Spinabenz
{{Short description|American rapper and singer (born 1998)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Spinabenz
| birth_name = Noah Rayquan Williams
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|09|14}}
| birth_place = Jacksonville, Florida, US.
| genre = {{Hlist|Hip hop|trap|gangsta rap|mumble rap|southern hip hop}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- singer
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 2019—present
}}
Noah Rayquan Williams (September 14, 1998), known professionally as Spinabenz, is an American rapper and singer born in Jacksonville, Florida.{{Cite web |title=Spinabenz |url=https://genius.com/artists/Spinabenz |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Genius |language=en}} He gained recognition in the hip-hop industry for his viral hit "Who I Smoke" with Yungeen Ace, FastMoney Goon, and Whoppa Wit Da Choppa that samples Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles".{{Cite web |date=2021-03-29 |title='Who I Smoke's Vanessa Carlton 'A Thousand Miles' Sample Is Driving Fans Wild |url=https://uproxx.com/music/who-i-smoke-vanessa-carlton-thousand-miles-sample/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=UPROXX |language=en-US}}
Career
=Early career=
On 1 March 2019, Williams released his first album, "King Leonidas", featuring DJ Shab on his song "Blue Hundreds".{{Citation |title=King Leonidas by Spinabenz on Apple Music |date=2019-03-01 |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/king-leonidas/1454739060 |access-date=2025-01-09 |language=en-GB}}
On 13 November 2020, Williams released a collaborative album with Whoppa Wit Da Choppa named, "KU Lyfe"{{Cite web |title=KU Lyfe by Spinabenz & Whoppa Wit Da Choppa |url=https://genius.com/albums/Spinabenz-and-whoppa-wit-da-choppa/Ku-lyfe |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Genius |language=en}}
=Who I Smoke=
{{main|Who I Smoke{{!}}Who I Smoke}}
On 28 March 2021, Williams released "Who I Smoke" on his YouTube channel, the song collaborated with Yungeen Ace, FastMoney Goon, and Whoppa Wit Da Choppa as a feature.{{Cite web |last=Zidel |first=Alex |date=2021-04-16 |title="Who I Smoke" Gets Added To Streaming Services |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/343762-spinabenz-and-yungeen-aces-viral-who-i-smoke-is-available-on-streaming-services-news |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} "Who I Smoke" sampled Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles"{{Cite web |last=Pierre |first=Alphonse |date=2021-05-14 |title=Rap's Latest "Shocking" Viral Scheme Is Not Shocking at All |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/viral-rap-who-i-smoke-spinabenz-yungeen-ace-vanessa-carlton/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}} and serves as a diss track against multiple deceased people who are specifically named and disrespected in the song.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-03 |title=Best Jacksonville Rappers: A Guide to the Explosive Rap Scene {{!}} Complex |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603183307/https://www.complex.com/music/jacksonville-rap-explosive-rise/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=web.archive.org}} "Who I Smoke" was described by HipHopCanada as having exemplified "Jacksonville's deadly KTA vs. ATK war"; the rappers featured are associated with ATK.{{Cite web |last=@HipHopCanada |date=2021-04-20 |title=Spinabenz, Whoppa Wit Da Choppa, Yungeen Ace & FastMoney Goon team up for "Who I Smoke" |url=https://hiphopcanada.com/spinabenz-whoppa-who-i-smoke/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=HipHopCanada.com |language=en-CA}} The rappers were later criticized for the sample and Vanessa Carlton defended them and stated that there was nothing wrong.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-01 |title=Vanessa Carlton Defends "A Thousand Miles" Sample on Rap Song "Who I Smoke" |url=https://hypebeast.com/2021/6/vanessa-carlton-defends-a-thousand-miles-sample-who-i-smoke |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Hypebeast}}
=2022-present=
On 8 April 2022, Williams released his studio album "The Tornado Kidd",{{Cite web |title=The Tornado Kidd by Spinabenz |url=https://genius.com/albums/Spinabenz/The-tornado-kidd |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Genius |language=en}} he later released the deluxe.
Legal issues
Williams was convicted of witness tampering and carrying a concealed firearm in separate cases 2017.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-02 |title=Jacksonville rapper Spinabenz booked into Duval County jail |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/jacksonville-rapper-spinabenz-sentenced-into-duval-county-jail-for-six-months/77-9e9b2784-f7bb-40e0-abca-ff81254fe2ed |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=firstcoastnews.com |language=en-US}}
Williams was arrested in 2021 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon but was released on bond.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-05 |title=Jacksonville drill rapper Spinabenz is back in jail on new charges |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/spinabenz-jacksonville-noah-williams-drill-rap-gang-affiliated-arrest/77-db988310-6661-4f9c-9906-510c93028802 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=firstcoastnews.com |language=en-US}}
On August 29, 2022, Williams was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. The police did not know where he was for 52 minutes. Williams told police that he was out of the house on August 29, during the time he was unaccounted for. Williams was being held on a $450,000 bond.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-07 |title=Warrant: Jacksonville rapper Spinabenz arrested after ankle monitor removed, off-grid for 52 minutes |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/jacksonville-rapper-spinabenz-gang-affiliated-drug-charges-ankle-monitor-arrested/77-2cbb4cf3-7b02-4d55-87b9-e3e59f18593b |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=firstcoastnews.com |language=en-US}} On September 8, 2022, the trail was scheduled after a judge agreed to postpone the case at the request of prosecutors. Prosecutors wanted to introduce both his rap videos and his social media presence to build a timeline of events they say will prove that a gun police found in a car with him was actually his weapon.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-08 |title=Jacksonville rapper Spinabenz faces trial delay on firearms charges |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/entertainment-news/spinabenz-faces-trial-delay-on-firearms-charges/77-335a7360-5dfa-4b8b-9ab7-6e0ab175a2d1 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=firstcoastnews.com |language=en-US}} Williams could have faced up to 15 years in prison, If convicted on the gun charges, there would be a separate decision to determine if his sentence will be enhanced due to alleged gang ties.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-18 |title=Spinabenz trial day 1: Jury sees body camera footage of traffic stop, police officers take the stand |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/entertainment-news/spinabenz-noah-williams-trial-day-1/77-31c4f1da-b081-4890-b30e-896f644567c2 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=firstcoastnews.com |language=en-US}} On October 21, 2022, Williams was found not guilty and avoided up to a 30-year sentence.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-20 |title=Jacksonville rapper Spinabenz found not guilty on gun charges, avoids possible 30-year sentence |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/entertainment/jacksonville-rapper-spinabenz-not-guilty-charge-trial/77-61905a6f-6356-452d-89cd-3669c51d3234 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=firstcoastnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-21 |title=Jacksonville Rapper Spinabenz Avoids 30 Years In Prison After Being Acquitted In Gun Case |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.74323/title.jacksonville-rapper-spinabenz-acquitted-gun-case |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}
On 24 May 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to tampering charges and prosecutors are seeking 12 months in prison, while his attorneys are asking that sentenced to time served, meaning he would be free to go home.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-24 |title=Jacksonville rapper Spinabenz pleads guilty to tampering, faces up to a year in jail |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/jacksonville-rapper-spinabenz-pleads-guilty-tampering/77-ba9959f9-b9d5-4e20-9ae5-d91f18578563 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=firstcoastnews.com |language=en-US}}
On 2 June 2023, Williams was sentenced to 6 months (with credit for 52 days previously served) in jail for tampering with his ankle monitor.
On 2 June 2023, Williams said he was beaten up by a guard in Duval County jail. Williams said, "I was beaten in Duval County PTDF yesterday unwarranted & unprovoked by JSO Sargent Riviera. Force was so excessive I had to be taken to the hospital. X-rays and MRI revealed I have both neck and back injuries. I am in a neck brace as a result of my injuries. They placed me in administrative confinement and turned off my access to tablets so no one can see me"{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=Jacksonville rapper says Duval jail guard beat him up, suffering head, neck injuries |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/entertainment/spinabenz-injured-by-guard-at-duval-county-jail-rapper-says/77-2c167d34-c3fc-4c4e-a263-80f884096bbb |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=firstcoastnews.com |language=en-US}}
Personal life
In an Interview with DJ Smallz Eyes, Williams stated that he is biological brothers with rapper Whoppa Wit Da Choppa.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krA1SeIvMH4 |title=Are Spinabenz and Whoppa Wit Da Choppa Biologically Related? He Gets Honest, Reveals Age (part 10) |date=2022-04-09 |last=DJ Smallz Eyes |access-date=2025-01-15 |via=YouTube}}