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The Static TimesExtra
grandson
American-Canadian musician (born 1993)
Jordan Edward Benjamin, known professionally as Grandson, is an American and Canadian singer, songwriter, and rapper. He released his major label debut EP, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1, on June 15, 2018, and released the follow-up A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2 on February 22, 2019.
The initial EP featured the single "Blood // Water", which appeared on several Billboard charts in the United States and Canada. Benjamin's music focuses on modern-day issues that are less recognized by the media and public.
On December 4, 2020, he released his debut studio album, Death of an Optimist, and his second album, I Love You, I'm Trying, was released on May 5, 2023. On September 5, 2025, his third album Inertia was released.
genres: alternative rock, rap rock, alternative hip-hop, political hip-hop, trap music, electronic dance music
plays: voice
Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.
alternative rockpolitically chargedrap rockindie rockpolitical hip hopnu metal
The Glitch WeeklyExtra
Early life and education
Benjamin was born in New Jersey, United States. When he was 3 years old, his family moved to a Jewish neighborhood in Toronto, Ontario, where his maternal relatives lived (he holds dual citizenship of both countries). He is Jewish. He has two sisters. Benjamin grew up largely in the Eglinton West area of Toronto. He attended Northern Secondary School in Toronto and, after graduation, enrolled in McGill University in Montreal. There, he studied education with the initial goal of becoming a teacher. He also spent a great deal of time DJing and playing shows in Montreal while at McGill. After two years, he transferred to Concordia University, another Montreal institution. He studied communications there briefly before dropping out and moving...
Benjamin began releasing music under the pseudonym grandson in late 2015. In 2016, he released several singles that accrued millions of streams, including "Bills", "Things Change", and "Bury Me Face Down". In 2017, he was signed to RCA Records, and continued releasing singles, including "Best Friends" and "Kiss Bang". He also performed at North by Northeast that year (among other festivals).
Born in New Jersey, Jordan Edward Benjamin was raised in Toronto, Canada. He attended Northern Secondary School. He studied at McGill University, before transferring to Concorda University, then dropping out to pursue a music career in Los Angeles in 2014. Stated musicial inspirations include Rage Against the Machine, Bob Marley, Ray Charles, John Lennon and Nirvana. He's most known for his single Blood//Water, which broke Top 40 on a number of Billboard music charts.
From Discogs (free to use). Their entry
Liner notes
grandson, the records, oldest first
broken down, vol. 1
2018 ep
a modern tragedy, vol. 1
2018 ep
wanted
a modern tragedy, vol. 3
2019 ep
wanted
a modern tragedy, vol. 2
2019 ep
wanted
Death of an Optimist
2020 album
wanted
(Text Voter XX to 40649)
2021 ep
I Love You, I’m Trying
2023 album
wanted
INERTIA
2025 album
wanted
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
"Blood // Water" is a song by American-Canadian musician Grandson. It was released on 27 October 2017 as the lead single from Grandson's first extended play, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1, through the Fueled by Ramen label.
The song is featured in EA Sports' NHL 19.
Background
The official audio video was released on Grandson's YouTube channel on October 27, 2017.
Composition and lyrics
Gil Kaufman described the song as a "pop-spiked take on Rage Against the Machine's activist rap-rock". The song is performed in a G-sharp minor. The song has a tempo of 154 beats per minute.
Music video
The music video for "Blood // Water" was released on June 4, 2018, to coincide with the announcement of his debut extended play, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1. Alex Darus of Alternative Press described the music video as "[referencing the] 1950s nuclear family idea and [juxtaposing] them with images of politicians profiting off problems such as prescription drug abuse."
