#benjamin a.d.

“So honoured to be able to join Wretch on this song along with Benjamin A.D. Wretch’s storytelling is unmatched and this song is a true representation of what it means to be black and British”

Little Simz

Here is the story behind the track.

Benjamin A.D Releases New Single

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‘South London rap philosopher Benjamin A.D knows there’s something beautiful to the darkness. Like Ghostpoet and Blue Daisy his take on hip-hop is downbeat and all-enveloping.’ – Red Bull

South London’s Benjamin A.D unveils the third installment in a series of monthly singles, ‘Escapism'. It is the next slice of self-examining, poetic hip-hop akin to the likes of musical heavyweights Kendrick Lamar and Ghostpoet, and which has earnt Benjamin praise from The 405 and Clash, among others.

Following on from his last track, ‘Mandatory Mantra’, which had its premiere on Complex UK, Benjamin has once again collaborated with critically acclaimed Canadian producer Junia T, who worked with the artist on his previous releases ‘Monster’s Ball’ and ‘Come My Way’, and who is best known for his work with Little Simz.

Benjamin once more brings his unique brand of rhythmic philosophy to his latest track ‘Escapism’, which he explains focuses on ‘…looking at things under a microscope rather than skimming in our busy lives’, perfectly hypothesizing on human weaknesses and mental health.

He beautifully pairs frenetic drum beats with melancholy jazz to tap into his thoughts on trying to escape reality by any means. As Benjamin reveals, ‘the track is just an elaboration on us all being escapists, some more than others but whatever your vice(s) is/are, from a TV show, to films, to video games, to drugs, booze, books, whatever…They’re all your escape from reality for whatever reason.’

Accompanying ‘Escapism’ is a video directed by Jonathan Gilbert - the creative director behind Panomatics, the leading Virtual Tour supplier in the world. Shot in both South London & Koh Phangan, Thailand using drone cameras, Gilbert states that they were ‘inspired by Prodigy videos from our childhood and films like Project X’ to create the feeling that ‘wherever you look, Ben is struggling with his own thoughts’. Coupling bleak shots of Benjamin in turmoil in a London flat with lush panoramic footage of Thailand, it is a thought-provoking exploration of struggle and escape.