Today, Newark rapper Bandmanrill releases the relentless new single “Influence.” On the track, the 20-year-old doubles down on the high-octane energy that has made him one of the most exciting artists to emerge from New Jersey in years. Listen HERE. Watch the video above.
The title of the new single asserts that Bandman is a true pioneer of Jersey Club. “I just want my credit,” Bandman raps at one point, sounding as if he might come and take it by force. Part of what gives his indignation power is that for Bandman, the acknowledgment of his status in the genre is a matter of principle rather than money or online clout. And still, when he raps about famous artists hopping on his wave, the venom seeps through every line.
“Influence” serves in part to remind listeners that, despite Bandman’s growing reputation as the leading purveyor of club rap, he is also the most effective drill-adjacent artist working today. And still, in the tradition of club songs using unconventional sound effects, “Influence” sounds as if it’s built around the sound of a gun cocking and promises to be one of the many highlights on Club Godfather, Bandman’s forthcoming debut project dropping on October 28th.
Bandman is a unique study in regionalism. He fuses Drill music with Jersey Club which is native to his home base in the Garden State. Both genres harken back to rap’s house-party beginnings, foregrounding rhythm and drum programming designed to move feet and rattle speaker systems. Bandman effortlessly does both on “Influence.”
“The appeal of Bandman . . . is more than just the sound—it also offers a glimpse at how a younger generation is putting its touch on music they lived with in their childhood,” — Pitchfork
“Turning on a Bandmanrill song feels like being dropped into a party right as its energy peaks,” — The FADER
“someone that simply can’t be ignored, no matter what type of hip-hop you generally listen to.” — Lyrical Lemonade
ABOUT BANDMANRILL:
Raised in Newark, New Jersey, Bandmanrill has made his name with fast-paced genre-melding tracks that show a knack for detailed wordplay and the technical prowess to coast over the intricate rhythms of club music. His singular style is already starting to resonate with listeners. Bandmanrill’s 2021 single “Heartbroken”—which marries emotional, nostalgic production to the delirious flexes contained in his lyrics—has received an average of 140k streams per week for the last two months. That track, along with equally electric offerings like “I Am Newark” and “Close Friends” have also created multiple viral TikTok moments. The songs have helped him garner over 300k monthly Spotify streams and a fan base that’s growing by the day. Mischievous and raw, blunt yet infectious, his songs are the work of an artist who has a chip on his shoulder — and he deserves it. With contagious confidence and a truly unique approach to rap, Bandmanrill is clearly just getting started.