Thyra Kigho Deshaun Oji (born 14 April 1994), better known by her stage name Ms Banks, is a Nigerian-British rapper, singer and songwriter.[1] Oji has released three mixtapes as Ms Banks. In 2014, she released her first mixtape titled Once Upon a Grind. She then released her first EP titled New Chapter EP in 2016.[2] The Coldest Winter Ever was released in 2018,[3] followed by The Coldest Winter Ever Part II in 2019.[4] In 2023 she appeared alongside Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra as part of the opening act for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 hosted in Liverpool.

Ms Banks
Banks in 2020
Banks in 2020
Background information
Birth nameThyra Ebony Kigho Deshaun Oji
Born (1994-04-14) 14 April 1994 (age 30)
London, England
OriginCamberwell, London, England
GenresHip hop, R&B, afrobeats
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter

Early life edit

She was born to a Nigerian father and a Ugandan mother.[3][5] Oji began writing music at age 11 and she came from very musical family.[6] Banks grew up in South London – just off Walworth Road in Elephant and Castle – and has been grafting away for sometime, revered by her peers for her pairing of technical skill with soul-searching lyricism.[7]

Influences edit

Ms Banks has cited Nicki Minaj as her biggest influence. She also cites Ms Dynamite, Estelle, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown and Monie Love as her influences.[6]

Discography edit

Mixtapes edit

Title Mixtape details
Once Upon a Grind
The Coldest Winter Ever[8]
  • Released: 27 April 2018
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: Self-released
The Coldest Winter Ever, Pt. 2[9]
  • Released: 12 December 2019
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: Self-released
Bank Statement[10]
  • Released: 22 July 2022
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
  • Label: Self-released

EPs edit

Title EP details
New Chapter

Singles edit

As lead artist edit

Song Year Album
"Get Loose"[11] 2017 Non-album singles
"Omg"[12]
"Vibez"[13]
"R.I.P."[14]
(featuring Loski)
2018 The Coldest Winter Ever
"Remember the Name"[15] 2019 Non-album single
"Hood B*tch"[16] The Coldest Winter Ever, Pt. 2
"Snack"[17]
(featuring Kida Kudz)
"Back It Up"[18]
(featuring Geko)
"Bad B Bop"[19]
"Still The Best"[20]
(with Flyo)
2020 Supafly Strikes Again
"Anywhere"[21]
(with Naira Marley)
Non-album singles
"Novikov"[22]
"Nothin' on Me"[23]
(featuring Phil Speiser and Wow Jones)
"You Don't Know"[24]
"Pull Up"[25]
(featuring K-Trap)
2021
"Dip"[26]
(with Stefflon Don)
"Go Low"[27]
"Party"[28]
(with Naira Marley)
Bank Statement
"Typa Way"[29]
(with Tion Wayne featuring Eight9Fly)
2022
"Bounce"
"Gbedu"
(with Kwesi Arthur, Snypa and Joey B)
Non-album singles
"Daily Duppy" 2023

As featured artist edit

Title Year Album
"Been the Man"[30]
(Tinie Tempah, Jme, Stormzy featuring Ms Banks)
2015 Junk Food
"Champion (Main Mix)"[31]
(Juan Magán and Stylo G featuring Ms Banks)
2018 Non-album singles
"Heartbreaker"[32]
(Laura White featuring Ms Banks)
"Fleek Bop" (Remix)[33]
(MelaTwins featuring Ms Banks)
"Wondering" (Remix)[34]
(M.O and Geko featuring Ms Banks)
"Like Tu Danz"[35]
(Juls, Kida Kudz, Pa Salieu featuring Ms Banks)
2019 Colour
"Woman Like Me"[36]
(Little Mix featuring Ms Banks)
LM5 - EP
"Drama"[37]
(Mae Muller, Caitlyn Scarlett featuring Ms Banks)
Non-album singles
"Gangsta" (Remix)[38]
(DARKOO, Br3nya featuring Ms Banks)
"Die a Little Bit"[39]
(Tinashe featuring Ms Banks)
Songs for You
"Issues"[40]
(Nana Rogues featuring Ms Banks)
2020 Non-album singles
"Interest"[41]
(Dolapo, Oxlade featuring Ms Banks)
2021
"Woi Oi"[42]
(Geko, BackRoad Gee featuring Ms Banks)
"Die a Little Bit" (KDA Remix)[43]
(KDA, Tinashe, Karnage Kills featuring Ms Banks)

References edit

  1. ^ Dunn, Frankie (26 April 2017). "10 things you need to know about ms banks". Vice. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  2. ^ Rathod, Nikita. "The Break Presents: Ms Banks". XXL Magazine. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (28 December 2017). "Ms Banks – the Nicki Minaj-approved rapper standing up to heartbreak". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. ^ Cliff, Aimee. "Ms Banks: The Coldest Winter Ever Pt 2 review – rising rapper has summery bounce". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. ^ Saad, Megan (20 April 2016). "World Wide Woman: Ms Banks proves that you don't have to fit stereotypes to be counted". The Source. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b Mylrea, Hannah. "Meet Ms Banks, Nicki Minaj's new favourite rapper". NME. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  7. ^ O'Shea, Clare. "Ms Banks doesn't need your validation. I know this, because barely five minutes into our chat, and she's spitting a freestyle about it, her make-up artist Dolly on hand to provide backup". The Line of Best Fit.
  8. ^ "The Coldest Winter Ever - Mixtape by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  9. ^ "The Coldest Winter Ever, Pt. 2 - Mixtape by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  10. ^ "Bank Statement - Mixtape by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  11. ^ "Get Loose - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  12. ^ "Omg - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  13. ^ "Vibez - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  14. ^ "R.I.P. - Single by Ms Banks (feat. Loski)". Apple Music.
  15. ^ "Remember the Name - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  16. ^ "Hood B*tch - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  17. ^ "Snack - Single by Ms Banks (feat. Kida Kudz)". Apple Music.
  18. ^ "Back It Up - Single by Ms Banks (feat. Geko)". Apple Music.
  19. ^ "Bad B Bop - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  20. ^ "Still The Best - Single by Flyo & Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  21. ^ "Anywhere - Single by Naira Marley & Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  22. ^ "Novikov - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  23. ^ "Nothin' on Me - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  24. ^ "You Don't Know - Single by Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  25. ^ "Pull Up - Single by Ms Banks (feat. K-Trap)". Apple Music.
  26. ^ "Dip - Single by Stefflon Don & Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  27. ^ "Ms Banks Drops Off "Go Low" Ahead Of New Mixtape 'Bank Statement'". Complex. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Party - Single by Ms Banks and Naira Marley". Apple Music.
  29. ^ "Typa Way (feat. Eight9FLY) - Single by Ms Banks and Tion Wayne". Apple Music.
  30. ^ "Been the Man - Single by Tinie Tempah (feat. Jme, Stormzy & Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  31. ^ "Champion (Main Mix) - Single by Juan Magán, Stylo G & Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  32. ^ "Heartbreaker - Single by Laura White & Ms Banks". YouTube.
  33. ^ "Fleek Bop (Remix) - Single by MelaTwins & Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  34. ^ "Wondering (Remix) - Single by M.O, Geko & Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  35. ^ "Like Tu Danz - Single by Juls". Apple Music.
  36. ^ "Woman Like Me - Single by Little Mix (feat. Ms Banks)". Apple Music.
  37. ^ "Drama - Single by Mae Muller". Apple Music.
  38. ^ "Gangsta (Remix) - Single by DARKOO". Apple Music.
  39. ^ "Die a Little Bit - Single by Tinashe (feat. Ms Banks)". Apple Music.
  40. ^ "Issues - Single by Nana Rogues & Ms Banks". Apple Music.
  41. ^ "Issues - Single by Dolapo". Apple Music.
  42. ^ "Woi Oi - Single by Geko". Apple Music.
  43. ^ "Die a Little Bit (KDA Remix) - Single by KDA". Apple Music.