Jamaican-Puerto Rican Bad Bena delivers a bold and sensual take on Rvssian’s eerie Story Book riddim with the release of her brand-new remix, Exotic (Story Book Remix), out now on YouTube. 

Part of a powerhouse juggling that includes artistes like Valiant, Chronic Law, and Jahshii, Exotic sees Bena stepping into the arena with something distinctly her own: unapologetic femininity, bilingual flows, and razor-sharp confidence. “I wanted to give the riddim a woman’s voice. Something sensual but with edge,” Bena shared. 

Known for blending dancehall with elements of trap and R&B, Bad Bena continues to carve her space in the genre. Exotic comes hot on the heels of her emotional single Holy Triad, and shows a different side of the London-based artiste fun, flirty, and full of fire. 

Bena’s music often draws from the struggles of migration and self-reinvention. But Exotic leans into liberation and self-expression a “bad gyal moment” that adds new flavour to the riddim and a feminine perspective often missing in dancehall jugglings. 

With support from dancehall legend Bounty Killer, who previously featured her on Going All In and production credits from the likes of Hot Money Studios (Stefflon Don, Central Cee), Bena’s rise feels inevitable. Exotic is her latest step forward confident, catchy, and impossible to ignore. 

BAD BENA’s journey from the vibrant parish of St Ann, Jamaica to the heart of London’s music scene is a story of resilience, determination, and unwavering passion. Born to a Puerto Rican Jamaican father and a Jamaican mother, Bena’s rich cultural heritage is as diverse as the music she creates. Before she was known as Bad Bena, she was working at the renowned Sandals resort in Jamaica, saving every penny with dreams of making it in fashion and music.

But when her hard-earned savings were stolen just before her move to the UK in 2015, she arrived in London with little more than hope and determination. Facing the harsh realities of life as an immigrant, Bena spent two years couch surfing, learning the ropes of a new country with grit and perseverance.

Bena’s turning point came when she found work at Harlesden’s iconic Hawkeye Enterprises Ltd, a record store at the heart of London’s vibrant music scene. Immersed in this environment, she balanced her passion for music with full-time studies in fashion, while working tirelessly in bars and restaurants to keep her dreams alive. When the world came to a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bena saw it as an opportunity to pivot, rather than succumb to the challenges. She taught herself how to record vocals and began sharing her captivating covers on Instagram, where her raw talent caught the attention of Dancehall legend Bounty Killer, who went on to feature her on his track Going All In.

With renewed momentum on the back of her first big break in music from Bounty Killer, and determined to carve out her own space in the music industry, Bena saved every tip from her waitressing job to fund recording sessions at London’s renowned Hot Money Studios, where UK rap heavyweights like Stefflon Don, Central Cee, and Stormzy have recorded.