Texas rap starlet Erica Banks started off 2021 embroiled in a fiery blaze of hype after her “Buss It” anthem exploded in popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok and Triller.
In a new interview for Twitch streamer Clinton Spark’s Big Win podcast, Erica Banks reveals the initial success of “Buss It” caused her mother to step in and put an abrupt halt to potential record deals with “Rockstar” rapper DaBaby and major labels like Atlantic and Capitol Records.
“Atlantic was one, Capitol was one — actually, DaBaby the artist the DaBaby, yeah he was the second person to reach out.” Erica Banks said while explaining how her first offers rolled in.
“So I personally did not sign with DaBaby because — now let me say this before I tell you that I was very excited, it was my second offer. I was like ‘Hell yeah,’ I was about to get on the plane and go. But then I called my mom like, ‘This what I’m about to do, I’m about to go sign with DaBaby,’ She’s like, ‘Oh no, we need to slow down this is only the second offer we’re not going to just jump on whatever comes.’ I’m like, ‘Oh whatever mama you don’t know what you’re talking about.'”
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Erica Banks recalls how she was ready to quit her job and join the Baby On Baby rapper on the West Coast and make things official when he first reached out. “Well he DM’d me,” she began. “‘How do you feel about being first lady of [Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment]?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh hell yeah.’” she said. “‘Do you work?’ I’m like ‘Yeah, I work at the mall,’ and he was like, ‘You ready to quit?'”
Banks goes on to explain how after the initial excitement settled, she eventually came to a mutual consensus with her mother that it was important to not take the first offers received because, “You might get something that you, or that fits you better you know,” and says she is glad she made the decision because it led to her partnership deal with Warner Records and the independent label 1501 Certified.
“We love DaBaby, I appreciate him so much,” Erica Banks said. “At same time he’s an artist just like me you know what I’m saying, so I just had to think about that too.”
“But typically I felt like me continuing to be an independent artist at that particular time, because 1501 [1501 Certified] is independent, I wanted an independent label. I felt like that was best for me and what I desired at that time in my life. But now I’m partnership with Warner — which is a great label love them but at the time I just wanted to kind of take things slow I wasn’t really ready to just go that big just yet right so 1501 I felt like it gave me a chance to grow and really get to know myself better as an artist before I went to that next level,” Erica Banks continued.
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Even though things didn’t work out for DaBaby in his attempts to sign Erica Banks to his BDB Ent. imprint, he did manage to secure the label’s first lady after inking Baton Rouge rapper KayyKilo to a deal last year.
Erica Banks has done well in the hands of 1501 Certified and Warner Records, though.
In addition to receiving co-signs from rappers such as Nelly, and a supportive guest verse from Travis Scott for the “Buss It (Remix)” back in February, Erica Banks has continued to earn the attention of fans and the respect of her peers in 2021 with impressive appearances such as her assist on Yella Beezy’s “Star” single.
Watch Erica Banks’ full interview with Clinton Sparks below.
