Are you ready for the “New Philly Wave”? Philadelphia artist Ray Banks was recently announced as the cover star of the 2024 XXL Freshman magazine. The hip-hop magazine releases the list annually in early summer and is a prestigious award for emerging artists in pop, R&B and rap. The award recognizes up-and-coming artists who are shifting the cultural norms of these genres of music. Banks joins the ranks of J. Cole, Future and Kendrick Lamar who have previously received the honor.
With the announcement of the 2024 freshman class, Banks becomes the seventh Philadelphian to join the XXL list and the second woman from Philadelphia to be inducted, joining Tierra Whack, who was inducted in 2019. Philadelphia musicians Meek Mill (2011), Lil Uzi Vert (2016), PnB Rock (2017), 2Rare (2023) and Friday Lee (2023) are also alumni on the list.
“I love where I’m from, I don’t want to be from anywhere else,” Banks, a Southwest Philadelphia native, said in April. She rose to popularity on TikTok with her rap “Ick,” and helped popularize “Blick,” a popular dance with roots in Philadelphia clubs that became a national phenomenon by early 2023.
“Bricking is honestly just fun and it’s about getting your body moving,” Banks said. “I grew up in the Philadelphia culture with tonguing and top rocking, so I’ve been bricking my whole life.”
“Ick” currently has 87 million streams, but her most popular song is “Tell Ur Girlfriend,” which currently has over 181 million streams on Spotify.
Bankz’s music is characterized by a melodic yet futuristic sound that blends elements of R&B and Jersey club. In addition to her melodies, she channels Philadelphia rap culture through her flow and wordplay.
The String Theory Performing Arts graduate lists Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson as her influences. She lists PnB Rock, the Philadelphia rapper who was shot and killed in 2022, as one of her favorite artists.
This year, Banks plans to release back-to-back singles, followed by an album, she said in April. 2024 will be “very Ray Banks-esque music,” she said. “This new era of music is just showing my followers the real me.”
The 2024 XXL Freshman List has been released and Banks appears to be on track.
