This article's content is marked as Mature The page contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature pages are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
“ | I did it by knowing when it was time to build, when it was time to watch, and when it was time to act. | „ |
~ Benjamin King |
Benjamin King is one of the secondary antagonists in the 2006 video game Saints Row and a major character in its 2013 sequel Saints Row IV. He is the tragic leader and the former founding father of the Vice Kings until he was betrayed by Tanya Winters (who later became his archenemy).
He was voiced by the late Michael Clarke Duncan in the first game, who was also known for playing the Kingpin in the 2003 film Daredevil and Blackmore in The Suffering: Ties That Bind, and he was replaced by Terry Crews in the fourth game.
Biography[]
Benjamin King was active as a banger in the '70s. King formed the Vice Kings in the early '70s in order to protect Sunnyvale Gardens from Los Carnales. Benjamin felt it necessary that the neighborhood came together in order to fight and defend their home at the time Los Carnales dominated, but after several failed attempts of trying to flood the streets of Sunnyvale with drugs and weapons Los Carnales became more aggressive with the local kids. This resulted in increased drive-by shootings in the neighborhood. That is around about the time the neighborhood hoodlums were uniting under Benjamin's leadership.
One thing is very clear, when the Vice Kings became active and started launching their own preemptive attacks and engaging in gun battles it was certain they were there to stay. Los Carnales eventually got pushed out of Sunnyvale Gardens and then the Projects District, which became recognized as undisputed Vice Kings territory. The Vice Kings over the years have remained a major contender in the city much thanks to Leader Benjamin King.
Later on as events unfold, Benjamin revealed that he was a childhood friend of Julius Little (a photo in Benjamin's possession shows Benjamin and Julius in gang colors, though their taste in clothing may merely have served as an inspiration during the later formation of their respective gangs), and remarked that Julius was following in his gang path, even to the point of recycling Benjamin's old war cry speeches. Benjamin King eventually formed a financial empire with Kingdom Come Records serving as its crown jewel.
Personally, Benjamin King had no qualms about doing his own dirty work, but in his pursuit of legitimacy preferred to exercise his power and influence with Stillwater's political machine to achieve his goals and maintain his status. The Vice Kings came into conflict with the 3rd Street Saints when Tanya Winters (Vice King lieutenant and possible head of prostitution) resorted to abduction in order to get new "talent" for her Prawn Court brothel, and the Vice Kings had the misfortune of unknowingly kidnapping the sister of R&B diva Aisha.
The subsequent retaliation from her boyfriend, Johnny Gat, and the the Protagonist provided the flashpoint for open warfare between the Vice Kings and the 3rd Street Saints, resulting in many gun battles and retaliatory deaths.
His approach to dealing with the 3rd Street Saints slowly caused internal tension within the Vice Kings, culminating when lieutenants Warren Williams and Tanya Winters staged a coup which forced King to flee for his life. Upon learning of his old friend's plight, Julius sent the Protagonist to rescue Benjamin during a gunfight in the Museum district, at which point King became an ally. The war ended with the dramatic deaths of Warren and Tanya, the latter at Benjamin's own hands.
Later, after dropping his flags, Benjamin King was seen briefly glimpsing at an old photo of himself and Julius Little in their early days as he began to board a private jet.
After the events of Saints Row 1 Ben King wrote a self help book titled Regicide as revealed in Saints Row 2. In Saints Row: The Third a movie was released based on the novel and an advert for it can be heard on the radio.
Ben King returned in Saints Row IV serving as the Protagonist's chief of staff at the White House after the Saints entered government. He is kidnapped by an alien empire known as the Zin and placed into a nightmare simulation where he has to relive the events of the first game and being betrayed by his crew. He is rescued by the Protagonist and aids them in their fight to Zinyak.
Quotes[]
“ | My name is Benjamin muthaf--kin' King. I'm the man who took my crew from being a bunch of baby gangstas in Sunnyvale to being one of the most influential and feared forces in the goddamn city. You know how I did that?... I did it by knowing when it was time to build, when it was time to watch, and when it was time to act. | „ |
~ Ben King to Warren Williams during their argument. |
“ | Everybody, calm the f--k down. We ain't gonna start a war every time some muthaf***as act hard. | „ |
~ King, upon learning of Kingdom Come Records' destruction and the loss of Prawn Court. |
“ | Warren Williams: So what do we do now? Benjamin King: We wait. Warren Williams: Hold on, dawg, that muthafucka is still out there. The f**k you mean, we wait? Benjamin King: I mean, you're gonna sit your black ass down and wait cause I f**kin' said so. Don't worry 'bout the one that got away, the 5-0 will take care of him. Warren Williams: Oh, so while you loungin', Tre Street keeps jackin' us. That's great, that's... that's f**kin' brilliant. Benjamin King: Slow up, little n***a. |
„ |
~ Warren Williams and King, after Anthony Green captures Johnny Gat. |
“ | Warren Williams: You've been puttin' yourself before the crew... Benjamin King: Keep talkin', little n***a... |
„ |
~ Warren Williams and King, just before Warren starts his coup. |
“ | Julius: You got a choice. You can keep your f**kin' pride and die right now, or you can be a man and walk away. Benjamin King: When did you get the balls, Jules? Julius: What's it gonna be? Benjamin King: I ain't walkin' away. Julius: Fair enough. Johnny. Benjamin King: I ain't walkin' away until I deal with Tanya. Julius: My n***a. |
„ |
~ Julius and King, discussing the latter's future. |
“ | So does Julius ever talk about growing up in Sunnyvale? What, you thought he was from the Row? The problem with burying the past is that you forget about it, you know what I'm sayin? | „ |
~ King, discussing Julius' past with Playa. |
“ | I bet Julius gave ya the whole "I don't care what flags they're flyin" speech, didn't he? I wrote that shit years ago, and the motherf**ker hasn't forgot it... | „ |
~ King, discussing Julius' past with Playa. |
“ | Your easy to talk to, you know that? I don't gotta worry about you interrupting me or any of that shit... That was Warrens problem...that motherf**ker never knew when to shut up and listen... | „ |
~ King, noting Playa's silence. |
“ | Ya know that even if you wipe out the Vice Kings it ain't gonna be over, right? There's always someone lookin' to take what you have...some punk who want's to make a name for himself, some girl you f***ed and never called back... The fact is, once your in the game there only way you're getting out is if your dead or in jail. | „ |
~ King, ominously foreshadowing later events in the Saints Row series while talking to Playa. |
“ | Way to go, son. It's a shame Julius found you first. We coulda owned this town. | „ |
~ King, lamenting on what could have been if Playa had joined the Vice Kings over the 3rd Street Saints. |
“ | Johnny Gat: I've been chattin' with King, and it looks like Tanya's takeover didn't sit well with everybody. The Vice Kings are fighting amongst themselves; now's the time to take 'em out for good. King said he was gonna come along, I hope he hasn't gone soft. Benjamin King: Don't ever worry 'bout me, baby-boy, cause I'm gonna handle mine. Johnny Gat: All I'm sayin' is that since you got here you've been nothin' but talk. Benjamin King: I've smoked dozens of fools before. I ain't addin' to the count unless I have to. Johnny Gat: That's just f***in' great. Benjamin King: I said don't worry about it. Johnny Gat: I don't want you bitchin' out when you see your crew. Benjamin King: "Ain't my crew, son. That's why I'm here, remember? So how 'bout you put your dick away, pick up your gun, and try to keep your knee away from the bullets. |
„ |
~ Johnny Gat and King, before they head off to kill Tanya Winters and end the Vice Kings. |
“ | Stefan: You and your friend with the awful hair will release Stefan at once! Benjamin King: Your bitch ass better stop talking in the third person or I'm gonna drop you on principle... |
„ |
~ Stefan and King, as the latter interrogates the former by dangling him out of a car window. |
“ | Benjamin King: Okay, there it is. The first thing we gotta do is clear a path to the elevator. Johnny Gat: What then? Benjamin King: Then we kill Tanya. Johnny Gat: My kind of plan. |
„ |
~ King and Johnny Gat, as they and Playa near Tanya. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Michael Clarke Duncan was originally intended to return for Saints Row IV until his sudden death in 2012.
- According to Johnny Gat, the Vice Kings are named after Benjamin King himself, a right he earned.
[]
Villains | ||
3rd Street Saints The Vice Kings Los Carnales Westside Rollerz The Ronin Sons of Samedi The Brotherhood Ultor Corporation The Syndicate Zin Empire L.E.G.I.O.N. The Idols Los Panteros The Saints Marshall Defense Industries Others |