With the release of his newest song, “Who’s Gassing Who?,” Ottawa-based Nigerian rapper Banggz commands the spotlight in a constantly expanding catalog full of pop rappers echoing mainstream tropes.
Banggz sounds like a seasoned vocalist in his newest single, hinting at this musician’s expertise when it comes to producing. Banggz often approaches his music endeavors singlehandedly; responsible for writing, performances, and production, Banggz uses his ever-growing catalog to showcase his prowess when it comes to executing a project.
Drawing inspiration from multiple genres of music — including hip-hop, afrobeat, jazz, and funk to name a few — Banggz uses this inspiration to further his connection to his childhood roots. The intimate connection resulted in the creation of a handful of passion projects which have received excellent public reception, such as “Jostice,” a story about Banggz birthplace Jos, Nigeria, and “Yawa” which is a banger laced with afrobeat influences.
Banggz has gained an impressive amount of performance experience in Ottawa after playing a variety of shows and participating in the CRUIZE CNTRL tour. This experience, as well as innate ability to tell a story, creates the overwhelming confidence that “Who’s Gassing Who?” exudes. The up-and-coming rapper looks to bring light to his unique music background while grabbing the attention of listeners. Fusing heavy-hitting drum samples with synthesizers and vocal performances, Banggz uses bombastic lyrics to uplift and inspire listeners while driving home his critical message: “I’m cut from a different cloth.”
“I was drawn to the hook ‘If I am fly and you are fly then who’s the pilot?’. It refers to the plethora of rappers making music and separates me from them.” The atmosphere that Banggz generates in his production style, coupled with his ever-growing level of professional experience, indicates that this rapper can walk the walk.
However, it’s not all hard-talk for Banggz. In fact, he reflects a little on his own life in “Who’s Gassing Who?” while expressing a bit of vulnerability. “In the second verse, I tried opening up more about my life outside of music and what I struggle with. The verse, ‘I am not afraid of anything or anyone but college’ shows that I believe my aspirations are likely to come to fruition beyond the four walls of a learning institution.”
It’s this blend of swagger and introspection that create such a unique listening experience. The splash of Banggz personality into the music production itself is a refreshing touch; “Who’s Gassing Who?” creates enough noise to let listeners know that Banggz is here to stay for good.