Albums, HIP-HOP/RAP, New Fire Music, R&B/SOUL
G.Banks – ‘Until Next Time, G.Banks’
Mar
G.Banks‘ 11-track project, Until Next Time, G. Banks, is filled to the brim with lyrical depth and spiritual guidance. Bringing attention to his innermost thoughts and feelings, the MC talks about trust, resilience, personal empowerment, and his rise to stardom. G.Banks not only puts certain foes in their place but also addresses the people showing fake love.
Songs like “Love, Hate, Pressure and Pain,” “Fall Back,” and “Dreams and Motivation” expose these individuals’ ulterior motives. Instead of showing support initially, they hopped on the bandwagon after he made a name for himself.
“The Wake Up” mirrors a similar stance towards the music industry. No matter how much time an artist puts in, they never are fully recognized until they’re well off, as mentioned in “The Wake Up.”
Other records like “Forest Green & Sunflower,” “Pay Your Bills,” and “Hakeem’s Episode” follow the mantra “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”
On “Forest Green & Sunflower,” he encourages others to “keep pushing through, no matter what gets you blue.” The influential musician also takes a page from his routine, saying that a smile is the best way to combat sorrow. As he puts it, “a rainy night means a sunny day.” On his last record, “9 PM in Sacramento,” G. Banks concludes that his pen game is purely unmatched. Without delay, he sets the record straight to his competition.
“Hakeem’s Episode” is assisted by a visual that finds the multi-hyphenate musician coasting with his friends as they skateboard, count green, play ball, and enjoy the warm weather.
The old saying, “money is the root of all evil,” especially rings true in the other two songs. “Pay Your Bills” is about confining to a 9 to 5 to get by. The artist motivates all the hard-working individuals out there to pour that same energy into their true passion. He also touches on the sad reality of working long hours but not receiving the right compensation. “Hakeems Episode” reveals how money ultimately has “a red dot aiming at your life.” Greed has caused others to turn their back on each other and become frantic about their finances. Rather than enjoy every moment, there’s a constant worry about building profit. “Left On Read” is his most vulnerable record as he speaks on an unrequited break-up. “Love has me on my last lifeline,” he raps.
Throughout this discography, G.Banks can be heard using a steady and laid-back flow over lofi, R&B, boom-bap, and alternative hip-hop beats. Additionally, he drops “punchlines that hit your head/You got a slow reaction.”
All-in-all, Until Next Time, G. Banks is the blueprint that’ll help listeners navigate through the ups and downs. Through G. Banks’ journey, they’ll learn how to find light in the darkness.
“When my dad passed last year, I lost all motivation for making music, and I’m still trying to find it,” he wrote via Instagram. “I had to push myself to finish this album. So I dedicate this project to my dad. Shoutout to everyone that was involved.”
