“Bring Something New to the Table”: Prodj.mp3 Talks Musical Heritage and Innovation

The Jamaican producer and beatmaker, son of the late Determine and brother of Runkus, reflects on his musical roots, collaborations with Nigerian producer Chopstixx and Dyani, contributions to Runkus’ Supernova album, and ambition to push creative boundaries in Jamaican music

Rising producer and beatmaker Zaire-Zidane "Prodj.mp3" Bennett

Growing up in a musical family has played a defining role in shaping the creative journey of Jamaican producer and beatmaker Prodj.mp3, the son of the late Reggae artiste Determine and brother of recording artiste and producer Runkus.

In a conversation with Kaboom Magazine, the emerging producer reflected on his musical upbringing, creative influences and recent productions, including Dyani and LLAP’s “On & On,” “3310,” and his work alongside Runkus on Supernova album.

“I want my name to represent innovation, creativity, versatility, and the willingness to be bold, experimental, and confident in your own sound.”

“My musical background has played a huge role in shaping how I hear, interpret and approach music,” he told Kaboom Magazine. “Growing up around my brother and watching him produce, write, record, mix and master gave me an early understanding of the creative process and a solid foundation to build upon.”

While acknowledging his family's influence, Prodj.mp3 has been determined to develop his own musical identity through experimentation and innovation. “I’ve always tried to take that foundation a step further by experimenting with different sounds, exploring unconventional approaches to production and challenging myself to think outside the box,” he explained. “I think a big part of being creative is having the confidence to step outside what’s familiar and not being afraid to try something different.”

Prodj.mp3 (R) alongside his brother Runkus during a studio session.

Discussing his work on Dyani’s “On & On,” from the LLAP project, the producer explained that his creative approach is rooted in spontaneity. “The same as any other project, I try not to overthink it when it comes to music and just let go and be in the moment,” he shared.

Prodj.mp3, whose given name is Zaire-Zidane Bennett, secured another notable collaboration on “3310,” a track from Runkus’ Supernova album, which he co-produced alongside Chopstixx, the Nigerian producer behind Burna Boy’s global hit “Last Last.” “It was a great moment. Producing with Chopstixx helped me to expand my creativity and really push myself towards experimenting with new sounds and techniques,” he reflected.

His creative partnership with his brother Runkus has also played a pivotal role in his musical journey, including his contributions to Runkus’ Grammy-considered album Supernova, a project that explores different sounds and moods while maintaining an authentic musical identity. “While creating Supernova with Runkus, we had multiple discussions about being intentional with what we do but to also stay authentic and have fun while creating the project,” he explained.

As he continues to build his production catalogue and establish his place in Jamaica’s music industry, Prodj.mp3 hopes his name will become synonymous with creativity, versatility and pushing musical boundaries. “I want my name to represent innovation, creativity, versatility, and the willingness to be bold, experimental, and confident in your own sound,” Bennett shared.

“I have a deep sense of respect and gratitude for the foundation laid before me, but I also believe that every generation has a responsibility to build upon that foundation and bring something new to the table,” he concluded.