Jordan Edward Benjamin (born October 25, 1993), known professionally as Grandson (stylized as grandson), is an American and Canadian singer, songwriter, and rapper. He released his major label debut EP, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1, on June 15, 2018, and released the follow-up A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2 on February 22, 2019. The initial EP featured the single "Blood // Water", which appeared on several Billboard charts in the United States and Canada. Benjamin's music focuses on modern-day issues that are less recognized by the media and public. On December 4, 2020, he released his debut studio album, Death of an Optimist, and his second album, I Love You, I'm Trying, was released on May 5, 2023. On September 5, 2025, his third album Inertia was released.
Early life and education
Benjamin was born in New Jersey, United States. When he was 3 years old, his family moved to a Jewish neighborhood in Toronto, Ontario, where his maternal relatives lived (he holds dual citizenship of both countries). He is Jewish. He has two sisters. Benjamin grew up largely in the Eglinton West area of Toronto. He attended Northern Secondary School in Toronto and, after graduation, enrolled in McGill University in Montreal. There, he studied education with the initial goal of becoming a teacher. He also spent a great deal of time DJing and playing shows in Montreal while at McGill. After two years, he transferred to Concordia University, another Montreal institution. He studied communications there briefly before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue a music career.
Career Benjamin began releasing music under the pseudonym grandson in late 2015. In 2016, he released several singles that accrued millions of streams, including "Bills", "Things Change", and "Bury Me Face Down". In 2017, he was signed to RCA Records, and continued releasing singles, including "Best Friends" and "Kiss Bang". He also performed at North by Northeast that year (among other festivals).
In April 2018, it was announced that grandson had signed to the Fueled By Ramen record label. He had also released two new singles, "Blood // Water" and "Thoughts & Prayers", which offered a critique of American gun laws in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He released his first EP on Fueled by Ramen, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1, in June 2018. That EP also featured the song "6:00" which discussed police brutality. Also in June 2018, grandson was featured on Mike Shinoda's song "Running from My Shadow", taken from his debut album Post Traumatic; the track was released also with an accompanying music video in May 2018.
Throughout 2018, grandson toured with acts like Hobo Johnson, Joywave, Nothing But Thieves, Smashing Pumpkins, and Young the Giant. He also appeared on an episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers in August 2018, performing "Blood // Water".
In February 2019, he released a new single, "Apologize", and announced his second EP, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2, which was released on February 22, 2019. In late May, grandson released a cover of Rage Against the Machine's "Maria", a song featured on the 1999 album The Battle of Los Angeles.
In June 2019, he won the SOCAN Songwriting Prize for his song "Blood // Water","Politically Charged 'Blood // Water' Wins SOCAN Songwriting Prize". FYI Music News, June 24, 2019. while in September 2019 the singer released A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3, the final installment of the Modern Tragedy trilogy; the record features the lead single "Rock Bottom", which peaked at No. 38 on the Canadian Rock Chart.
On September 23, 2020, Grandson announced on his Facebook page that his debut full-length album Death of an Optimist would be released on December 4, 2020. Death of an Optimist is Grandson's debut album, being his first record to have a heavier tone since the release of the last A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3.
He announced a new album, I Love You, I'm Trying in May 2022, and it was released in May 2023.
In September 2024, it was announced that Grandson would be one of the opening acts for Linkin Park on their From Zero World Tour, their first in 7 years and without former lead singer Chester Bennington following his death.
In a reply to a fan's tweet on Twitter on May 30, 2025, Grandson revealed he was now an independent artist.
On May 30, 2025, Grandson announced his third album, Inertia, teasing it with the tagline "It's Never Enough Rest, Tomorrow Is Approaching", through his independent label, XX Records. The album was released on September 5, 2025.
On October 3, 2026, Grandson will perform at the Power to the People Festival organized by Tom Morello and featuring Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, and others. The festival, to be held at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD, was organized as a protest against President Donald Trump.
Discography Studio albums +List of albums with selected album details and peak chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions US Heat.Death of an Optimist Released: December 4, 2020 Label: Fueled by Ramen Formats: Digital download, CD, vinyl 7I Love You, I'm Trying Released: May 5, 2023 Label: Fueled by Ramen Formats: Digital download, CD, vinyl—Inertia Released: September 5, 2025 Label: XX Records Formats: Digital download, CD, vinyl—
EPs +List of EPs with selected album details and peak chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions US Heat.A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1 Released: June 15, 2018 Label: Fueled by Ramen Formats: Digital download, CD —Broken Down Vol. 1 Released: August 17, 2018 Label: Fueled by Ramen Formats: Digital download —A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2 Released: February 22, 2019 (US) Label: Fueled by Ramen Formats: Digital download, CD 23No Apologies Live Released: June 11, 2019 Label: Fueled by Ramen Formats: Digital download —A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3 Released: September 13, 2019 Label: Fueled by Ramen Formats: Digital download, CD —
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album CANAC CANRock CZPeaks in the Czech Republic: For "Zen": LTU USAlt USMain USRock"Bills" 2016 — — — — — — — rowspan="6" "Things Change" — — — — — — —"Bury Me Face Down" — — — — — — — MC: Gold "Kiss Bang"2017 — — — — — — —"Best Friends" — — — — — — —"War" — — — — — — — "Blood // Water" — 19 — 93 20 17 19 MC: 3× Platinum AFP: Gold ARIA: 2× Platinum BPI: Gold BVMI: Gold IFPI AUT: Platinum RIAA: 2× Platinum SNEP: Gold A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1 "Overdose" 2018 — — — — — — — "Thoughts & Prayers" — — — — — — — "Apologize" 2019 — 5 — — 34 20 — MC: Gold A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2 "Maria" — — — — — — — Rock Sound Presents: Worship And Tributes Vol. 2 "Despicable" — — — — — — — A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1 "Rock Bottom" — 26 — — — — — A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3 "Oh No!!!" — — — — — — — "Happy Pill" — — — — — — — "Peaches (Text Voter XX to 40649)" 2020 — — — — — — — Text Voter XX to 40649 Collection "Whole Lotta (Text Voter XX to 40649)" — — — — — — — "How Bout Now (Text Voter XX to 40649)" — — — — — — — "Again (Text Voter XX to 40649)" — — — — — — — "Identity" — — — — — — —Death of an Optimist "Riptide" — — — — — — — "Dirty" 50 6 — — 10 — — MC: Gold "One Step Closer" — — — — — — — Spotify Singles "We Did It!!!" — — — — — — — Death of an Optimist"Zen" — 9 48 — 24 — — "Rain" 2021 — 31 — — 26 — 49 The Suicide Squad (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) "Drop Dead" — 46 — — — — — rowspan="2" "Kult" 2022 — — — — — — — "Eulogy" 2023 — 14 — — — — —I Love You, I'm Trying "Drones" — — — — — — — "Something To Hide" — 13 — — — — — "One Last Dance" 2024 — — — — — 34 — Venom: The Last Dance "Brainrot" 2025 — — — — — — — Inertia "Self Immolation" — — — — — — — "God Is An Animal" — — — — — — — "Autonomous Delivery Robot" — — — — — — — "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist + List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Album USAlt"Running from My Shadow" 2018 — Post Traumatic"All in My Head" 2020 — Fantasy"Heat Seeker" 28 Palm Reader"Lost Cause" — rowspan="2" "Cash Machine (Remix)" —"Hold the Line" 2021 — The Atlas Underground Fire"Until I Come Home" — Shape & Form"Good Mood" 2022 — rowspan="2" "Choke" — "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Music videos +TitleYearDirector(s) "Bills" 2017 Joe Cappa "Blood // Water" 2018 Miggy & Morgan "6:00" Gus Black "Apologize" 2019 Jordan Wozy & Lucas Taggart "Stigmata" Rosco Guerrero "Rock Bottom" Seth Michael Stern"Oh No!!!"Galileo "Identity" 2020 Karl Jungquist"Riptide""Dirty" "Rain" (From The Suicide Squad) 2021 "Drop Dead" (ft. Kesha and Travis Barker) Andrew Sandler "Eulogy" 2023 Zach Madden "Drones" Zachary Bailey "Half My Heart" "Brainrot" 2025 Joe Weil "Self Immolation" "God Is An Animal" "Autonomous Delivery Robot" "Masters Of War" "Little White Lies" 2026
Notes
Tours
Headlining
No Apologies Tour (2019) The End of the Beginning Tour (2019–2020) Death of a Tour (2022) I Love You, I'm Trying Tour (2023) Summer Rage Tour (2024) Inertia Tour (2025)
Supporting
The Glorious Sons - Young Beauties and Fools Tour (2017) Hobo Johnson - 2018 Summer Tour Nothing but Thieves - Broken Machine World Tour (2018) Imagine Dragons - Mercury World Tour (2022) Avril Lavigne - Bite Me Tour (2022) Linkin Park - From Zero World Tour (2025)I was just at Linkin Park's concert in Berlin on the 18.06.2025 and saw him as an opening act, so I can personally confirm it. I can attach a video as proof, if needed.
References
External links
Official website