{{short description|American rapper (born 1998)}} {{use mdy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Erica Banks | image = Erica Banks WHTA interview 2024.jpg | caption = Banks in 2024 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|October 5, 1998}} | birth_place = DeSoto, Texas, United States | background = solo_singer | genre = Hip hop | occupation = Rapper | years_active = 2018–present | label = {{flatlist| * 1501 Certified * Warner * Arista }} | website = {{URL|https://www.ericabanksmusic.com/}} }} '''Erica Scharmane Banks'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/910462911 |title=BOSSIN UP |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=January 28, 2025}}</ref> (born October 5, 1998) is an American rapper born and raised in DeSoto, Texas. Following the release of her first three mixtapes, she signed to 1501 Certified Entertainment, who released her self-titled mixtape in June 2020. It spawned her first charting single, "Buss It", which went viral on TikTok. In January 2021, she signed to Warner Records, on which "Buss It" was reissued.
== Early life == Banks was born and raised in DeSoto, Texas.<ref name="uproxxint">{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Cherise |title=Erica Banks Thinks Her Viral 'Buss It' Challenge Is A Beautiful Thing |url=https://uproxx.com/music/erica-banks-interview-buss-it-challenge-tiktok/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en |date=January 19, 2021}}</ref> At the age of 12, she began writing poetry, winning several school contests, and started rapping in high school. While attending Texas A&M University–Commerce as a nursing student, she recorded her first songs, leading to her to decide to drop out during her sophomore year to pursue her music career.<ref name="xxl">{{cite web |last1=Seabrook III |first1=Robby |title=The Break Presents: Erica Banks |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/erica-banks-interview-the-break/ |website=XXL |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en |date=January 20, 2021}}</ref>
== Career == thumb|Banks in 2021
In 2018, Banks released her first single, titled "Talk My Shit" independently through SoundCloud. On March 17, 2019, Banks subsequently self-released her first official mixtape, titled ''Art of the Hustle''. In April 2019, she signed with 1501 Certified Entertainment after playing a snippet of her song "Buss It" for the label's CEO, American former baseball player Carl Crawford, in an Instagram Live video.<ref name="xxl" /> Despite after signing with 1501 Certified, two of her mixtapes {{en dash}} ''Pressure'' and ''Cocky on Purpose'' {{en dash}} were subsequently self-released between June and November of that year.<ref name="complexbuss">{{cite web |last1=McKinney |first1=Jessica |title=What Is the Buss It Challenge? 2021's First Big Viral Trend, Explained |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2021/01/buss-it-challenge-explained/erica-banks |website=Complex |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en |date=January 12, 2021}}</ref>
On June 19, 2020, Banks released her self-titled fourth mixtape through 1501 Certified. The mixtape spawned the singles, including a full version of the song "Buss It", and "Give Me That", the former of which became Banks's breakout song in January 2021 after becoming the subject of a viral trend on the video-sharing platform TikTok, giving her her first entry on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart.<ref name="hb">{{cite magazine |last1=Gonzales |first1=Erica |title=Erica Banks Almost Didn't Release "Buss It"—and Now It's a Viral Sensation |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/a35280921/erica-banks-buss-it-challenge-interview/ |magazine=Harper's Bazaar |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en |date=January 22, 2021}}</ref><ref name="thesource" /> In that same month, she signed a record deal with Warner Records.<ref name="hb" /> Later in that same month, she was featured on American rapper Yella Beezy's single "Star".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tigg |first1=FNR |title=Yella Beezy Connects With Erica Banks for New Song "Star" |url=https://www.complex.com/music/yella-beezy-erica-banks-star |website=Complex |access-date=January 30, 2021 |language=en |date=January 29, 2021}}</ref>
In June 2023, Banks joined the eleventh season of the reality television series, ''Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta''.
In December 2024, Banks signed new deal in a joint venture with Arista Records.
== Artistry == Banks has listed rappers Missy Elliott, and Nicki Minaj among her musical inspirations, and Asian Doll as an influence for music and image.<ref name="nylonint">{{cite web |last1=Inman |first1=DeMicia |title=Texan Rapper Erica Banks On Her Song "Buss It" Going Viral |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/erica-banks-buss-it-challenge |website=Nylon |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en |date=January 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2021/04/26/on-the-rise-erica-banks-talks-buss-it-success-post-covid-plans/|title=On The Rise: Erica Banks Talks "Buss It"|website=The Source|date=April 26, 2021 }}</ref> Musically, she has been compared by fans to American rapper Megan Thee Stallion and Ti from the Taylor Girlz.<ref name="dallaso">{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Alex |title=Dallas Rapper Erica Banks Is Hotter Than Texas With 'Buss It' |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/dallas-rapper-erica-banks-was-inspired-by-mentor-megan-thee-stallion-11923152 |website=Dallas Observer |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en |date=July 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name="xxl" />
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details !Charts !certifications |- ! scope="row"| ''Diary of the Flow Queen'' | * Released: June 17, 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/diary-of-the-flow-queen/1624827467|title=Diary of the Flow Queen by Erica Banks|website=Apple Music|access-date=June 17, 2022}}</ref> * Label: 1501 Certified * Format: Digital download, streaming |— | |- |}
=== Mixtapes === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of mixtapes with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details !charts |- ! scope="row"| ''Art of the Hustle'' | * Released: March 17, 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Art of the Hustle by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/art-of-the-hustle/1457930583 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> * Label: Self-released * Format: Digital download, streaming |— |- ! scope="row"| ''Pressure'' | * Released: June 19, 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Pressure by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/pressure/1468211484 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> * Label: Self-released * Format: Digital download, streaming |— |- ! scope="row"| ''Cocky on Purpose'' | * Released: November 12, 2019<ref>{{cite web |title=Cocky on Purpose by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/cocky-on-purpose/1487263945 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> * Label: Self-released * Format: Digital download, streaming |— |- ! scope="row"| ''Erica Banks'' | * Released: June 19, 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Erica Banks by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/erica-banks/1527661058 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> * Label: 1501 Certified * Format: Digital download, streaming |— |- ! scope="row"| ''Class In Session''<br />{{small|(with DJ Scream)}} | * Released: September 5, 2022<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/stream-erica-banks-class-in-session/ar-AA11uY1a?li=BBnb2gh | title=Stream: Erica Banks – "Class in Session" | website=MSN }}</ref> * Label: 1501 Certified * Format: streaming |— |- |}
=== Extended plays === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of extended plays with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| Details !charts |- ! scope="row"| ''Banks B4 Christmas'' | * Released: December 4, 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Banks B4 Christmas - EP by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/banks-b4-christmas-ep/1543294928 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> * Label: 1501 Certified * Format: Digital download |— |- |}
=== Singles === ==== As lead artist ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, peak chart positions, and album title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! colspan="5" scope="col" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope-"col" | Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album(s) |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US<br><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hot 100 Chart (February 27, 2021)|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2021-02-27 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 24, 2021}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US<br>R&B/HH<br /><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart (February 27, 2021) |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/2021-02-27 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US<br>Rap<br /><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hot Rap Songs Chart (February 27, 2021) |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-song/2021-02-27 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 23, 2021}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" | CAN<br><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Canadian Hot 100 Chart (March 6, 2021)|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2021-03-06 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| NZ<br>Hot<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2021-02-19|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=February 22, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Talk My Shit"<ref name="complexbuss" /> | rowspan="3"| 2018 | — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="2" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"| "Thousand"<ref>{{cite web |title=Thousand - Single by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/thousand-single/1445602416 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> | — || — || — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| "No Hook"<ref>{{cite web |title=No Hook - Single by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-hook-single/1447838476 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> | — || — || — || — || — | | ''Art of the Hustle'' |- ! scope="row"| "Taste E-Mix"<ref>{{cite web |title=Taste E-Mix - Single by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/taste-e-mix-single/1450732441 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> | rowspan="2"| 2019 | — || — || — || — || — | | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "No Hook, Pt. 2"<ref>{{cite web |title=No Hook, Pt. 2 - Single by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-hook-pt-ii-single/1452988166 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref> | — || — || — || — || — | | ''Art of the Hustle'' |- ! scope="row"| "Mz. E (Diss)"<ref>{{cite web |title=MZ E (Diss) - Single by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/mz-e-diss-single/1503093221 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name="dallaso" /> | rowspan="3"| 2020 | — || — || — || — || — | | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "Buss It"<ref>{{cite web |title=Buss It - Single by Erica Banks |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/buss-it-single/1547982457 |website=Apple Music |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en-us |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118154029/https://music.apple.com/us/album/buss-it-single/1547982457 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <br>{{small|}} | 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 | * RIAA: Diamond{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|artist=Erica Banks|accessdate=May 19, 2022|refname=RIAA}} | rowspan="2"| ''Erica Banks'' |- ! scope="row"| "Give Me That"<ref name="thesource">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jiggy |title=Erica Banks Demands What She Wants Respectfully, In New "Give Me That" Video |url=https://thesource.com/2020/07/29/erica-banks-demands-what-she-wants-respectfully-in-new-give-me-that-video/ |website=The Source |access-date=January 25, 2021 |language=en |date=July 29, 2020}}</ref> | — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "The Best" <br>{{small|(TUA Remix)}} | 2022 | — || — || — || — || — | | ''Madden NFL 23'' |- |}
==== As featured artist ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album title ! scope="col" style="width:15em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Album(s) |- ! scope="row"| "Payback"<br />{{small|(Demund Rogers featuring Erica Banks)}} | rowspan="8"| 2020 | ''Black Sitcom'' |- ! scope="row"| "All Booties Matter"<br />{{small|(Ferrari Simmons featuring Erica Banks and Lil Donald)}} | {{N/A|Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "Energy"<br />{{small|(Casino Life Prez featuring Erica Banks)}} | ''All 7s'' |- ! scope="row"| "Shots"<br />{{small|(Shawdy Jizzle featuring Erica Banks)}} | ''Already a Legend'' |- ! scope="row"| "She Badd"<br />{{small|(RBA Scoobee and RBA Amaze featuring Erica Banks)}} | rowspan="8" {{N/A|Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row"| "Apple Pie"<br />{{small|(DJ Diamond Kuts featuring BeatKing, Rominiecki and Erica Banks)}} |- ! scope="row"| "Jump"<br />{{small|(AsiaNae featuring Erica Banks)}} |- ! scope="row"| "Throw It"<br />{{small|(Judy Drama featuring Erica Banks)}} |- ! scope="row"| "Bossin' Up"<br />{{small|(MrH Iz BlakkNewz featuring Erica Banks)}} | rowspan="4" | 2021 |- ! scope="row"| "Rock Out"<br />{{small|(Stunna Bam featuring Erica Banks)}} |- ! scope="row"| "Star"<br />{{small|(Yella Beezy featuring Erica Banks)}} |- ! scope="row"| "BAD LIKE RIRI"<br />{{small|(Jesswar featuring Erica Banks)}} |- |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !Award !Year !Category !Nominee !Result !Ref. |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2" |American Music Awards | rowspan="2" |2021 |Favorite Trending Song |"Buss It" |{{nom}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Atkinson |first=Katie |date=November 21, 2021 |title=Here Are All the 2021 American Music Awards Winners |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2021-amas-winners-list-1235000924/ |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> |- |Favorite Female Hip-hop Artist |Herself |{{nom}} |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banks, Erica}} Category:Living people Category:1998 births Category:People from DeSoto, Texas Category:21st-century American rappers Category:Rappers from Dallas Category:21st-century American women rappers Category:Warner Records artists Category:21st-century African-American women rappers Category:21st-century African-American rappers Category:1501 Certified Entertainment artists