# Erica Banks

Erica Scharmane Banks (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. 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.

## Career

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. Despite after signing with 1501 Certified, two of her mixtapes – Pressure and Cocky on Purpose – were subsequently self-released between June and November of that year.
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. In that same month, she signed a record deal with Warner Records. Later in that same month, she was featured on American rapper Yella Beezy's single "Star".
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, Lil' Kim, and Nicki Minaj among her musical inspirations, and Asian Doll as an influence for music and image. Musically, she has been compared by fans to American rapper Megan Thee Stallion and Ti from the Taylor Girlz.

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums with selected details :
| Title | Details |
| Diary of the Flow Queen | Released: June 17, 2022 Label: 1501 Certified Format: Digital download, streaming |

### Mixtapes

List of mixtapes with selected details :
| Title | Details |
| Art of the Hustle | Released: March 17, 2019 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming |
| Pressure | Released: June 19, 2019 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming |
| Cocky on Purpose | Released: November 12, 2019 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming |
| Erica Banks | Released: June 19, 2020 Label: 1501 Certified Format: Digital download, streaming |
| Class In Session (with DJ Scream) | Released: September 5, 2022 Label: 1501 Certified Format: streaming |

### Extended plays

List of extended plays with selected details :
| Title | Details |
| Banks B4 Christmas | Released: December 4, 2020 Label: 1501 Certified Format: Digital download |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, peak chart positions, and album title :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album(s) |
| Title | Year | US | US R&B/HH | US Rap | CAN | NZ Hot | Certifications | Album(s) |
| "Talk My Shit" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Thousand" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "No Hook" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | | Art of the Hustle |
| "Taste E-Mix" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "No Hook, Pt. 2" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | | Art of the Hustle |
| "Mz. E (Diss)" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Buss It" (solo or featuring Travis Scott) | 2020 | 47 | 18 | 13 | 94 | 23 | RIAA: Platinum | Erica Banks |
| "Give Me That" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | | Erica Banks |
| "The Best" (TUA Remix) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | | Madden NFL 23 |

#### As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, showing year released and album title :
| Title | Year | Album(s) |
| "Payback" (Demund Rogers featuring Erica Banks) | 2020 | Black Sitcom |
| "All Booties Matter" (Ferrari Simmons featuring Erica Banks and Lil Donald) | 2020 | Non-album single |
| "Energy" (Casino Life Prez featuring Erica Banks) | 2020 | All 7s |
| "Shots" (Shawdy Jizzle featuring Erica Banks) | 2020 | Already a Legend |
| "She Badd" (RBA Scoobee and RBA Amaze featuring Erica Banks) | 2020 | Non-album singles |
| "Apple Pie" (DJ Diamond Kuts featuring BeatKing, Rominiecki and Erica Banks) | 2020 | Non-album singles |
| "Jump" (AsiaNae featuring Erica Banks) | 2020 | Non-album singles |
| "Throw It" (Judy Drama featuring Erica Banks) | 2020 | Non-album singles |
| "Bossin' Up" (MrH Iz BlakkNewz featuring Erica Banks) | 2021 | Non-album singles |
| "Rock Out" (Stunna Bam featuring Erica Banks) | 2021 | Non-album singles |
| "Star" (Yella Beezy featuring Erica Banks) | 2021 | Non-album singles |
| "BAD LIKE RIRI" (Jesswar featuring Erica Banks) | 2021 | Non-album singles |
| "Bounce" (Ken Hunned featuring Erica Banks) | 2021 |

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Nominee | Category | Result | Ref. |
| American Music Awards | 2021 | "Buss It" | Favorite Trending Song | Nominated | |
| American Music Awards | 2021 | Herself | Favorite Female Hip-hop Artist | Nominated | |