Although widely synonymous with rap music today, hip-hop actually got its start as a full-on cultural movement in the 1970s. For the first few decades that the term was around, hip-hop wasn’t just about music: it also referred to art, style, dance, and philosophy.
The first major hip hop deejay was DJ Kool Herc. Mixing percussive beats with popular dance songs, Kool Herc was instrumental in developing the sounds that became synonymous with hip hop, such as drum beats and record scratches.
The 21st century was a tough time for the music industry. The advent of streaming services affected all genres, including hip hop. Despite the monetary effects of the shift in music delivery, hip hop retains its prominence, influencing musicians of all genres.
Over the last decade or so, hip hop has moved further from its East and West coast roots. New epicenters for the genre have emerged in New Orleans, Atlanta, Houston, and Detroit, as well as in other cities throughout the United States.
Building off of the original pillars that defined the genre, hip hop artists touch every part of American culture, from dance (think Beyonce’s show-stopping productions) to fashion (where artists like Kanye West have launched lines) to politics (Barack Obama referenced Jay Z several times during his 2008 campaign).
The rise of hip hop meant many artists had a platform to showcase their talent. One of these artists is Dre Banks – who hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 45-year old has made some great music over the years and has no intentions of stopping any time soon. “Creating music makes me feel alive. Its as if this is my purpose of existence and the response from my fans is always something that pushes me even further to keep on doing it.”
His songs have become very popular around the country and fans can’t get enough of them. Particularly his song Boyfriend, Girlfriend, has been the beat the country has been vibing to since its release last year. The song has generated over 200k views on YouTube and the rise in popularity is making the views increase exponentially recently.
His music is heavily liked on the Spotify platform as well where they have been streamed more than 50,000 times. For someone who is just breaking into the industry these certainly are huge numbers and we can expect him to make a mark sooner rather than later.
Given his growth in the industry, Banks is now well on his way to give his music videos a brand new touch. Combining a bit of Coldplay and The Weeknd vibe into his music videos, he is eyeing an animated video for his latest release titled Off the Chain. Wandering into new creative assets might be a risk but he is willing to take it and why not? Given the reception fans give to his music, the chances of the song being a hit are much higher than it not getting the desired response.
Being music lovers, it is safe to say that we are quite eagerly waiting for the song’s release and see what Banks has in store for us!
Dre Banks – Instagram: instagram.com/iamdrebanks
Dre Banks – Twitter: twitter.com/iamdrebanks
