Biography
Alfred Banks is an award-winning rapper and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana, who has emerged as one of the most compelling voices in the city's diverse hip-hop scene. After starting to make a name for himself in the New Orleans music scene over ten years ago, Banks has earned critical acclaim both locally and nationally. His journey to music was unconventional - he struggled with homelessness while attending Loyola University on a full-ride scholarship, ultimately choosing to leave academia behind to pursue MCing full-time.
Banks has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including Best Hip-Hop Artist at Offbeat's Best of the Beat Awards and Best Rapper at Gambit's Big Easy Awards. He has been featured prominently by major hip-hop publications including Complex (which named him one of their '10 upcoming New Orleans MCs'), HipHopDx, Okayplayer, and DJBooth's list of Top Indie rappers from Louisiana. His music has reached international audiences through performances at major festivals like Voodoo Festival, Buku Festival, A3C Festival, and SXSW, as well as European venues like Germany's Reeperbahn Festival.
Beyond his musical achievements, Banks is also a mental health advocate who uses his platform to address serious issues. His deeply personal album 'The Beautiful' chronicles his experience dealing with his brother's schizophrenia and death, showcasing his ability to transform personal trauma into powerful artistic expression. The album begins with his brother's funeral and explores Banks' internal struggle between family obligations and career commitments. His song 'UnderDogCentral' was featured in the Netflix film 'Burning Sands,' executive produced by Common, further cementing his place in contemporary hip-hop culture.
Fun Facts
- Banks is known for his distinctive personal style and can often be seen sporting fresh sneakers and a scarf tied around his microphone during performances
- His song 'HomeComing' was featured in a Volkswagen advertising campaign, and he was interviewed by BBC Russia in 2016, extending his international reach
- He won RevoltTV's 2015 'LocalLoveTour' competition, which helped elevate his profile in the hip-hop community
- Banks uses the moniker 'UnderDogCentral' and now serves as a curator for Crescent City Sounds, the New Orleans Public Library's music initiative, helping to promote emerging local artists
Musical Connections
Key Collaborators
- Alfred Allenback - Co-founded the duo SaxKixAve with Tank and the Bangas' saxophonist and flautist (SaxKixAve project) [2020]
- CZA - Longtime friend and collaborator who produced every song on 'The Beautiful' album (The Beautiful album, 'Vice' single) [Recent years]
- G-Eazy - Collaborated on the song 'My Style' (My Style) [Mid-2010s]
- Mickey Factz - Formed working relationship and lifelong friendship after impromptu freestyle session, toured together (The Red or Blue Pill Tour) [Mid-2010s]
- MegaRan - Toured together on the #ExtraCreditTour (#ExtraCreditTour) [Recent years]
Source: Wikipedia
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Brass & Ass | 2025-09-12 | Album |
| Poetry in Motion | 2019-10-25 | Album |
| The Range 2 | 2022-06-08 | Album |
| One Guy Standing by Himself | 2021-05-31 | Album |
| A COLD WORLD | 2022-04-15 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Greatness (Poetry in Motion)
- G Wagon
- Somebody
- Sunday Drive
- On That
- Underdogcentral (Remastered)
- Blessing
- What's That Sound?
- Mardi Gras (Brass & Ass)
- Homecoming
External Links
Tags: #film-composer, #score, #soundtrack
Heard on WWOZ
Alfred Banks has been played 4 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 30, 2025 | 00:04 | Make It Up (feat. Sampha)from Off With Her Head | Adjacentw/ Benny Poppins | |
| Nov 27, 2025 | 00:23 | Money Movesfrom Road To A Rolex | Draw Fow/ Slangston Hughes & Thelonious Kryptonite | |
| Oct 27, 2025 | 13:14 | ALONE | New Orleans Music Showw/ Murf Reeves | |
| Sep 17, 2025 | 23:35 | G Wagonfrom G Wagon (SINGLE) | Kitchen Sinkw/ A.J. Rodrigue and A.A. |