Happiness, kindness, and a zest for life can still be found in today’s world, and it can often snowball from one person to another. Tim Benson shows this in the video for his new positive hip-hop track, where he sings that you can “choose to smile.”
“Smile” was released at the end of August on all platforms, and Benson says while this is a standalone single, there will be plenty more coming from him. He feels so strongly about the message of this track that he wants it to be released separately, but here’s the kicker: “Smile” is just the tip of the iceberg of what is to come.
“I want to heal. I want to uplift. I want to inspire,” Benson says. “Those are the three things I want to do for people, for humanity. And if I can accomplish those three things, I’m a happy guy.”
“Smile” takes place throughout the city of Chicago where he was born and raised, following him around various city landmarks while holding ice cream and cotton candy looking as happy as can be. When he was writing the song, he started to have visions of how the video would look. Benson knew he needed to take it back to his roots of his native city.
“I really wanted to embody Chicago,” Benson says. “The whole feel of it. It is so much a part of my identity.”
Benson got in the studio and invited along the children of some of his good friends to be featured singing on the track. This is shown in the opening of the video, depicting the playful nature that oozes happiness.
One thing that jumps right out is the authenticity of it all. These aren’t paid actors. Hundreds of people were over near the Chicago landmark affectionately known as “The Bean” enjoying a summer day, as Benson and his film crew were blasting “Smile.” He gave out smiley face lollipops and stickers to hand out for anyone who wanted to simply be happy on film. It’s like the happiness was contagious, and the result here is gold.
“So, I built this ice cream with like six or seven scoops, and it’s melting all over my hand because it’s 95 degrees,” he says. “I’ve got the music playing, and this is what kept me going: After each take, people would come up to me and be like, ‘What is this song playing? Are you the artist? This is a great song, so positive.’ I knew there was something special here.”
Benson’s musical journey dates back to before he was even born, as it is something that runs through his veins.
He comes from a family of musicians, with his grandmother touring with the “Father of Gospel Music” Thomas Dorsey in the 1940s. His mother and her sisters were in choir and this involvement in music carried over to their children.
Benson was in a singing group with his two brothers, who performed at talent shows throughout high school and were featured on Showtime at the Apollo when he was 19. Several years later, he released his album titled “Formula” exclusively in Japan under Manhattan Records, and while he had the chance to head to Los Angeles for a shot at the big time, he went on to finish school and make sure he had a plan in place for his future.
Benson has continued in music behind the scenes, previously touring nationally with a singing group while also working full-time. Later, a friend was working on a project looking for an inspirational rap about Black men in inner city Chicago.
Benson had no rap experience to that point, but after finishing the track titled “Black Man,” the lightbulb went off in his head that he could be onto something. Over the past two years, Benson has continued writing upbeat, positive rap tunes.
“I like to write when I drive,” Benson says. “I’ve probably driven over 100,000 miles writing over the course of the past 10 years. Whenever I’m writing it isn’t with a pen and paper. It’s just me emotionally writing and recording it. It just kind of comes to me.”
“Smile” has been a labor of love for Benson, and it is his first time making a music video. While it has taken several years to complete, the timing needed to be right and to involve all the right people. With the current state of the world unnerving at times, Benson says a song like this couldn’t be coming at a better time.
“I do think the timing of this, in today’s climate, is perfect,” Benson says.
Be sure to check out “Smile,” available now on all major platforms.
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