Fonzworth Bentley

Fonzworth Bentley (born Derek Watkins on February 12, 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a hip hop artist, entertainer, and fashion designer, best known for being a personal assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs and the host of the MTV reality show "From G's to Gents."

Personal life

Watkins attended North Atlanta High School and is a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from Morehouse he took a job at a local Polo store in Atlanta where his customers included his childhood friend Andre 3000 of Outkast and future employer Sean "Diddy" Combs. When offered a job at The Polo Mansion, Watkins relocated to New York City, where he encountered Combs. After leaving Polo, Watkins became an apprentice for designer Alan Flusser. Later he was maître d' at a New York restaurant. Watkins later reconsidered his position as maître d’ and sought a career in entertainment. He was later hired as Combs' "personal assistant". Watkins worked for Combs for two years, who gave him a spot in Making the Band 2.

Music

Bentley, who was given the name "Fonzworth J. Bentley" by Tony DeNiro first appeared rapping on Da Band's 2002 album "Too Hot for TV", in the track "Cheers to Me, Mr. Bentley (Interlude)". In 2003, Bentley was featured on the "Good Day, Good Sir" skit on OutKast's "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below". In 2005, he had a part on the remix of Kanye West's "New Workout Plan". He is currently signed to West's GOOD Music label.

Bentley has appeared in several music videos, such as Usher's "Yeah", P. Diddy's "D.I.D.D.Y." and "I Need A Girl (Part Two)", Slum Village's "Selfish", OutKast's "The Way You Move" and "Roses", as well as UGK and Outkast's "International Player's Anthem". He made a brief appearance in the music video for "Grammy Family", by West, DJ Khaled, John Legend and Consequence.

In August 2006, Bentley was featured in Sprite's "Sublymonal" campaign.

He was also featured, playing the violin, in the "Yes We Can" music video in support of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.

Film and television

Bentley was an executive producer for "Borrow My Crew" in 2005, in which Bentley allowed one boy, Cory Cole from New Jersey, to borrow the entourage of P. Diddy for two days. In 2008, he hosted the MTV series "From G's to Gents."

Public Service

In 2007, Bentley contributed to KnowHow2GO, a national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage low-income and first-generation students to take the steps necessary to go to college.

Bentley's involvement in KnowHow2GO has included creation of a radio public service advertisement ("Wanna Go?") and participation in the 2007 YMCA Black and Hispanic Achievers Teen Leadership Summit in Orlando, Florida. [cite web |url=http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=22914&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm |title=Teens from Minneapolis Take Home Top Honors in the KnowHow2GO Radio PSA Contest |format= |work= ] KnowHow2GO is a joint effort between The Ad Council, Lumina Foundation for Education and the American Council on Education.

Discography

Film

* "House Party" (1990) - Uncredited
* "Honey" (2003) - Barber
* "Fat Albert" (2003) - Salesman
* "Idlewild" (2006) - Voice of Flask

Television

* "From G's to Gents" (2008)
* "Top Ten Gentlemen's Club" (2008)
* "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (2008)
* "Confessions of a Celebrity Assistant" (2006, the E! Channel)
* "VH1 Fashion Rocks" (2006)
* "All Shades of Fine: 25 Hottest Women of the Past 25 Years" (2005)
* "P. Diddy Presents the Bad Boys of Comedy" (2005, uncredited)
* "2005 Trumpet Awards" (2005)
* "Caleta Condor, Chile" (2005)
* "Before, During and After the Sunset " (2005)
* "106 & Park Top 10 Live" (2005)
* "Kanye West: College Dropout - Video Anthology" (2005)
* "Borrow My Crew" (2005)
* "Jimmy Kimmel Live" (2005)
* "Fade to Black" (2004)
* "2004 MTV Movie Awards" (2004)
* "Late Show with David Letterman" (2004), uncredited)
* "Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards '04" (2004)
* "The 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards" (2004)
* "MTV Video Music Awards 2003" (2003)
* "OutKast: The Videos" (2003)
* "Making the Band 2" (2002 - 2003, series)

External links

* [http://www.fbentley.com/ Fonzworth Bentley's Official Website]
* [http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2006/08/fonzworth_bentley_shows_his_colours_as_hip_hop_artist/ Fonzworth Bentley Shows his C.O.L.O.U.R.S. As Hip Hop Artist (vibe.com)]
*imdb name|id=1347765|name=Farnsworth Bentley "imdb entry"

References