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Diary of an Afro Warrior

Benga

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Album Review

The dubstep release with the highest profile in 2008, Diary of an Afro Warrior is the second album from Croydon producer Benga, following 2006's Newstep, but it might as well be considered his first, given the push behind it. Like Burial, Benga roams outside the rigid strictures of dubstep — entailing the form's stout-but-agile, tightly coiled rhythms and arsenal of imposing effects, from wide scythe-like synth swipes to stunted raygun zaps — but here, the crossover could easily pass for what was termed IDM in the early to mid-'90s or, in a couple slightly reaching instances, West London broken beat. Opener "Zero M2" is an immediate challenge to those who expected a straight-up dubstep album, its fusion-informed twinkles of plangent Rhodes and acoustic bass taking the spotlight. The producer is often most effective when he strips it down, as he does after the midpoint in "Light Bulb," where gaunt but restless percussion, crisp handclaps, dark-hued shimmers, and a distant chant produce terrors as deep and lasting as any of its stockier counterparts.

Customer Reviews

electro-funk w/ a steppin' beat

Just when I thought the funk bled out of dubstep, along came Benga (or—well, “returned”). This album steers dubstep away from a single-minded ethos of "mediation on bassweight." While this album does has innovative bass, its Benga’s spriteful electro riddims that dance along the innovative edge that keeps the Croyden sound fresh. These tracks sit comfortably alongside the boogie of electro-funk, the playful innocence of early hardcore, the RnB soul of 2step, and the grinding pressure of recent darker dubstep productions. While these tracks have heavy basslines, for which the dubstep scene is adored, Benga’s catchy tunes are not the dark introspective kind of dubstep that hypnotizes you to stare cross-eyed while strange sounds pound you into submission. Personally I've found too many dubstep mixes and tracks sink me into a dark anxiety with glitchy sounds and sub-bass brewing and grinding. I earnestly hope dj’s will spice up their sets with more Benga tracks (and possibly tracks from Kush Arora’s new album and releases from Hyperdub, i.e. Burial, Zomby). Benga has brought the groove back so that new and old dubsteppers will move their feet, tap thumbs upon steering wheels, and bop their heads while typing on office keyboards all the while being touched by dubstep’s truly introspective funky sound. Thank you, Benga -- Much MUCH respect.

Headphone Commute Review

Having previously heard Beni Uthman’s (a.k.a. Benga) track titled Music Box on Mary Anne Hobbs’ The Warrior Dubz, I picked up his first full length release on Tempa. The fourteen track album is a total trip through some of the deepest, groovy and at the same time melodic dubstep that I’ve heard to date. Operating out of South London, Benga’s previous numerous 12-inchers appeared on genre’s head-starters like Big Apple Records, Planet Mu, Hotflush Recordings and Southside Substars. Diary of an Afro Warrior is more than just a collection of previously heard hooks shoved through the dubstep grinder - each is unique in texture, style, and rhythm; each contains that ’in your face’ attitude that I love so much about confident artists. Among the common groove treatments, I hear some prominent hip-hop influence, electro breaks, wobbly bass and even elements of minimal and funky house. With an incredible resource of ideas, directions and style incorporation demonstrated by Benga, we can be very confident in accepting that dubstep is here to stay, and evolve way beyond its current adolescent form. Note that the tracks appearing on a 3xVinyl release are pretty different from the CD release (for example, it doesn’t contain the 2007 hit, Night, featuring D. Harris as Coki and instead it appears as a separate 12" EP). Highly recommended if you enjoy Skream, Boxcutter, Distance, Pinch and Burial. Favorite tracks: Zero M2, Night, Go Tell Them, and Emotions.

Beyond musical barriers!!

This album has been playing non-stop on my playlist for the last couple months!! This is dubstep taken to a whole other level. Every track takes the listener in a new direction melding genres and sounds into a refreshing take on dub and bass music. I was lucky enough to see Benga and Skream together twice and lemme tell ya, they ripped the dancefloors apart!! Not to be missed!! Big ups to all dem dub bwoy!! bbbbrrrrrrraaaaaa!!!

Biography

Born: 1987 in Bristol, England

Genre: Electronic

Years Active: '00s, '10s

One of the major names in the world of dubstep, producer Benga was born Beni Uthman in East London. His parents eventually moved to the suburb of Croydon, where a young Benga would fiddle with his radio every night, looking for pirate radio stations and taking in all sorts of fringe music. He first began making tracks on his PlayStation game system, then graduated to digital audio workstation Fruity Loops when his parents bought him a computer. Hearing the dark work of 2-step producer Wookie inspired...
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