Benny Blanco has shaped pop for two decades. From bedroom beats in Virginia to 29 number-one singles, he’s one of the most prolific hitmakers alive. He also once got a pickle-themed pedicure for his girlfriend.
From Reston to the Charts
Benjamin Joseph Levin was born on 8 March 1988 in Reston, Virginia, to a Jewish family. His mother Sandra worked in assisted living; his father Andrew in the intimate apparel business. Music arrived early – cassette tapes of Nas and All-4-One at age six, his first studio recording at nine.
He produced hip-hop instrumentals in his bedroom on a Mac desktop. The stage name “Benny Blanco” came from the John Leguizamo character in Carlito’s Way – a nod to being a white rapper. As a teenager, he made weekend trips from Virginia to New York, sleeping in parks and train stations to meet record executives. Those trips led to an apprenticeship with producer Disco D, and in 2007, a collaborative EP with Baltimore rapper Spank Rock called Bangers & Cash – built on 2 Live Crew samples, praised by Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
The Hit Run
Blanco’s break came through Dr. Luke, who signed him to Kasz Money Productions. The partnership produced a staggering run: Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” (number one on the Hot 100), “Hot n Cold” (eight-times Platinum), Kesha’s “TiK ToK,” Britney Spears’ “Circus” (3.2 million US digital sales), and Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.”
In 2011, working without Dr. Luke, Blanco scored Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” (number one in 18 countries), Gym Class Heroes’ “Stereo Hearts,” and the triple-Platinum “Payphone.” By 2013, at 25, he had 15 number-one singles and received the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame – previously given to Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, and Drake. His speech: “They picked the wrong person. I’m in a room with people I should probably be serving food to.”
The credits now include Rihanna’s “Diamonds” (1.6 billion Spotify streams), Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill,” and work with BTS, Ariana Grande, SZA, and the Weeknd. He has contributed to over 500 million album-equivalent units, received eleven Grammy nominations, and won the iHeartRadio Producer of the Year in 2017. In 2024, BMI gave him the President’s Award. By 2025: 55 BMI Awards and four BMI Songwriter of the Year trophies.
Friends Keep Secrets
In 2014, Blanco founded two Interscope imprints: Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets. His debut solo single “Eastside” (featuring Halsey and Khalid) arrived in July 2018, peaking at number nine on the Hot 100. The album Friends Keep Secrets followed, certified Platinum in 2021. A deluxe edition spawned “Lonely” with Justin Bieber.
In February 2026, he launched the “Friends Keep Secrets” podcast with Lil Dicky and Dave Burd’s wife Kristin Batalucco. The show uses over 18 hidden cameras throughout Burd’s Venice home as a blend of podcast, stream, and sitcom. Guests include Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, and Paul Rudd.
Pickles, Selena, and the Cookbook
Blanco and Gomez first connected professionally on her Revival album in 2015, later recording “I Can’t Get Enough” with J Balvin and Tainy. They began dating in mid-2023. Blanco proposed on 11 December 2024 with a marquise-cut diamond ring. They married on 27 September 2025 at the Sea Crest Nursery in Santa Barbara.
Their relationship became as famous for food as for romance. Blanco published Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends in April 2024 – an instant New York Times bestseller. Menus include “5 Dishes to Get You Laid and One for the Morning After” and “F*ck Morton’s Steakhouse.” He says “slicing an onion is like taking a Xanax.”
Gomez’s obsession with pickles is the recurring subplot. Her favourite: bread-and-butter Best Maid Hamburger Slices from Texas. For Valentine’s Day 2024, Blanco shipped a gallon-sized jar from Texas, fried them, and told Delish he did it to “get laid.” He later got a pickle-themed pedicure – green polish, tiny dill designs – which went viral. His preferred Coca-Cola order at Sonic: cherry syrup and pickle juice.
Their album I Said I Love You First dropped 21 March 2025. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 – both their best first-week sales – and became the first album by a real-life couple to top the Vinyl Albums chart. Rolling Stone included it in their best of 2025. “Bluest Flame” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording. Guests include Gracie Abrams, the Marías, Charli XCX – who recently made headlines – and Finneas.
What Makes Him Different
Blanco’s style: bright, maximalist pop arrangements that sound effortless. He layers vocal hooks, builds around unexpected chord progressions, and has stayed at the top for two decades. He left A&M Records in 2025, where he served as general manager, and continues through his own labels. His combined streaming numbers exceed 11 billion. At 38, he remains one of pop’s most prolific producers – capable of writing a number-one hit for Rihanna on Monday and perfecting a fried pickle recipe for Selena on Tuesday.
Sara Bright is a music and culture writer. Follow more profiles at Creativitys.
