there; I’m not “Hollywood,” as people say.

You can catch Benwah Kenobi today, July 18th, at No Fun right here in Troy!