Benny Cassette

Benedetto Rotondi (born in Los Angeles[1]), known by his stage name Benny Cassette, is an American record producer,[2] rapper, singer,[3] and songwriter. Signed to Kanye West's Very GOOD Beats as a producer since 2013, he worked on Kanye West's Yeezus album[4] among other collaborative projects.[5] Cassette has released a number of official remixes as well, including the 2013 song "You're Not the One" by Sky Ferreira.[6] In 2014 he went on to release three singles as a solo artist: "Raging Bull",[7][8] "Bridges Over Babylon" featuring BJ The Chicago Kid, and "Virgo Season" featuring Isaiah Rashad.[9]

Benny Cassette
Birth nameBenedetto Rotondi
OriginLos Angeles
GenresHip hop, pop, rock
Occupation(s)Producer, vocalist, songwriter
InstrumentsD.A.W.
LabelsVery GOOD Beats
Associated actsWynter Gordon, Isaiah Rashad, Kanye West, BJ the Chicago Kid
WebsiteBennyCassette.com

Early life

Benny Cassette was born in Los Angeles.[10] Neither of his parents were involved in the music industry; his father, Michael Rotondi, worked as an architect. Cassette was nonetheless exposed to the diverse local music. He has stated, "I came up in the LA hip hop scene listening to N.W.A and the Beastie Boys. On top of that, I grew up in a Latino neighborhood where I heard salsa, ranchero and oldies. At home, my dad listened to jazz, and at school kids either played rap at lunchtime, or rock after school."[1] In high school he began rapping as part of a youth performance group, which inspired him to consider pursuing music as a career. He toured with the group during his summers, performing at diverse locations, including prisons. He stated, "I learned real quick how to cover stuff up because if you mess up there, on stage, you get booed."[1]

Music career

Production, songwriting (2013-2015)

After collaborating with artists such as Chuck Inglish in 2012,[2][5][11] in 2013 Cassette signed with G.O.O.D. Music as a producer.[12] For his first project[13] he was flown to Paris to work on Kanye West's Yeezus album.[4][12] Cassette has since collaborated with friends of his such as Miguel[12] and DJ Skee on projects,[10] also working with John Legend, Eric Bellinger,[12] Stacy Barthe, Elle Varner,[14] Wynter Gordon,[15] Allen Stone,[16] the Band Perry,[17] Lily Allen, and Krewella. As of 2015, he worked with SZA.

On April 1, 2014, Cassette released two official remixes of Sky Ferreira songs: "I Blame Myself" and "You're Not the One." Both songs were originally on Ferreira's 2013 debut Night Time, My Time, and the remixes were exclusively released through Spin Magazine.[6] Spin said, "Cassette bolsters the tight snares of the singer's “I Blame Myself” into a trap-addled bounce and softens the lovelorn “You're Not the One” into a breezy, skip-along groove."[6] In 2014 he co-wrote, co-produced, and co-executive produced the Mary Lambert album Heart on My Sleeve, which she recorded for Capitol Records. [18] He co-wrote the album track "Secrets" with Lambert, Eric Rosse, and MoZella.[18] The single was released in early August 2014, along with the track "When You Sleep."[19]

"Raging Bull" and EPs (2014-2016)
External video
"Raging Bull" Music Video on MTVu (May 30, 2014)

In 2014 Cassette released the song "Raging Bull,"[7] which "features Benny Cassette’s own vocals over his synthesized and drum-pounding production”,[13] and which was followed by a music video.[7][8][13][20][21] About Cassette’s production, AFRSH.com wrote that Cassette "has mastered a distinct hybrid of hip-hop, alternative and pop music (which is evident on (“Raging Bull”) that proves utterly infectious."[12] Around 2014, Cassette announced several upcoming EPs.[8][12] In September 2014, Cassette released his single "Virgo Season," which featured Isaiah Rashad.[9] He premiered the music video for his "Sex and Faith" single in December.[17] In May 2016, Benny released “Entertain Us", the first single off his upcoming album Broken Hearts and Dollar Signs.[22] It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Viral Spotify 50 chart.[23]

Personal life

Cassette continues to live in his hometown of Los Angeles, and remains involved in the local music scene there. He is a follower of the Baháʼí Faith, with which community he remains involved. He frequently participates in Baháʼí activities and Baháʼí community life.[1]

Discography
Main article: Benny Cassette discography

Singles
Selected songs by Benny Cassette
Year Title Album Notes
2014 "Raging Bull" Single onlyMusic video (MTVu, VEVO)[7]
"Virgo Season" (ft. Isaiah Rashad) September 2014[9]
"Sex and Faith" Music video (December 2014)[17]

Remixes

Collaborations
Year Releases Release details
2012Angel Dust EP (with Chuck Inglish)Oct 30, 2012[5][24][25]

Albums
Selected production credits for Benny Cassette
Yr Release title Artist(s) Notes, role
2014ConvertiblesChuck InglishEngineer, featured artist, vocals
Heart on My SleeveMary LambertCo-producer, co-writer[18]
R.P.Y.MoxieCo-producer[4][26]

Singles
Selected songs with production credits by Benny Cassette
Year Single name Primary artist(s) Album Role
2014 "Secrets" Mary Lambert Heart on My SleeveCo-producer, co-writer
"When You Sleep" Co-Producer
"No Good In Goodnight" Ferras Ferras (EP)Producer
"Honey Dip" Dev Bittersweet JulyProducer
2015 "nwa" (feat. Kurupt) Miguel WILDHEARTCo-producer, co-writer
"You Wonder Why?" Stacy Barthe BEcomingProducer
"Barbwire"[16] Allen Stone RadiusProducer
"Freedom"[16] Producer
"Bleeding Out"[27] Wynter Gordon Five Needle EPProducer
"Home"[15] Co-producer
"World On Fire"[15] Co-producer
2016 "Comeback Kid" The Band Perry SingleCo-producer[28]
2017 "Close Your Eyes" The All-American Rejects SingleProducer, Co-Writer

Further reading
Articles
  • "Benny Cassette Struggles to Get Over an Ex on Empires". Rolling Stone. Dec 5, 2012.
  • "Benny Cassette - 'Raging Bull'". HipHopDX. June 5, 2014.
  • "G.O.O.D. Music's Benny Cassette Premieres "Sex And Faith" Video". The Fader. December 15, 2014.

References
  1. "Benny Cassette". Sonic Bids. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  2. Johnson Jr., Billy (December 5, 2012). "Benny Cassette Struggles to Get Over an Ex on Empires". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  3. "Benny Cassette - Say No to Drugs". DJBooth. October 24, 2012. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  4. Kim, Rich (November 13, 2013). "Exclusive Premier: Moxie's "Dirty Lights" Music Video – EDM News". Magnetic Mag. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  5. Llamoca, Janice (October 31, 2012). "Benny Cassette & Chuck Inglish – Angel Dust (EP)". Los Angeles Leakers. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  6. "G.O.O.D. Music's Benny Cassette Remixes Sky Ferreira Hits". Spin. April 1, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  7. "Benny Cassette - "Raging Bull"". HipHopDX. June 5, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  8. Carter Jr., Darryl (June 4, 2014). "Benny Cassette – Raging Bull [Video]". Elite Muzik. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  9. Lilah, Rose (September 22, 2014). "Benny Cassette - Virgo Season Feat. Isaiah Rashad". hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  10. "Benny Cassette". BuildDestroyMusic.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  11. Sawyer, Jonathan (October 31, 2012). "Benny Cassette & Chuck Inglish – Angel Dust (EP)". Hypetrack. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  12. "[Watch] Benny Cassette – Raging Bull". AFRSH.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  13. "[New Video] Benny Cassette – "Raging Bull" (Produced by Benny Cassette)". iStandardProducers.com. June 5, 2014. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  14. "Benny Cassette Ft. BJ The Chicago Kid – Bridges Over Babylon". henehiphop.com. December 7, 2014. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  15. "Five Needle". Allmusic. 2015. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  16. "Allen Stone Announces New Record 'Radius' Due 5/26". Glide Magazine. April 7, 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  17. Golden, Zara (December 15, 2014). "G.O.O.D. Music's Benny Cassette Premieres "Sex And Faith" Video". The Fader. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  18. Mandell, Sean (July 23, 2014). "Mary Lambert Spills Her Secrets". TowelRoad.com. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  19. "'Same Love' Mary Lambert's debut album is taking pre-orders". Gay Salt Lake. August 6, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  20. "Benny Cassette - "Raging Bull"". The Juice Daily. June 3, 2014. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  21. "Benny Cassette's New Video 'Raging Bull'". MTVU. May 30, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  22. http://hiphopdx.com/videos/id.23136/title.benny-cassettes-entertain-us-explains-exactly-how-you-feel-about-social-media
  23. http://www.billboard.com/artist/6273600/benny-cassette/chart?f=2206
  24. "Benny Cassette - "Say No To Drugs (LUST)" Official Music Video". TrillHD. December 6, 2012. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  25. "Benny Cassette - Xmas Sweater". DJBooth. December 3, 2012. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  26. "Buzzworthy Music Artist: Moxie". Hydrogen Mag. May 14, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-10.
  27. Chariton, Lauretta (May 5, 2015). "This Aching New Track From Wynter Gordon Will Give You One Last Cry Before the Summer". Vulture.com. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  28. Parton, Chris (August 2, 2016). "The Band Perry Stage Nashville 'Comeback,' Deny Pop Rumors". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
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