Artist Profile: Benji Socrates
A producer, rapper, sound engineer, and DJ from the Bronx, Benji Socrate$’s skillset is only matched by his ear for the finer points of music production. His ability to creatively chop soulful samples allows him to craft luxurious instrumentals, and his understanding of the technicalities of compressors, analogue samplers, and the like, inspired by his work at Mansion Studios, has exponentially refined the dynamics of his music.
Like many, he started off as a rapper, recording verses on his phone and patching them to beats he found on Youtube. However, when he got injured while skateboarding and was sidelined for months, he needed to find a new method of expressing himself.
Having already developed an interest in sampling, he started watching videos of people finding and chopping up their own samples and studying the likes of Madlib, Pete Rock, and The Alchemist. This budding interest was further entrenched by his presence at the recording of Just Blaze’s episode of Rhythm Roulette, a series by Mass Appeal where producers are challenged to create beats from scratch by sampling records provided by the show. Socrate$ said that it would be a “full circle” moment for him to appear on the show, as that moment inspired him to begin taking production seriously.
While he wouldn’t divulge his main sources of samples, “the sauce” as he called it, he described how, over time, he developed a taste in what to pull from the vast archives available online.
“It mainly has to speak to me. I try to find a beginning and an end… That's what dictates the beat and the way I chop,” he said, “I don't [just] chop on the kick and the snare drum; I chop based on rhythm. I chop based on my swing and my groove and how I want to lay out the entire soundscape.”
This adaptability in his process of sampling is the foundation for his ability to mesh so well with other artists, crafting sounds which are tailored to their flow and intensity. His recent project, “TyMe WiLL TeLL”, which he produced for Sacramento-based rapper BoNeY-JaY, is a brilliant display of this fact. From the grimy kicks of “FiSH & BReaD” to the smooth saxophone of “DuMP GoSPeL”, Socrate$’s range undeniably elevates the project.
“When I'm making packs I try to reference a lot of their music that I'm familiar with. I try to hear as much of their catalog as possible and reference the type of joints they like to slide on… I really try to emulate that within my sound.”
In the next year, Socrate$ is looking to release his first full project as a rapper and develop that aspect of his craft further. As he looks to advance his versatility, Socrate$’ name will be one to watch in NYC.