Ben Kenney

Ben Kenney (born March 12, 1977) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist from Brielle, New Jersey. He played guitar with the Roots in the early 2000s before joining Incubus as its bassist in 2003, replacing founding bassist Alex Katunich. Kenney remained with Incubus for approximately two decades, appearing on the band's recordings from A Crow Left of the Murder... through Trust Fall (Side B) (2020). After an extended absence from touring while recovering from brain surgery, his departure from the group was announced in February 2024.

In addition to his work with the Roots and Incubus, Kenney has released a series of solo recordings through Ghetto Crush Industries and has worked as a session musician for artists including Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Blackalicious, Musiq Soulchild, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Bubba Sparxxx.

Career

Early career and the Roots

Kenney began playing professionally in New Jersey in the 1990s. An artist biography published by Strandberg Guitars dates the beginning of his work with the New Jersey band Racecar to 1994. He subsequently recorded with the group Supergrub. The band's releases included Norma & Thurselle (1996), Communicator (1997) and Challenger (2000).

Kenney joined the Roots as a guitarist around 2000.

In the summer of 2001, both the Roots and Incubus were among the acts booked for Moby's touring Area:One festival. Kenney later recalled that he met the members of Incubus while he was playing with the Roots and remained in contact with them afterward.

Kenney contributed guitar to the Roots' 2002 album Phrenology. A contemporary review in Salon specifically noted his guitar work on the song "The Seed (2.0)".

Kenney also accumulated session credits during this period. His recording credits include electric bass on Musiq Soulchild's Aijuswanaseing and bass on Blackalicious's Blazing Arrow, as well as guitar on Justin Timberlake's Justified, Vivian Green's A Love Story, DJ Jazzy Jeff's The Magnificent, and Bubba Sparxxx's Deliverance. He also performed guitar and bass on recordings by producer and cellist Larry Gold and worked as a producer and multi-instrumentalist with the Jazzyfatnastees.

In April 2003, Incubus announced that founding bassist Alex Katunich, also known as Dirk Lance, had left the group. Rolling Stone reported on April 4 that Kenney, identifying him as a musician who had played guitar with the Roots, would replace Katunich.

Kenney's first studio album as a member of Incubus was A Crow Left of the Murder..., released in 2004. He subsequently appeared on Light Grenades (2006), If Not Now, When? (2011), the EP Trust Fall (Side A) (2015), 8 (2017), and the EP Trust Fall (Side B) (2020). In addition to bass, Kenney received vocal and composition credits on the band's releases, including Light Grenades, 8, Trust Fall (Side A) and the compilation Monuments and Melodies.

Solo work

Kenney began releasing solo albums while a member of Incubus. His first album, 26, was released in 2004, followed by Maduro in 2006 and Distance and Comfort in 2008. Leave On Your Makeup included guest vocals from Incubus singer Brandon Boyd and guitarist Kaki King on "I'll Be Outside".

Following an extended break from recording and performing during his recovery from brain surgery, Kenney released Powerful Buttcheeks on March 3, 2025. He wrote, performed, recorded, mixed and produced the album, playing its bass, guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards and vocals. In April 2025, he returned to live performance at the Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles with bassist Ashley Mendel and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr. Nicole Row later took over the touring position for most of 2023. His touring amplification at the time consisted of Mesa Boogie WalkAbout amplifiers and extension cabinets. His effects included an Ernie Ball volume pedal, Fulltone Bass-Drive, Boss OC-2 octave and TU-3 tuner, Ibanez CS-9 chorus, and either an Emma or Aguilar compressor. Kenney discussed Dolenz's role in his recovery in a 2025 interview with Bass Magazine.

Discography

With Supergrub Norma & Thurselle (1996) Communicator (1997) Challenger (2000)

With the Roots Phrenology (2002)

With Time Lapse Consortium Live at the Roxy Theatre (2003)

With Incubus A Crow Left of the Murder... (2004) Light Grenades (2006) If Not Now, When? (2011) Trust Fall (Side A) (EP, 2015) 8 (2017) Trust Fall (Side B) (EP, 2020)

Solo 26 (2004) Maduro (2006) Distance and Comfort (2008) Burn the Tapes (2010) Leave On Your Makeup (EP, 2013) Must Be Nice (2019) Powerful Buttcheeks (2025)

Selected session and guest appearances Musiq Soulchild – Aijuswanaseing (2000) – electric bass Jay-Z – Unplugged (2001) – acoustic guitar Blackalicious – Blazing Arrow (2002) – bass Justin Timberlake – Justified (2002) – guitar Vivian Green – A Love Story (2002) – guitar DJ Jazzy Jeff – The Magnificent (2002) – guitar Jazzyfatnastees – The Tortoise & the Hare (2002) – producer, guitar and bass Bubba Sparxxx – Deliverance (2003) – guitar Larry Gold – Presents Don Cello and Friends (2003) – guitar and bass Coconut Records – Nighttiming (2007) – bass