Player’s Pass With Ben Reilly: Building His Own Path in Hip-Hop

Brooklyn-born and Georgia-raised, Ben Reilly is carving out his own lane as he continues to grow in the rap game. If you’re not already familiar with the rising rapper, now might be the perfect time to press play. From co-signs by Sounds That Move to recognition on Spotify’s Fresh Finds, his name has steadily gained traction across emerging hip-hop spaces. Okayplayer sat down with Ben Reilly to discuss the inspiration behind his music and the influences shaping his career.

Okayplayer: Where does the stage name Ben Reilly come from?

Ben Reilly: The origin of my name comes from the Spider-Man character Ben Reilly. I’m a big comic book nerd. When I was coming up with my name… I wanted to choose a comic book character’s name, and I chose Peter Parker, but unfortunately there was a DJ from Boston who already had the name. So I’m going to go with my next favorite version of Spider-Man, which is Ben Reilly. When I chose that name… it kind of stuck.

Do you remember the first song you made? How have you evolved?

My first song was with my father, and it was a freestyle over a Lil’ Wayne beat. Compared to how my music is now, it was more derivative. Now, it’s way more truthful. It’s a lot less trendy and punchline-heavy. I put a lot more thought into it.

Why did you choose the independent route? 

Coming into my career, especially my first year, I was offered a lot of “interesting” deals. Sure, the money was nice, but the terms didn’t feel right. Creating my own path and maybe joining a major later with different types of terms would be a better path I would like to take. It’s the ownership, it’s the creative freedom. I prefer it that way.

One thing you want to tell your future self?

Stop drinking coffee, it’s bad for your teeth. 

From comic book inspiration to independent ambition, Ben Reilly is still in the early stages of defining his sound and identity. And if his momentum is any indication of where he’s heading, he’s only getting started.