Jordan Edward Benjamin^[1][2] (born October 25, 1993),^[3] known professionally as Grandson (stylized as grandson),^[4] is an American-Canadian singer, songwriter, and rapper currently signed to Fueled by Ramen. He released his major label debut EP, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1, on June 15, 2018, and released the follow-up A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2 on February 22, 2019. The initial EP featured the single "Blood // Water", which appeared on several Billboard charts in the United States and Canada. Benjamin's music focuses on modern-day issues that are less recognized by the media and public. On December 4, 2020, he released his debut studio album, Death of an Optimist, and his second album, I Love You, I'm Trying, was released on May 5, 2023.

Benjamin was born in New Jersey, United States, but when he was 3 years old his family moved to Toronto, Ontario, where his maternal relatives lived^[5] (he holds dual citizenship of both countries).^[6][7] He has two sisters.^[8] Benjamin grew up largely in the Eglinton West area of Toronto.^[6][7][9] He attended Northern Secondary School in Toronto and, after graduation, enrolled in McGill University in Montreal. There, he studied education with the initial goal of becoming a teacher.^[7][10] He also spent a great deal of time DJing and playing shows in Montreal while at McGill.^[11] After two years, he transferred to Concordia University, another Montreal institution. He studied communications there briefly before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles in 2014 to pursue a music career.^[4][7]

Benjamin began releasing music under the pseudonym grandson in late 2015.^[9] In 2016, he released several singles that accrued millions of streams, including "Bills", "Things Change", and "Bury Me Face Down".^[6][12] In 2017, he was signed to RCA Records, and continued releasing singles, including "Best Friends" and "Kiss Bang".^[4][10] He also performed at North by Northeast that year (among other festivals).^[9]

In April 2018, it was announced that grandson had signed to the Fueled By Ramen record label.^[13] He had also released two new singles, "Blood // Water" (a song about political corruption that would go on to appear on multiple Billboard charts) and "Thoughts & Prayers", which offered a critique of American gun laws in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.^[6][14] He released his first EP on Fueled by Ramen, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1, in June 2018.^[14][15] That EP also featured the song "6:00" which discussed police brutality.^[16] Also in June 2018, grandson was featured on Mike Shinoda's song "Running from My Shadow", taken from his debut album Post Traumatic; the track was released also with an accompanying music video in May 2018.^[17]

Throughout 2018, grandson toured with acts like Hobo Johnson, Joywave, Nothing But Thieves,^[15][16][18] Smashing Pumpkins,^[19] and Young the Giant.^[2][20] He also appeared on an episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers in August 2018, performing "Blood // Water".^[21]

In February 2019, he released a new single, "Apologize", and announced his second EP, A Modern Tragedy Vol. 2, which was released on February 22, 2019.^[7][22] In late May, grandson released a cover of Rage Against the Machine's "Maria", a song featured on the 1999 album The Battle of Los Angeles.^[23]

In June 2019, he won the SOCAN Songwriting Prize for his song "Blood // Water",^[24] while in September 2019 the singer released A Modern Tragedy Vol. 3, the final installment of the Modern Tragedy trilogy EPs;^[25] the record features the lead single "Rock Bottom", which peaked at No. 38 on the Canadian Rock Chart.^[26]

On September 23, 2020, Grandson announced on his Facebook page that his debut full-length album Death of an Optimist would be released on December 4, 2020. Death of an Optimist is grandson's debut album, being his first record to have a heavier tone since the release of the last a modern tragedy EP, a modern tragedy vol. 3. The album gained a lot of publicity and recognition through his social media.

He announced a new album in May 2022, and it was released in May 2023.