MP3: Jarren Benton – “Pain In My Eyes” from XXL Freshmen Mixtape

Funk Volume MC Showcases New Track on XXL’s 2014 Freshmen Mixtape, Following Roundtable and NYC Freshmen Showcase

06.17.2014

Critical Praise for Jarren Benton:

“An Atlanta MC who’s acclaim has been long overdue.” – HipHopWired

“Benton has an extraordinarily nimble flow and sense of rhythm.” – HipHopDX

“…already creating his own lane and plans to turn a lot of heads.” – XXL

“As [My Grandmas Basement] unfolds, one thing becomes clear: [Jarren Benton] can handle himself just fine.” – Creative Loafing, 4/5 review

The Song:

In the midst of the 70+ city Independent Grind Tour alongside Tech N9ne and Freddie Gibbs, Atlanta rapper Jarren Benton shares “Pain In My Eyes,” a new single released on the 2014 XXL Freshmen Mixtape. This song marks his first new piece of music since Jarren won the “People’s Choice” vote for XXL’s 2014 Freshmen Class. In addition to “Pain In My Eyes,” the project also features “Gimmie The Loot” for which Jarren released a video in March.

Recently, Jarren, along with fellow Freshmen Jon Connor, Troy Ave, and Lil Bibby spit rhymes for their Freshmen cypher, with Jarren ferociously rapping, “Half man, half Tyrannosaurus. I wasn’t born, I was thrown out a spaceship and then landed in a abandoned forrest / I snatch a rapper out the sun roof of a jaguar. You ain’t a spitter, then what the f*ck do you rap for? N*ggas like, ‘I ain’t a rapper, I’m a trapper.’ Then stay inside the trapper, get eat by the f*ckin master.” Immediately following the cypher was a roundtable where they discussed the diversity of the Freshmen cover to why they best represent their respective cities. “I’m happy I represent a different part of Atlanta,” explains Benton, whose sound doesn’t sound like most of what you hear coming out of Atlanta these days. “You all hear the same shit…and they always show the same type of face. For me, it’s a different look for my city.” As an artist who has blazed his own trail since the beginning of his career, Jarren’s fast-paced, multi-syllabic lyrical prowess has been received with a warm welcome.

On June 9th, Benton performed at the Best Buy Theater in NYC’s Time Square for the XXL 2014 Freshmen Showcase, alongside his Class of 2014 peers – Ty Dolla $ign, Rich Homie Quan, Vic Mensa, August Alsina, Troy Ave, Kevin Gates, Lil Bibby, and Jon Connor. “Jarren Benton’s rapid-fire flow came out in full force,” says XXL in their 11 Memorable Moments from the showcase, adding that “The People’s Champ showed and proved that he deserved that distinction, as the fans came out to support the high-level of lyricism that he stepped up with.”

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/154651244″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_artwork=true&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Listen to and download the XXL 2014 Freshmen Mixtape: http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/06/stream-and-download-2014-xxl-freshmen-mixtape/

Listen to “Pain In My Eyes”: https://soundcloud.com/funk-volume/jarren-benton-pain-in-my-eyes

Watch the XXL Freshman 2014 Roundtable video: http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/06/xxl-freshmen-2014-roundtable-part-3/

Watch the XXL Freshmen 2014 Cypher video: http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/06/xxl-2014-freshmen-cypher-part-three/

Watch the XXL Freshmen 2014 Freestyle video: http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/05/jarren-benton-xxl-freshmen-2014/

Check out Jarren’s XXL Freshman Profile: http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-freshmen-2014/2014/05/jarren-benton-2/

Watch the video for “Gimmie The Loot”: http://youtu.be/4RQtj1MK-Fw

Jarren is currently working on his next project and is on a 70-date tour with Tech N9ne and Freddie Gibbs. Tickets available here: http://myfunkvolume.com/artist/jarren-benton/

2014-06-17 – Cactus Courtyard – Lubbock, TX
2014-06-18 – Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK
2014-06-19 – Lucky Mule Saloon – (18+) – Abilene, TX
2014-06-20 – Emo’s – Austin, TX
2014-06-21 – House of Blues – Houston – Houston, TX
2014-06-22 – House of Blues – Dallas – Dallas, TX
2014-06-24 – Cains Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
2014-06-25 – Cotillion Ballroom – Wichita, KS
2014-06-26 – R. C. McGraw’s – (16+) – Manhattan, KS
2014-06-27 – The Blue Note – Columbia, MO
2014-06-28 – Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland – Kansas City, MO

Please contact Michelle or Rory if interested in talking with Jarren Benton.

Jarren Benton Background:

For an artist with serious mainstream aspirations, Decatur, Georgia’s Jarren Benton has spent his career going against the grain. One of Funk Volume’s premiere acts, Jarren admits, “I love the music I do now. I do it in the safe-mode.” That’s rather shocking for an artist whose last album, Freebasing With Kevin Bacon lived up to its name, at least in attitude and style, evident on single “Skitzo.” He continues, “I want to take it a lil’ further. I just haven’t had the balls to go all the way there yet, ‘cause I presently want to keep a foot in the mainstream too.” After two successful digital releases and a video with over one million YouTube plays, Jarren is currently promoting his Funk Volume debut album, My Grandmas Basement, which debuted at #4 on the iTunes Hip Hop Chart. In 2013, Jarren went on the My Grandma’s Basement Tour, his first ever headline U.S. tour and joined Rittz on his The Life And Times Tour. Benton is currently on tour with Tech N9ne on his Independent Grind Tour and was recently named a XXL Magazine Freshmen for 2014.

Funk Volume Background:

Funk Volume is a Los Angeles-based record label, marketing, and production company that been cited as a leader among independent rap labels with nearly 60 million YouTube views, over 400,000 Facebook likes, consistent Top 10 chart placements on Billboard and iTunes and high profile write-ups in media outlets such as Hypebot, Billboard, Huffington Post, SPIN, LA Weekly, and many more. Founded in 2008 by internationally recognized rap artist Hopsin and Stanford MBA grad Damien “Dame” Ritter, the label was created with one thing in mind: protecting the integrity of the artist’s vision. Currently home to rappers Hopsin, SwizZz, Dizzy Wright, and Jarren Benton and more recently, DJ’s and producers Hoppa, Kato, and Rikio, the label has quickly transformed into being a label to watch by fans and industry insiders alike. Funk Volume recently released their first documentary, Independent Living, which captures the artists’ swift rise during their 44-date national tour in 2012. The latest release from the Funk Volume label is marquee artist Hopsin’s Knock Madness and Dizzy Wright’s State of Mind EP. For more info: www.myfunkvolume.com