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Tjuan Benafactor

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki






Tjuan Benafactor
BornAntjuan Washington
(1981-12-01) December 1, 1981 (age 44)
Hill District, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
💼 Occupation
  • Rapper
  • record producer
  • sports executive
  • entrepreneur
  • media executive
📆 Years active  2010–present
🌐 Websitebenroyal.tv

  Antjuan Washington (born 1981), known professionally as Tjuan Benafactor, is an American rapper, record producer, sports executive, entrepreneur, and media executive from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is the co-founder and original owner of the Steel City Yellow Jackets of the American Basketball Association, and the co-founder of BenRoyal TV, a 24-hour urban streaming network.[1] As a recording artist, Washington has charted on the UK and US iTunes charts, Amazon charts, and global digital radio charts, and has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, KRS-One, Project Pat, Crunchy Black of Three 6 Mafia, and Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees.[2]  

Early life

  Washington was born in 1981 in the Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[3] He attended Bethel Christian Academy before enrolling at Oliver High School on Pittsburgh's North Side, where he was a member of the chess club and participated in multiple varsity sports.[4]   From an early age Washington demonstrated talent in the visual arts, ceramics, and creative writing. He enrolled in the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild's Arts Collaborative program, where he studied ceramics, audio engineering, and photography.[5] During his time at the Guild, then-First Lady Hillary Clinton visited the program; Washington was selected as one of the students to appear on stage with Clinton and was given the opportunity to ask her two questions directly.[6][7] At age 14, Washington was featured on the front page of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Region & State section in an article titled "Artists in Progress," which highlighted his ceramics work and included a profile of his ambitions.[8] The article quoted Washington: "I can start with an idea and it just gets better."[9]   In 1997, Washington was featured in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for his participation in a Pittsburgh Leadership community project alongside future collaborator Averill "Ace" Pippins.[10] Washington is a former top-50 member and alumni of the Sarah Heinz House community center, where he later served as a day camp counselor.[11]  

Music career

 

Early career

  Washington began his professional music career under the name Tjuan Benafactor, releasing his debut mixtape Arucca Flyboy Presents: 80's Babies, hosted by DJ Vlad of VladTV.[12] His second single, "Flyer With Me / Fly Wit Me" featuring Project Pat, received Island Def Jam distribution and was placed on Virgin Airlines in-flight entertainment.[13] His single "Quantum Leap" achieved over 50,000 downloads in 22 days.[14]   In 2012, Washington won the 14th Annual Great American Song Contest in the Hip-Hop/R&B category.[15]  

Chart success

    Washington was named a 2013 Artist to Watch by Skope Magazine[16] and was nominated for Best New Male Artist at the 2013 EOTM Awards.[citation needed] He has been a four-time finalist for the Pittsburgh Hip-Hop Awards[17] and served as a Supercuts Top 5 National Artist and brand ambassador.[18]   Washington managed recording artist Benzino, co-founder of The Source magazine, including appearances at NBA All-Star Weekend.[19][20] Washington was the cover story of Jamsphere Indie Music Magazine in September 2021 and the cover story of TunedLoud Magazine.[21] He served as social media director for multi-platinum R&B group Shai for approximately eight years.[22] He has collaborated with Crunchy Black of Three 6 Mafia and has released music featuring Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees.[23]  

Sports career

 

Steel City Yellow Jackets

  In 2014, Washington co-founded the Steel City Yellow Jackets of the American Basketball Association alongside head coach Averill "Ace" Pippins.[24][25][26]   Under Washington's ownership the Yellow Jackets won four North Central Region championships and hosted two ABA All-Star Weekends in Pittsburgh.[27]   In April 2022, the Steel City Yellow Jackets won the ABA National Championship, defeating Team Trouble of Stockton, California 123–118 in Baltimore, Maryland.[28][29][30] Following the championship, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey led a championship parade through downtown Pittsburgh.[31][32]   Washington has also owned additional ABA franchises including the Owensboro Colonels, Akron Aviators, Twin City Jazz (Monroe, Louisiana), and the Buchanan Bears, and has served as CEO of Media & Entertainment for ABA TV.[33][34]  

Burgh Defenders

  In 2019, Washington co-founded the Burgh Defenders of the American Arena League, Pittsburgh's professional indoor football team, which played home games at Robert Morris University Island Sports Center on Neville Island.[35][36] Washington served as both head coach and part-owner of the team.[37] The Burgh Defenders signed former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Russell Stuvaints, who played for the Steelers during their Super Bowl XL championship season.[38]  

Boxing

  Washington served as Director of Business Development for Official Celebrity Boxing for approximately two years, also serving as event host and PPV host.[citation needed]  

Media and technology

  In 2016–2017, Washington co-founded BenRoyal TV, a 24-hour urban streaming network. In 2026, BenRoyal TV relaunched on the Roku platform.[39] Washington is also the founder of Arucca Flyboy Games, an Apple App Store developer responsible for multiple mobile applications including the ABA TV app.[40]  

Discography (partial)

 

Singles

 

Mixtapes

  • Arucca Flyboy Presents: 80's Babies (hosted by DJ Vlad)

 

Awards and recognition

 

References

  1. ↑ "BenRoyal TV — Official Website". Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. ↑ "Benafactor & Bantana's "No Laccin" Reaches New Milestone With Snoop Dogg As 12-week Chart Run Continues". AllHipHop. April 11, 2025. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ↑ "Artists in Progress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 23, 1996. |section= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ Guo, David (June 23, 1996). "Artists in Progress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. |section= ignored (help)
  5. ↑ Guo, David (June 23, 1996). "Artists in Progress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. |section= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ Guo, David (June 23, 1996). "Artists in Progress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. |section= ignored (help)
  7. ↑ "Pittsburgher of the Year: Bill Strickland". Pittsburgh Magazine. December 14, 2019. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  8. ↑ Guo, David (June 23, 1996). "Artists in Progress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. |section= ignored (help)
  9. ↑ Guo, David (June 23, 1996). "Artists in Progress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. |section= ignored (help)
  10. ↑ "Students Design a Corner of Hope". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 30, 1997.
  11. ↑ Guo, David (June 23, 1996). "Artists in Progress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. |section= ignored (help)
  12. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — True Passion For The Music And Scene". Indie Band Guru. October 26, 2015. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  13. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — True Passion For The Music And Scene". Indie Band Guru. October 26, 2015. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  14. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — Genius Music is booming with character, energy, and self-empowering wordplay". TunedLoud. June 18, 2021. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  15. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — True Passion For The Music And Scene". Indie Band Guru. October 26, 2015. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  16. ↑ "Skope Magazine 2013 Artist to Watch". Skope Magazine. 2013. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  17. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor". Entertainment Central Pittsburgh. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  18. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — True Passion For The Music And Scene". Indie Band Guru. October 26, 2015. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  19. ↑ "Jamsphere Indie Music Magazine September 2021 — Cover Story: Tjuan Benafactor". Jamsphere Indie Music Magazine. September 29, 2021. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  20. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — Genius Music". TunedLoud. June 18, 2021. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  21. ↑ "Jamsphere Indie Music Magazine September 2021". Jamsphere. September 29, 2021. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  22. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — Genius Music". TunedLoud. June 18, 2021. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  23. ↑ "ABA Basketball Music". Indie Band Guru. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  24. ↑ "It's a Championship Birthday for the Yellow Jackets Owner Pippins". New Pittsburgh Courier. May 3, 2022. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  25. ↑ "Optimism vs. Reality". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 24, 2014. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  26. ↑ "ABA Returns to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania". BMMG. April 2014. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  27. ↑ "ABA Champion Steel City Yellow Jackets Expect to Get Faster This Season". New Pittsburgh Courier. November 3, 2022. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  28. ↑ "Steel City Yellow Jackets Are ABA Champions With 123-118 Win Over Team Trouble". New Pittsburgh Courier. April 24, 2022. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  29. ↑ "ABA Crowns a New Champion: The Steel City Yellow Jackets". ABA Basketball. April 2022. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  30. ↑ "ABA Crowns 2022 Champion: Steel City Yellow Jackets". BVM Sports. April 25, 2022. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  31. ↑ "Parade in Downtown Pittsburgh to Welcome Steel City Yellow Jackets Into 'The City Of Champions'". New Pittsburgh Courier. May 18, 2022. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  32. ↑ "Steel City Yellow Jackets Are ABA National Champions". Pittsburgh Patch. April 24, 2022. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  33. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — Genius Music". TunedLoud. June 18, 2021. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  34. ↑ "Semi-Professional Sports to Return". GoErie.com. October 8, 2016. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  35. ↑ Jerry DiPaola (January 23, 2019). "Burgh Defenders arena team 'childhood dream' for hip-hop artist owner". TribLive. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  36. ↑ "Pittsburgh Getting New Arena Football Franchise". Pittsburgh Patch. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  37. ↑ Jerry DiPaola (January 23, 2019). "Burgh Defenders arena team 'childhood dream' for hip-hop artist owner". TribLive. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  38. ↑ Jerry DiPaola (March 7, 2019). "Former Steelers DB Russell Stuvaints signs with Pittsburgh indoor team". TribLive. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  39. ↑ "BenRoyal TV". Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  40. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — Genius Music". TunedLoud. June 18, 2021. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  41. ↑ "Benafactor & Bantana's No Laccin Reaches New Milestone". AllHipHop. April 11, 2025. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  42. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor ft. Benzino — Trust Issues". Stepkid. October 4, 2021. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  43. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — True Passion For The Music And Scene". Indie Band Guru. October 26, 2015. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  44. ↑ "Skope Magazine". Skope Magazine. 2013. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  45. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor". Entertainment Central Pittsburgh. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  46. ↑ "Tjuan Benafactor — True Passion For The Music And Scene". Indie Band Guru. October 26, 2015. Retrieved 2026. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

 

External links

  Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Rappers from Pittsburgh Category:American sports businesspeople Category:American music executives Category:People from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Category:African-American businesspeople Category:African-American rappers Category:Empire Distribution artists


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