Get To Know Spinabenz aka "The Tornado Kidd" (Interview)
Spinabenz made everyone sing "Who I Smoke?" in 2021, and his presence in the Jacksonville music scene has not stopped expanding since then. While "Who I Smoke?" brought controversy, it didn't stop him from capitalizing off of the buzz with more music. Now with an album called "The Tornado Kidd" out, Spinabenz's name is covering more ground.
Ahead of the album's release, we got to speak with Spinabenz about his hit single, Jacksonville being the hotspot for new talent, getting his start in rapping, and a lot more.
Get familiar with the interview below!
Thanks for coming through and congrats on the release of your new project, “The Tornado Kidd”. What type of vibes and stories were you going for when you thought of the concept?
I just wanted to make music, and tell stories for people from all walks of life. “The Tornado Kidd” has something for everyone really.
Can you give us some insight on your creative process, taking an idea to reality?
I'd say the best way I like to make my songs is to just get in the studio, play some beats, and just freestyle. Sometimes I don’t listen to the beats when I get them, whatever vibes comes to my head when I first play them, I just run with that and make a song.
Your viral hit, “Who I Smoke” sampled Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” from the early 2000s. The concept for that we believe was super crazy, where did you get the idea to use that song?
That song was hard as f*** (laughs)! I listen to all sort of music, but I love those type of songs, those pop songs. It’s a vibe.
Did you have a feeling “Who I Smoke” would take off like it did after you finalized the mix? Like did you know that’s the song that was gonna hit?
Yeah I definitely knew “Who I Smoke” was gonna blow up ‘cause it was just hard as f***. Like, even when we made the song, even the beat was just hard with no words on it.
Jacksonville has been putting on a lot of dope rappers on the map, like Nardo Wick and Spotemgottem. How would you describe Jacksonville's hip hop scene right now?
Jacksonville’s going crazy right now. People are really rocking with artists who are just from Jacksonville, and that’s good! I ain't never know it was going to be like this, and things are looking up here. Growing up, I always knew I was going be super big ‘cause I love music, you know what I'm saying? I love making hits, but I never knew Jacksonville was gonna be the next place to blow up. That's what's crazy.
When did you first get into rapping?
I’ve been rapping for my whole life. I had a song called “F*** The City Up” that I dropped 6 or 7 years ago, and made a video for it too. I got love for that song, and I just knew I had to keep rapping from there.
During those six or seven years, you probably had to overcome a lot of obstacles. What or who inspired you to keep on rapping?
It was really life that inspired me to keep rapping. It's like, you gotta be out here for something, I couldn’t just sit and let my obstacles get the best of me. I just knew music was the thing for me to do.
In what ways has your upbringing shaped your perspective on life?
I'm glad my momma raised me right. She ensured I got common sense since it ain’t common out here.
Describe your life when you were on your grind, right before the “Beatbox Remix” dropped. What was your life like then?
Right before I dropped “Beatbox Remix”, I was hanging out. I think I was out of town, and we were going crazy around that time. I had music with (Yungeen) Ace around that time too.
How is your life different since “Who I Smoke” gained millions of views and put you out officially?
Only difference is everybody know me, and I don't really know them (laughs). It’s all good though.
So how do people you grew up with treat you now? Do they treat you differently or are they the same?
All that matters is I got my real friends, we tornadoes for life!
In what ways do you see your music leaving an impact on people?
I just feel like i'm gonna be the biggest in the whole world. My music is gonna be generational, stand the test of time. I ain't gonna come out with s*** that just blows over. I just feel like I got the best music coming out.
When you think of success, what do you see?
When I think of success, it's all it it's from a point of view, you feel me? I wanna see myself all the way at the top. Like when the word “music” pops up, you see “Tornadoes” pop up. I wanna see success at the point where you can't miss me.
How did you come up with the tornado concept? I know that's your affiliation and your brand, but how did you come up with that?
Everyone knew me as SpinaBenz for a long time, and then people started saying “SpinaBenz the Tornado Kidd”. You know Tornadoes never stopped spinning, and I felt that was me, and so the whole Tornado Kidd and Tornado concept just stuck from there.
Is there anything else you want people to know? Something you want to share with the fans?
Tornadoes never stop spinning, that's what it is all the time. My album “The Tornado Kidd” is out now on all platforms, go get it!
