RJ Benjamin

RJ Benjamin is a South African award-winning vocalist, songwriter, composer, vocal coach, musical director and producer. Ghetto Ruff owner, Lance Stehr, once described him as "the best composer/singer/musician this country has ever produced".
He graduated from the Allenby Campus School Of Contemporary Music in 2000. In those formative years, RJ cemented several professional and personal relationships with fellow Allenby Alumni such as DJ Cleo, Proverb, Elvis Blue and Robin Kohl. Some of his most successful students include winner of Idols SA season 10 Vincent Bones, Vusi Nova, Naaq Musiq and Anatii.

Television career

He was chosen to be head vocal coach on the music talent TV reality show Project Fame. In 2013, he became the Musical Director Of "Idols South Africa" and "Clash Of The Choirs Season 1". He would reprise his role on the SAFTA award-winning "Clash Of The Choirs Season 2" while becoming the "In-House Mentor" on subsequent seasons of Idols South Africa.

Discography

Studio albums

Who I Am
In 2004, RJ Benjamin released his debut album Who I Am, through the Ghetto Ruff record label, which has been described as funkadelic played by top jazz musicians. This album featured collaborations with the Flash Republic, vocalist Tamara Dey, Kwaito/Hip Hop MC Pitch Black Afro, Artist & Producer Amu and R&B sensation Ishmael. 37MPH and Bongani Fassie also contributed to the album as producers on select tracks.

Track listing	Written by RJ	Produced by RJ	Feature
"Journey "	Co-writer	✔
"Wonderwall"		✔
"Cry"	Co-writer	37 mph
"Restless"	Co-writer	Co-Producer	Pitch Black Afro
"In 2 My Heart"	Co-writer	✔
"Letting Go"		✔	Amu
"C U in My Dreams"	Co-writer	✔
"Lovespent"	Co-writer	✔
"Here With Me"	✔	✔
"I Wont Forget It"	✔	✔
"Play Around"	Co-writer	Co-producer	Ishmael
"G-d Bless My Imagination"	✔	✔
"What'll It Be"	Co-writer	✔
"Who I Am"	✔	✔
"What Do You Need?"	✔	✔
"Consequence"	Co-writer	Co-Producer	Tamara Dey

''Swimming in the Soul of Music''

RJ Benjamin's 2008 release, Swimming in the Soul of Music, won the award for Best RnB Album at the Metro FM Awards later that year. The album is a mixture of Soul, Jazz and Funk. RJ has said that the album came about when he had lost his way in his life, prompting him to go back to his musical roots so he "drowned" himself in the creation of the album. Collaborators on the album include, Zubz, HHP, Dan Patlansky, Nothende, and Slikour.

Track listing	Written by RJ	Produced by RJ	Feature
"Music"	✔	✔
"Gonna Make It on My Own"	✔	✔
"Say Yeah"	✔
"Without You"	Co-writer	✔
"Shut Up"	Co-writer	✔	Zubz
"Burden"	✔	✔
"Soulful Love"	✔	✔
"Don't Wanna"	Co-writer	Co-produced	Nothende
"Anymore"	Co-writer	✔
"Nothing Left But The Music"	Co-writer	✔
"I Don't Love You"	✔	Co-Producer	Dan Patlansky
"I'm Good"	✔	✔
"Overloaded"	Co-writer		Hip Hop Pantsula
"Dreamer"	Co-writer		Slikour

''House Bound''

In 2009, RJ Benjamin recorded Change The World, which introduced him to South Africa's House music audience. This song of inspiration was featured on the Soul Candi Session 4 compilation album. It became an instant hit on radio stations and dance floors all over South Africa. The track was nominated for a Channel O Award and SAMA for Best Dance Video and Song of the Year, respectively. It was also nominated for Remix of the year at the SAMAs. Following the huge success of Change the World, RJ released the album 'House Bound' which showcased his vocal and writing skills over house music. This flirtation with house music ultimately returned him back to his R&B/Soul roots and core sensibility.

Track listing	Written by RJ	Produced by RJ	Feature
"Go On"	Co-writer
"The Moment"	Co-writer
"You Can Be Anything"	Co-writer
"Could You Be"	Co-writer
"Take It Right Back"	Co-writer
"2010 Change The World"	Co-writer		Slikour
"Feels So Right"	Co-writer
"Into The Stars"	Co-writer		Dr. Duda
"Blessed"
"Goodbye Baby"	Co-writer
"Good Times"	Co-writer
"Love Again"	Co-writer	✔	Danny K
"Free Your Mind"	Co-writer

''Inside''

After three years of a self-imposed sabbatical, RJ Benjamin remixed and "soulified" House tracks featured on his House Bound album, as well as popular House tracks on which he was featured with Dr Duda, DJ Kent and DJ Fresh to create Inside, re-interpreting them into Funk, Soul, Rock, Flamenco, Samba, Jazz and various other styles

Track listing	Written by RJ	Produced RJ	Feature
"Slowly"	Co-writer	✔
"Lifting Me into The Stars"	Co-writer	✔
"Runaway"	Co-writer	✔
"If We Can Love Again"	Co-writer	✔
"Her"	Writer	✔
"Goodbye Baby"	Co-writer	✔
"2012 Change The World"	Co-writer	✔
"Free Your Mind"	Co-writer	✔	Clint Brink
"Let's Take It Right Back"	Co-writer	✔
"Just The Moment"	Co-writer	✔
"Why Don't We Go On?"	Co-writer	✔
"Having Some Good Times"	Co-writer	✔
"The Love"	Co-writer	✔	Aya
"Alright"	Co-writer	✔
"See the Light"	Writer	✔

Other work

Song	Artist	Album title	Year	Written by RJ	Produced by RJ	Feature	Other
"Someone To Hold"	Kyle Grant	When Dreams Go out to play	2003	Co-writer
"Magic"	Zama Jobe	Ndawo Yami	2004				Backing vocals
"Hey Hey"	Zama Jobe	Ndawo Yami	2004				Backing vocals
"Restless"	Shimani ECT	Runnin' Bizz	2004	Co-writer			Backing vocals
"Jazzifield"	DJ Cleo	Eskhaleni & Mazansi House	2004	Co-writer		✔
"My love"	DJ Cleo	Eskhaleni	2004	Co-writer		✔
"Zoe"	DJ Cleo	Eskhaleni	2004	Co-writer		✔
"These Girls"	Slikour	Ventilation Mixtape vol. 1	2005			✔
"Let Me Change Your Mind"	Unathi	My 1st Time	2005	Co-writer	Co-Producer
"No Ciesta"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005	Co-writer	Co-Produced
"Do You Hear"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005		Vocal Production
"If U Wanna B Free"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005	Co-writer	Co-Produced
"Mama My Hero"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005		Vocal Production
"Someday"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005	Co-writer	Co-Produced
"Is This Where Its At"	Elan Lea	Rock the World	2005		Co-produced
"Will Go On"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005		Vocal Production
"Scream My Name"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005	Co-writer	Co-Produced
"Kick It One Time"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005	Co-writer	Co-Produced
"I Gotta Be Alone"	Elan Lea	Rock The World	2005		Vocal Production
"Play That Song"	Kabelo	Bouga Luv Album	2005	Co-Produced
"Everything"	Craig De Sousa	Everything	2006	Co-writer		✔	✔
"Clothes off"	Danny K	This is My Time	2006				Engineering & backing vocals
"1000 Sorry's"	Danny K	This is My Time	2006				Engineering
"Everything About You"	Danny K	Think is My Time	2006				Engineering, arrangement & backing vocals
"One Night"	Danny K	This is My Time	2006	Co-writer
"It Doesn't Matter"	Danny K	This Is My Time	2006				Engineering and Backing vocals
"I Must Still Love You"	Veronique ft Gift Gwe	As I Am	2006	Co-writer
"Iris"	Lira	Feel Good	2006	Co-writer	Co-produced
"Good Times"	Ryan Dent	Platform Music Presents Ryan Dent	2006	Co-writer		✔
"I love You"	Danny K	This Is My Time	2006	Co-writer	Co-produced
"Love & Miracles"	Vicky Sampson	License To Sing	2007		Co-Producer	✔
"I'm Still Here"	Vicky Sampson	License To Sing	2007		Co-producer
"Heart of Stone"	Vicky Sampson	License to Sing	2007		Co-Producer
"There's Only You"	Vicky Sampson	License To Sing	2007		Co-Producer
"Vicky"	Vicky Sampson	License To Sing	2007		Co-Producer
"I'm Gone "	Slikour	Ventilation Mixtape vol. 2	2007			✔
"Showbiz"	Slikour	Ventilation Mixtape vol. 2	2007	Co-writer		✔
"Unstoppable"	Slikour	Music From	2007		Vocal Production
"Dreamer"	Slikour	Ventilation Mixtape vol. 2	2007	Co-writer		✔
"This Is"	"Tumi"	Music From	2007			✔
"When Doves Cry"	Dent & Massive	The Cover	2007			✔
"Chasing Lies"	Gift gwe	Back To You	2007	✔	✔
"2 Lovers"	Gift Gwe	Back To You	2007	Co-writer	✔
"Back To You"	Gift Gwe	Back To You	2007		Co-produced
"Madd Dogg"	Gift Gwe	Back To You	2007		Co-produced
"Messed Up"	Gift Gwe	Back To You	2007		Co-produced
"The Long Run"	Gift Gwe	Back To You	2007		Co-produced
"Im Better With You"	Karin Kortje	Forever & a Day	2007	✔
"Nothing Left But The Music"	Karin Kortje	Forever & a Day	2007	Co-writer
"Back in Your Arms"	Karin Kortje	Forever & a Day	2007	✔
"No Guarantee"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"If I Should"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Lullaby"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Trapped"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"You Played"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Love You Girl"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"You Are Here"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Ain't Not Good For You"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Can I Make You Love Me"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Give Me You"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Gotta Be This Way"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Here I"	Tumi	No Guarantee	2008		Vocal Production
"Rock The World"	ShugaSmakx ft Kwesta & HHP	Numba 1	2008			✔
"Change The World"	Matserjam	Soul Candi Sessions 4	2008			✔
"Shout"	Various artists	Campaign	2009			✔
"Private Show "	Zubz	Cochlea	2009	Co-writer		✔
"Tradition al Her"	Zubz	Cochlea	2009		✔
"Monday to Sunday"	Kwesta & L-Tido	Hype Sessions/Jazzworx FM	2009			✔
"A Dor Do Cupido"	Anselmo Raplh		2009				Arranged Strings
"Journey "	37MPH	37 Energy Levels	2009	Co-writer		✔
"Say Yeah "	Nutty Nys	Vintage Love	2009	Co-writer		✔
"Show My Love"	Iridium Project	2009 Audioflux	2009	Co-writer		✔
"Higher"	Giggs Superstar	Deep House Chronicles 4	2010	Co-writer		✔
"Slowly"	Dj Kent	I Can't	2010	Co-writer	✔
"Not Love"	Molekane	My Good Eye
"Words"	Kunle Ayo	Its About Time	2010			✔
"Delafunk"	Negus	A L'ombre De La Lune Noire	2010	Co-writer		✔
"Don't Turn Your Back"	Franky Rizardo	Soul Candi Sessions 5	2010	Co-writer		✔
"I'll Never Run Away"	Dr Duda	Soul Candi Sessions 5	2010	Co-writer		✔
"Free Your Mind"	Chris Sen Remix	F.Eu	2010	Co-writer		✔
"Alright"	DJ Fresh	F.Eu	2010	Co-writer		✔
"Rise up"	Jen Su ft Jr & Loyiso Bala		2010			✔
"Sweet Obsession"	Jub Jub	Fresh Air	2010	Co-writer	✔	✔
"Awete"	Liz Ogumbo	Kensoul	2010		Co-produced
"Big Ass"	Liz Ogumbo	Kensoul	2010		Co-produced
"Give Them Hope"	Liz Ogumbo	Kensoul	2010		Co-produced	✔
"Ubuntu"	Liz Ogumbo	Kensoul	2010		Co-produced
"Maropa More"	Liz Ogumbo	Kensoul	2010		Co-produced
"Le Coeur Qui Crie"	Liz Ogumbo	Kensoul	2010		Co-produced
"Could You Be "	RJ Benjamin	Da Essentials Vol 1 Pt1	2010	Co-writer	Co-produced	✔
"Butterfly"	Oran Cohen	Single	2010		Produced
"Heaven's Song"	Zeus	Flipside	2010			✔
"Anniversary Theme"	DJ Hamma ft Hishaam	Ctrl Alt Del	2011			✔
"Real Man"	Kabomo	All Things Grey	2011	Co-writer		✔
"Pressure"	Rowick Deep	Unleashed	2011	Co-writer		✔
"Love To Remember"	Vusi Khumalo	Reasons For Seasons	2011			✔
"If I Gave You Everything"	Antonio Lyons	We Dance We Pray	2011	Co-writer		✔
"Cry For Me"	Pebbles	Phenomenal	2011	Co-writer	✔	✔
"Believe"	Pebbles	Phenomenal	2011		Co-produced
"Higher"	Pebbles	Phenomenal	2011		Vocal Production
"Ooh"	Pebbles	Phenomenal	2011		Vocal Production
"Juju"	Pebbles	Phenomenal	2011		Co-produced
"Over"	Pebbles	Phenomenal	2011		Produced
"Phenomenal"	Pebbles	Phenomenal	2011		Co-produced
"This Is My Journey"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012	Co-writer	✔
"I Live For love"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012	Co-writer	✔
"Give It To Me Baby"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012	Co-writer	✔
"Imbali"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012	Co-writer	✔
"Rise"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012		✔
"I Really Love You"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012	Co-writer	✔
"Together Apart"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012		✔	✔
"I Keep Fighting"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012		✔
"Little Girl"	Kelly Khumalo	The Past, The Present, The Future	2012		✔
"If It Ain't For Love"	DJ Kuchi		2012	Co-writer		✔
"You Belong"	SABC 2 theme song		2013	Co-writer	✔
"Stripped Down Season 1 Jingle"					Produced
"Happy To Love"	Wanda Baloyi	Love & Life	2014	✔	✔
"Let Me Love You"	Vincent Bones	Idols Sa Winners' Single	2014		✔
"Ups & Downs"	Proverb	The Read Tape	2014			✔
"When Is It Love"	Vincent Bones	Shaded Soul	2015	✔	✔
"Love"	Eliezer	Single release	2015		Vocal-Production
"Move On"	Melo	Single release	2015	Co-writer	✔
"Gonna Be Alright"	Fortune	Abomrapper	2015			✔

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Results
2008	Metro FM Awards	Best RnB Album	Won
2009	Channel O Awards	Best Dance Video
2009	SAMA	Song of the Year
2009	SAMA	Remix of the year