Music
Cheers 2 U
Playa • 1998 • Def Jam Recordings
Cheers 2 U
Playa • 1998
+4 more tracks
The Autobiography of Benjamin Bush
Digital Black • 2007 • Elite Muzic
The Autobiography of Benjamin Bush
Digital Black • 2007
100% Ginuwine
Ginuwine • 1999 • Epic Records
Digital Black co-wrote 'So Anxious'
100% Ginuwine
Ginuwine • 1999
Dru World Order
Dru Hill • 2002 • Def Soul
Current member of Dru Hill (since 2018)
Dru World Order
Dru Hill • 2002
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The Legacy
“Before Drake sampled the sound. Before Jack Harlow repped Louisville. Digital Black and Playa were laying the blueprint.”
Playa Forms in Louisville
Digital Black, Smoke E. Digglera, and Static Major come together in Louisville, Kentucky to form the R&B trio Playa.
Joins Da Bassment Collective
Playa joins DeVante Swing and Timbaland's legendary Da Bassment Collective, working alongside future icons Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, and Aaliyah.
Jodeci Collaboration
Contributes to Jodeci's "The Show, The After Party, The Hotel" album, deepening ties within the Da Bassment family.
"Cheers 2 U" Album Drops
Playa releases their debut album on Def Jam Recordings, produced by Timbaland. The Timbaland-produced title track becomes an R&B classic.
Billboard Top 40
"Cheers 2 U" single peaks at #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, cementing Playa's place in music history.
"So Anxious" Released
Ginuwine's "So Anxious," co-written by Digital Black, is released and reaches #2 on the R&B charts and #16 on the Hot 100. The album 100% Ginuwine achieves 2x Platinum certification.
Static Major Passes
In February 2008, the music world mourns the loss of Static Major, Playa's co-founder and one of R&B's most gifted writers. His legacy lives on through his catalog.
Joins Dru Hill
Digital Black and fellow Playa member Smoke E. Digglera join legendary R&B group Dru Hill, bringing their artistry and stage presence to a new chapter of classic R&B.
Louisville Legacy Honored
Jack Harlow's "Luv Is Dro" features a posthumous appearance by Static Major, connecting Louisville's R&B heritage to a new generation of fans and honoring the legacy of Playa.
Legacy Continues
Digital Black continues to perform, write, and carry the torch for authentic R&B artistry. The sound that defined an era endures.
Credits & Awards
Writing Credits
“Cheers 2 U”
Playa • 1998
Co-writer
“Don't Stop the Music”
Playa • 1997
Co-writer
“I Gotta Know (ft. Foxy Brown)”
Playa • 1997
Lead writer
“So Anxious”
Ginuwine • 1999
Co-writer
“All the Way”
Playa • 1998
Co-writer
“Together”
Playa • 1998
Co-writer
“I-65”
Playa • 1998
Co-writer
“Push”
Playa • 1998
Co-writer
Da Bassment Era
As part of the legendary Da Bassment Collective, Digital Black worked alongside some of the biggest names in R&B history.
Aaliyah
“Are You That Somebody?”
Grammy Nominated — Da Bassment Collective Era
Aaliyah
“Try Again”
#1 Billboard Hot 100 — Da Bassment Collective Era
Aaliyah
“One in a Million”
Da Bassment Collective Era
Ginuwine
“Pony”
4x Platinum — Da Bassment Collective Era
Ginuwine
“So Anxious”
#2 R&B, #16 Hot 100 — Co-written by Digital Black
Timbaland & Magoo
“Luv 2 Luv Ya (ft. Playa)”
Featured appearance
Awards & Certifications
“100% Ginuwine”
Ginuwine • 1999
album
Da Bassment Collective
“The sound that defined an era”
Timbaland
Producer / Architect
DeVante Swing
Founder / Jodeci
Static Major
Playa / Songwriter
Missy Elliott
Artist / Visionary
Ginuwine
Artist
Aaliyah
Artist / Icon
20+
Billboard Hits
50M+
Records Sold
4+
Grammy Noms
The Legacy Lives On
The sound Digital Black helped create continues to influence today's biggest artists.
Drake
"After Dark" ft. Static Major & Ty Dolla $ign (Scorpion, 2018)
Features Static Major posthumously — Da Bassment legacy
Jack Harlow
"Luv Is Dro" ft. Static Major & Bryson Tiller (2020)
Features Static Major posthumously — Louisville's R&B heritage honored
Videos
About
“An architect of the sound that shaped modern R&B. From Da Bassment to Billboard. From Louisville to legacy.”
Digital Black is a legendary R&B songwriter and founding member of Playa, the acclaimed trio behind the Timbaland-produced classic "Cheers 2 U." An ASCAP writer and Da Bassment alumni, he continues shaping R&B as a member of Dru Hill.
Key Facts
- Name
- Digital Black
- Real Name
- Benjamin Bush
- Origin
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Genre
- Classic 90s R&B / Hip-Hop Soul
- Label
- Def Jam Recordings
- Affiliations
- ASCAP SongwriterDa Bassment CollectivePlayaDru Hill