# Beenzino

Lim Sung-bin (Korean: 임성빈; born September 12, 1987), better known by the stage name Beenzino (빈지노), is a South Korean rapper. Beenzino first gained popularity through the duo Jazzyfact, which he formed with Shimmy Twice in 2008. And he made his first official public appearance at Dok2's Hustle Real Hard Concert on June 5, 2011, and has since released three solo albums, as well as other works in collaboration with hip hop producers Primary and Shimmy Twice, and as the duo Hot Clip with South Korean rapper Beatbox DG. He is noted for his melodic style of rapping.
After establishing his reputation within the Korean rap scene, he became well known through singles such as "Dali, Van, Picasso", which was a mainstream hit. Beenzino toured as a solo artist in the U.S. in 2015.

## History
### Early life and career beginnings

For a few years as a young child, Beenzino lived in Christchurch, New Zealand, eventually moving back to Korea before middle school, which he attended in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi province. He enrolled at Seoul National University to study sculpture, and graduated in 2014.
His stage name is a play on that of Boston rapper Benzino, combined with "빈" (pronounced "been") from his birth name. He first gained recognition by posting recordings to the DC Tribe website, through which he was first recruited by established rapper Simon Dominic. He went on to feature on albums by well-known artists including Dok2, Epik High, Supreme Team, and Verbal Jint, and released albums as part of the rap duos Jazzyfact (with producer Shimmy Twice) and Hotclip (with Beatbox DG).

### Debut as a solo artist

Beenzino made his debut as a solo MC on hip hop producer Primary's collaborative album P'Skool's Daily Apartment, released July 28, 2009. By 2011, he was a respected solo artist, although still a rookie by industry standards. In October, he featured on Primary's 2011 album Primary and the Messengers.
In 2012, Beenzino released his first solo album, 24:26, and performed with Illionaire Records during their nationwide Korean tour that summer. In November, he collaborated with label-mates The Quiett and Dok2 in the free digital single "Illionaire Gang", which was released to coincide with their November 11 Illionaire Day Concert.
In 2013, the pre-release of his single "Dali, Van, Picasso" from his 2014 album Up All Night was downloaded almost 600,000 times without a music video, and propelled him to mainstream success. He went on to perform at MU:Con 2013 and featured on albums by K.Will (The Third Album Part 2: Love Blossom) and Lee Hyori (Monochrome).
In April 2014, he featured on the Junggigo song "Want U", which was a number one hit in Korea and sold over a million copies. He also performed at the 2014 Asian Music Festival on May 25 in New York City and the One Hip Hop Festival at Hongik University, and as a featured guest during Verbal Jint's international concert tour.
In 2016, he released his third album, 12, including the prior releases "Dali, Van, Picasso", "We Are Going To", and "Break".
In 2020, Beenzino left Illionaire Records and joined fellow rapper and friend E Sens after signing with Beasts and Natives Alike in 2021.

## Personal life

In August 2022, Beenzino registered his marriage to model Stefanie Michova, and the wedding has yet to be decided. On May 23, 2024, Beenzino and Michova made an announcement on Instagram that they are expecting their first child. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Ru-bin, on November 9, 2024.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| 12 | Released: May 31, 2016 Label: Illionaire, CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download Track listing "Time Travel" "At the End of Saturday" (토요일의 끝에서) feat. Black Nut "I Don't Mind" "Flexin!" "January" feat. YDG "Being Myself" "Break" "Imagine Time" feat. Suran "Found" (젖고있어) "Dali, Van, Picasso" "We Are Going To" | 11 | KOR: 6,002 |
| Nowitzki | Released: July 3, 2023 Label: Bana, Kakao Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download Track listing "Stinky Kiss" (Intro) "Monet" "In Bed/Makgulli" (침대에서/막걸리) "Travel Again" (여행 Again) feat. Cautious Clay "Dope As" (Interlude) "Coca Cola Red" feat. oygli "990" feat. Kim Ximya "Lemon" "Like a Fool" (바보같이) feat. Y2K92 "Trippy" feat. Lance Skiiiwalker "Crime" feat. 250 & Bek Hyunjin "Camp" "Sanso" (Interlude) "Change" "Just One Day" (단 하루) "Sandman" "Radio" "Gym" | 3 | KOR: 51,716 |

### Extended plays

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| 24:26 | Released: July 3, 2012 Label: Illionaire Records, Genie Music Formats: CD, digital download Track listing Nike Shoes feat. Dynamic Duo Slow it Down (진절머리) feat. Okasian & Dok2 Boogie On & On Aqua Man Summer Madness feat. The Quiett I'll Be Back Profile feat. Dok2 & The Quiett If I Die Tomorrow Always Awake | — | — |
| Up All Night | Released: July 16, 2014 Label: Illionaire Records, CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download Track listing Jackson Pollock D*ck How Do I Look? Crazy (미쳤어) feat. Don Mills Up All Night feat. Mayson the Soul I Don't Have to Work | 12 | KOR: 3,212 |
| 24:26 (5th Anniversary Remaster) | Released: July 11, 2017 Label: Illionaire Records, Genie Music Formats: CD, digital download Track listing Nike Shoes feat. Dynamic Duo Slow it Down (진절머리) feat. Okasian & Dok2 Boogie On & On Aqua Man Summer Madness feat. The Quiett I'll Be Back Profile feat. Dok2 & The Quiett If I Die Tomorrow Always Awake | 6 | KOR: 5,441 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ||||

### Singles
#### As lead artist

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales (DL) | Album |
| As lead artist |||||
| "I'll Be Back" | 2012 | — | — | 24:26 |
| "Slow It Down" (진절머리) feat. Okasian & Dok2 | 2012 | — | — | 24:26 |
| "Boogie On & On" | 2012 | 62 | KOR: 303,976 | 24:26 |
| "Aqua Man" | 2012 | 87 | KOR: 22,915 | 24:26 |
| "Dali, Van, Picasso" | 2013 | 1 | KOR: 662,041 | 12 |
| "How Do I Look?" | 2014 | 6 | KOR: 335,812 | Up All Night |
| "So What" (어쩌라고) | 2015 | 4 | KOR: 319,534 | Non-album single |
| "Break" | 2015 | 13 | KOR: 357,889 | 12 |
| "We Are Going To" | 2015 | 59 | KOR: 43,310 | 12 |
| "Life in Color" | 2016 | 43 | KOR: 91,019 | Non-album single |
| "Saturday" (토요일의 끝에서) feat. Black Nut | 2016 | 12 | KOR: 233,974 | 12 |
| "January" feat. YDG | 2016 | 52 | KOR: 27,104 | 12 |
| "Time Travel" | 2016 | 36 | KOR: 53,598 | 12 |
| "OKGO" feat. E Sens | 2019 | 90 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Fashion Hoarder" feat. Zene the Zilla | 2019 | 86 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Blurry" feat. Dbo | 2019 | 82 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Trippy" | 2023 | 138 | — | Nowitzki |
| "Monet" | 2023 | 149 | — | Nowitzki |
| "In Bed/Makgulli" (침대에서/막걸리) | 2023 | 159 | — | Nowitzki |
| "Coca Cola Red" feat. Oygli | 2023 | 189 | — | Nowitzki |
| "990" feat. Kim Ximya | 2023 | 166 | — | Nowitzki |
| "Travel Again" (여행 Again) feat. Cautious Clay | 2023 | 73 | — | Nowitzki |
| Collaborations |||||
| "Illionaire Way" with The Quiett & Dok2 | 2011 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "U & I" with Toy & Crush | 2014 | 3 | KOR: 435,678 | Da Capo |
| "Rockin' With The Best" with The Quiett & Dok2 | 2014 | 96 | KOR: 16,793 | Non-album single |
| "The Color" with Yoon Jong-shin | 2015 | 54 | KOR: 55,953 | Monthly Project 2015 |
| "No Matter What" with BoA | 2016 | 7 | KOR: 292,678 | SM Station Season 1 |
| "The Fearless Ones" with The Quiett, Sik-K, Changmo | 2019 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |||||

#### As featured artist

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Album |
| "The Invisible Man" (투명인간) Tiramisu feat. Beenzino | 2010 | — | Non-album single |
| "Tomorrow Sucks" (Bonus Mix) Demicat feat. Beenzino, Sean2slow | 2010 | — | Tomorrow Sucks |
| "Smoke" VidaLoca feat. Beenzino | 2010 | — | Non-album single |
| "How Dare You Pour Oil or Something" (기름 같은걸 끼얹나) Verbal Jint feat. Beenzino, Deb | 2010 | 91 | Go Easy 0.5 |
| "Fantom" Dok2 feat. Beenzino | 2010 | — | Non-album single |
| "Would You Be My" Paloalto feat. Beenzino | 2011 | — | Fever For Calmness |
| "She's There" VidaLoca feat. Beenzino, Zion.T | 2011 | — | Non-album single |
| "Handalas" (안달났어) Leo Kekoa feat. Beenzino, MC Meta | 2011 | — | Missing Soul |
| "Don't Do That" (그쯤에서 해) Dok2 feat. Beenzino, The Quiett | 2012 | — | Non-album singles |
| "What I See" Prepix feat. Yong Jun-hyung, Beenzino, Esna | 2012 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Get Dough" The Quiett feat. Beenzino | 2012 | — | AMBITIQN |
| "Thank You" D-Unit feat. Beenzino | 2013 | 75 | Non-album single |
| "Where'd They Go" (Dub Remix) Nuol feat. Beenzino | 2013 | — | Dub In Nuol Vol.1 |
| "So Good" Leo Kekoa feat. Beenzino, Yeeun | 2013 | 45 | Non-album singles |
| "A Real Lady" Swings feat. Beenzino, Gray, Zion.T | 2013 | 9 | Non-album singles |
| "Holiday" (홀리데이) Mayson the Soul feat. Beenzino | 2013 | — | Jackasoul |
| "Want U" (너를 원해) Junggigo feat. Beenzino | 2014 | 1 | Non-album single |
| "Ice Ice Baby" (얼음땡) Parc Jae-jung feat. Beenzino | 2014 | 56 | STEP 1 |
| "On Your Body" (너의 몸에 벤) Ven feat. Beenzino | 2014 | 75 | THE VGINS |
| "Born Hater" Epik High feat. Beenzino, Verbal Jint, B.I, Mino, Bobby | 2014 | 3 | Shoebox |
| "Cheers" Gaeko, Yankie feat. Beenzino, Babylon | 2015 | 28 | Non-album single |
| "Get" Urban Zakapa feat. Beenzino | 2015 | 10 | UZ |
| "Mannequin" (마네퀸) Primary feat. Beenzino, Suran | 2015 | 11 | 2 |
| "Mayo" (마요) Shin Seung-hun feat. Beenzino | 2015 | 36 | I Am...& I Am |
| "Calling in Love" Suran feat. Beenzino | 2015 | — | Non-album single |
| "Surprise" (서프라이즈) Bumkey feat. Beenzino | 2016 | 35 | U-Turn |
| "Paldangdam" (팔당댐) Eddy Kim feat. Beenzino | 2016 | 14 | Non-album singles |
| "Thursday Night" (목요일 밤) Urban Zakapa feat. Beenzino | 2016 | 2 | Non-album singles |
| "Work Spirit" (작업혼) YDG feat. Beenzino | 2016 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Five More Minutes" (5분만 더) Sanchez feat. Beenzino | 2017 | 48 | Colour |
| "Ambition and Vision" Dok2 feat. Beenzino, Changmo, Kim Hyo-eun, Hash Swan, The Quiett | 2017 | — | Reborn |
| "You" (너야) Seulong feat. Beenzino | 2017 | 40 | Non-album singles |
| "Traffic Light" (신호등) Jero feat. Beenzino | 2017 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Outside" Crush feat. Beenzino | 2017 | 12 | Non-album singles |
| "Dope" DG feat. Beenzino | 2017 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Tropical Night" Microdot feat. Beenzino | 2017 | — | Prophet |
| "Seoul Night" (서울 밤) Urban Zakapa feat. Beenzino | 2019 | 6 | Non-album single |
| "Clear Vision" Zene the Zilla feat. Beenzino | 2019 | — | Yamangkkun |
| "Flip" Peniel feat. Beenzino | 2019 | — | Non-album single |
| "Stay Up" Baekhyun feat. Beenzino | 2019 | 89 | City Lights |
| "Hula Hoops" DPR Live feat. Beenzino, Hwasa | 2021 | 185 | Iite Cool [EP] |
| "Counting Stars" Be'O feat. Beenzino | 2021 | 1 | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ||||

### Other charted songs

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Album |
| "Stinky Kiss (Intro)" | 2023 | 180 | Nowitzki |
| "Radio" | 2023 | 194 | Nowitzki |

## Awards and nominations

| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
| Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2017 | Artist of the Year | Beenzino | Nominated |
| Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2017 | Hip Hop Album of the Year | 12 | Nominated |
| Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2017 | Hip Hop Track of the Year | "Flexin'" | Nominated |
| Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2017 | Collaboration of the Year | "January" (feat. YDG) | Nominated |
| Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2024 | Artist of the Year | Beenzino | Won |
| Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2024 | Hip Hop Album of the Year | Nowitzki | Won |
| Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2024 | Hip Hop Track of the Year | "Travel Again" (feat. Cautious Clay) | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2013 | Best Rap & Hip Hop Album | 24:26 | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2013 | Best Rap & Hip Hop Song | "Aqua Man" | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2017 | Best Rap & Hip Hop Album | 12 | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2017 | Best Rap & Hip Hop Song | "Time Travel" | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2024 | Album of the Year | Nowitzki | Won |
| Korean Music Awards | 2024 | Best Rap & Hip Hop Album | Nowitzki | Won |
| Korean Music Awards | 2024 | Artist of the Year | Beenzino | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2024 | Song of the Year | "Travel Again" (feat. Cautious Clay) | Nominated |
| Korean Music Awards | 2024 | Best Rap & Hip Hop Song | "Travel Again" (feat. Cautious Clay) | Nominated |
| MAMA Awards | 2016 | Best Collaboration | "No Matter What" (with BoA) | Nominated |
| Melon Music Awards | 2014 | Best Rap/Hip Hop Award | "How Do I Look?" | Nominated |