Jarren Benton, a Decatur emcee known for his ferocious lyricism and dark humor, has spent years carving out a unique niche in hip-hop. Rising to prominence in 2012 as part of the outsider indie label Funk Volume, Benton’s early mixtapes, including Huffing Glue with Hasselhoff and Freebasing with Kevin Bacon, blended tongue-in-cheek horrorcore with razor-sharp bars, creating a style that was equal parts comedy and terror. During his time with Funk Volume, he released his debut album My Grandma’s Basement and the follow-up EP Slow Motion Vol. 1, touring both nationally and internationally. Fans voted him onto XXL’s 2014 Freshman Cover as the People’s Choice, solidifying his place as a lyrical force in the underground scene. After Funk Volume’s abrupt closure in 2016, Benton embraced a fresh start, doubling down on his lyrical prowess while experimenting with new emotions and themes, channeling his life experiences into his music as he continues to evolve as an artist.