APR-15-2006 ALKATRAZ-BIO 　　 Benny Ortiz "Alkatraz" was born the son of Benigno and Francisca Ortiz 　　at Bellvue hospital in Manhattan,New York. Half Dominican and Puerto Rican he was raised in what is known as new york’s largest Dominican community (Washington heights),birthplace where he first acquired the skills that would give him what is now considered by many to be his signature sound. 　　 Benigno in his younger days was the lead singer in a salsa band so music was always a large influence of Alkatraz’s life..At the age of twelve his father by the request of alkatraz enrolled him into guitar lessons for a year. 　　He then continued to study guitar on his own under the influence of guitar legends like: 　　Eric Clapton / Jimmy Hendrix / Robert Cry / Carlos Santana / Randy Rhoads and others like Bob Marley. 　　 Having a wide range of music he then furthered his talents with rock bands such as Guns and Roses / Metallica and the ever so great Motley Crew. 　　Around the same time he was also very much interested in hip hop. 　　listening to the The Beastie Boys / Ice-T / Public Enemy / NWA / Ice Cube / Run DMC among others. 　　 Due to the broad seleccion of music styles he listened and played to,you can hear all these influences in his music today. 　　Alkatraz is bringing something fresh to the game which is making him a very reputable desired producer and now MC. 　　 Alkatraz has showcased on MUN2 cable network TV show "New York Underground Rapumentaries" . He has been on the show THREE times.Twice for production he’s done on other artist’s projects and once for his own. 　　 He recently worked with Gemstar and BigMato NORE/ G Cardona / Creature / Dungoen Master of the WU TANG family. 　　 He recently finished his own project entitled “MADNESS INCORPORATED” under the label Underground Records Inc. While having put this project on he has also been in the lab prepairing a crossover album where he incorporates much of the same energy and sound with a latin twist not to be confused as raggaeton, wich he does, but in reality it is latin hip hop. 　　 　　 　　Underground Records Inc.