Kel Spencer

Kel Spencer
Kel Spencer
Birth name	Lennie De Juan Bennett
Born	1978; Rapper, songwriter, producer, actor, film director
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Overbrook Entertainment (former); Interscope Records (former); 3rd Power Music Group (current)

Lennie De Juan Bennett better known by his

American Music Award for the platinum single "Switch

". As a recording artist on his own, Spencer was featured on the hit soundtracks "Wild Wild West" and "American Pie: The Naked Mile" as well as on albums from Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff or Grandmaster Flash.

Early life

Spencer was born in 1978 in Landstuhl, West Germany where his father, serving in the Air Force was stationed. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, Spencer received All-star honors as high school quarterback and, at 16, went on to the Earl G. Graves school of Business at Morgan State University.^[1]

Music career

After showcasing in various hip-hop talent shows starting in 1992, Spencer was discovered by Hollywood icon Will Smith and signed in 2000 to Overbrook Entertainment/Interscope Records. He first appeared in 1999 on two songs from the Wild Wild West soundtrack, peaking at number four on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The same year he co-wrote 7 out of the 15 tracks off of Will Smith multi-platinum album Willennium. Spencer co-wrote the Grammy and Soul Train awards nominated "Will 2K" as well as hit single "Freakin' It" and appeared as a guest artist on the song "Uuhhh".

He later went on to co-write songs for the likes of

Lil J, Teddy Riley, Wyclef Jean, Nick Cannon, Lil' Kim, Carl Thomas, Heavy D, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Miri Ben-Ari, Mary J. Blige as well as the singles "Freak Freak" by Grammy Award winners The Product G&B (2001) and "It Ain't My Fault" by So Plush (2002).^[2] Spencer teamed up again on Will Smith's 2003 album "Born to Reign" co-writing 7 tracks out of 14 including the leading single and MTV Video Music Award nominated "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)".^[3] Spencer renewed his collaboration with Smith on 5 tracks out of Smith's platinum 2005 album "Lost and Found", including the leading single and American Music Award-winning "Switch" peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100

.

Spencer gained further recognition contributing to albums from

American Pie: The Naked Mile

" ; contributing to various mixtapes ; and writing music for commercials, jingles and theme songs.

Spencer launched his own label, 3rd Power Music Group, released the critically acclaimed mixtape "Who is Kel Spencer" in 2005, the EP "Streets know that" in 2006, a second mixtape "Brooklyn Spartans" in 2007 and a relationship based novelty album called "Salon Stories" in 2009, hosted by

Q-tip, Def Poets, Rivaflowz, Shanelle Gabriel, Jesse Boykins III, and more.^[4]

Acting career

Having started an acting career in the 2010s, Spencer has garnered roles and writing/directing credits in several

Quana BelleVoix and Lisa Harris.^[5]

References

^ "Kel Spencer biography on IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
^ "Lennie De Juan Bennett list of written songs published by BMI". BMI. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
^ "2002 MTV Video Music Award nominees". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
^ "Perfect Results Presents: Kel Spencer's Salon Stories Hosted By MC Lyte". Amazon. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
^ "Date 'N Game: The Movie on IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 2015-09-17.

[1] "Kel Spencer biography on IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 2015-09-17.

[2] "Lennie De Juan Bennett list of written songs published by BMI". BMI. Retrieved 2015-09-17.

[3] "2002 MTV Video Music Award nominees". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-09-17.

[4] "Perfect Results Presents: Kel Spencer's Salon Stories Hosted By MC Lyte". Amazon. Retrieved 2015-09-17.

[5] "Date 'N Game: The Movie on IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 2015-09-17.

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