Jaiden Anthony Watson, better known as NothSideBenji was born January 25th, 1998 in Brampton, Ontario. The peel-based superstar has since solidified himself as one of the brightest stars in Canada’s rap scene. Releasing his first song “One Hundred” in August of 2016, NorthSideBenji’s music immediately resonated with fans through his unique style and delivery, making his rise in the music industry inevitable.

The content of the rapper’s music, often dark and grimy, is greatly complimented by his delivery which seems to embrace the reality which his songs detail. It is then no surprise that his releases have all been greatly received by his fanbase; from his debut project Caviar Dreams (2019), The Extravagant Collection (2021), Prophecy – EP (2023), to his September 2025 release Misery Loves Company.

Perhaps the song which played the biggest role in NorthSideBenji’s career taking off, “Levels”, released in January of 2019 and sitting on over 8 million views on YouTube, the hard-hitting single features his longtime friend Houdini. The pair attended St. Edmund Campion Catholic Secondary School in Brampton together, both beginning to release music around the same time, resulting in their first collaboration “Don’t Push Me” in October 2016. NorthSideBenji claims to be the first person to take Houdini to a studio, citing how their relationship contributed to the synergy and chemistry they have on songs, complimenting one another’s individual styles. The hype the duo conjured with their 2019 release served as a catalyst for the success of his debut album Caviar Dreams, which helped give way for his pivotal track, “Fire in the Booth”.

NorthSideBenji was featured on the U.K HipHop platform alongside British rapper Nines, who he would later collaborate with on future projects Crabs in a Bucket, Crop Circle 2 and Quit While You’re Ahead. His performance on “Fire in the Booth” gained him international exposure, particularly in the U.K which he had not yet seen. The track “Fire in The Booth” sits on over 23 million views on YouTube and is his most viewed release to date.

It would be only a matter of months later riding this high however that Benji would lose his close friend and duo Houdini to a tragic downtown Toronto shooting which shocked the city. NorthSideBenji has since been featured on multiple of Houdini’s posthumous releases in honour of his late friend and continues to support his family, even bringing out Houdini’s son on stage with him at a show in Toronto in October of 2025.

NorthSideBenji is among one of the most established names in Canadian rap, telling his story through his music in a way only he can.