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Jacob Banks
Jacob Banks performing in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Jacob Akintayo Akinoso
Also known as	Jacob Banks
Born	(1991-07-24) 24 July 1991 (age 33) Nigeria
Genres	R&B hip hop
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano
Years active	2012–present
Labels	Interscope
Website	www.mrjacobbanks.com

Jacob Banks (born 24 July 1991) is a Nigerian-born English singer and songwriter from Birmingham. Banks won the 2012 MOBO UnSung regional competition in Birmingham and the Adidas "Are You In" music competition. His music is influenced by a range of genres including soul, R&B and hip hop. Banks is currently signed with American label Interscope Records.

Music career

2012–present: Breakthrough

In October 2012 he recorded his debut EP titled The Monologue which was released in January 2013. The second release from The Monologue, titled "Worthy", was played by BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe as his "Next Hype" record on his Radio 1 show and received additional plays on 1Xtra, XFM, 6Music and Annie Nightingale. In April 2013, Banks played his first headline show at the London St Pancras Old Church. He supported Emeli Sande on her April 2013 UK tour. Banks features on Wretch 32's song "Doing OK", the second single from Wretch's forthcoming third studio album. Banks features on Chase and Status' "Alive" from their album, Brand New Machine. He also supported them, on their Brand New Machine 2013 UK tour. Banks announced he was to release a joint EP featuring himself, Wretch 32 and George the Poet titled Gambling Man in 2013. However, this did not occur. On 1 May 2014, his collaboration with All About She, "I Can't Wait", was released for free download as part of their debut extended play Go Slow. Banks has also worked with other artists such as Bondax, Jake Gosling, Knox Brown, Plan B and Wretch 32.

On 21 July 2015, Banks' second extended play entitled The Paradox was released. It features a guest appearance from Odd Child Recordings rapper Avelino on the track "Monster".

In 2016, Banks was featured on Norwegian production team Seeb's release, "What Do You Love". The song reached number 2 on VG-lista, the official Norwegian singles chart.

On 9 March 2017, Banks premiered his two-part narrative video, written and co-directed by himself, for his single, "Unholy War". The single is off his EP, 'The Boy Who Cried Freedom'. In November 2018, he released his new album, "Village", which made No. 1 on new and upcoming albums on Spotify.

In popular culture

Banks' song, "Monster 2.0" was featured in the Codemasters game, Dirt 4.

"Move With You" was featured in the EA Sports game, FIFA 15.

In 2013, "Worthy" was played on the American TV series Suits in season 3, episode 9.

"Unknown" was featured in the Season 3 finale of the Starz TV series Power, and received viral attention for his tremendous voice. This attention led to the song "Monster" featuring in the first episode of season 4.

In 2021, “Unknown” was featured on A spinoff of the Power Series Power Book 2: Ghost Season 2 Episode 5.

In 2018, "Unknown" was featured during the TV Series Suits in season 7, episode 13.

"Monster" was used during the TV series "Quantico" in Season 1 Episode 2 which aired in October 2015. "Monster" was also sampled to create rapper Flawless real talk's song of the same name.

In 2017, "Unholy War" was featured in the season finale of the TV series Redemption, Season 3 Episode 3 of the TV Series Lucifer and in the reveal trailer for the 2017 Need for Speed game, Need for Speed: Payback. In 2018, "Unholy War" was featured during the season 1 finale of the TV series Black Lightning. It was also featured on the Starz TV series Power.

In 2018 Banks penned and performed the song "In The Name of Love" for the movie The Equalizer 2.

"Love Ain't Enough" was used in the EA Sports game, FIFA 19.

Banks' collaboration with X Ambassadors, "Baptize Me" was featured in the 'Game of Thrones' soundtrack.

In 2018, "Unholy War" was used in the TV series "Queen of the South" in season 3, episode 5.

In 2019, "Every Age" was featured in a commercial for the gum brand Extra.

In 2020, "Slow Up" was used in the second season of the British series "Save Me".

In 2021, "Slow Up" was used in the Netflix film Fatherhood, "Found " was featured in the final season of Lucifer, and "Something Beautiful" was featured in feature film, Tom & Jerry.

In 2019, "Unknown (To You)" was used in the TV series The Resident in season 2, episode 20.

In 2023 "Monster" was used in the final installment of the Equalizer Franchise The Equalizer 3.

In May 2024, “Slow Up” was featured at the end of the episode 6, season 2, of The Responder, which aired on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and on Britbox in July 2024.

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Other appearances

References

1. ^ "Jacob Banks". Interscope Records. n.d. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
2. "Jacob Banks". Liverpool Sound City. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
3. Cofie, Bibi. "MOBO UnSung 2012: Artist Catchup". MOBO. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
4. ^ Hawkins, Shane. "New Noise: Jacob Banks". Wonderland. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
5. Morris, Matt. "Jacob Banks – The Monologue (Full EP Stream)". Hypetrak. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
6. Cochrane, Greg (28 March 2013). "BBC Newsbeat – Introducing – Jacob Banks". BBC News. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
7. Collins, Hattie. "i-N Session: Jacob Banks". i-D Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
8. Maz, Maz. "Jacob Banks Announces Headline Show". MTV The Wrap Up. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
9. Hunger TV. "Jacob Banks: Worthy". Hunger Magazine. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
10. Alya, Alya. "Music: Jacob Banks Interview". Live Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
11. Hung, Steffen. "norwegiancharts.com – Discography Jacob Banks". norwegiancharts.com.
12. ^ "Jacob Banks shares his stunning two-part 'Unholy War' video". Vaunter. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
13. Weston, Christopher (18 June 2021). "Fatherhood soundtrack: What songs feature in the 2021 Netflix movie?". HITC. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
14. "Village by Jacob Banks". iTunes (US). 2 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
15. Woods, Thomas (25 August 2022). "Jacob Banks Chats Lies About The War, Anime & Being an Independent Artist". Pause. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
16. "Jacob Banks Our Time Together, Live in Montreux Jazz Festival". Pause. 11 July 2024.
17. "The Monologue by Jacob Banks". iTunes (UK). Retrieved 13 August 2015.
18. "The Paradox by Jacob Banks". iTunes (UK). Retrieved 13 August 2015.
19. "The Boy Who Cried Freedom by Jacob Banks". iTunes (UK). 20 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
20. For My Friends by Jacob Banks, retrieved 1 May 2021
21. "Worthy – Single by Jacob Banks". Apple Music Preview. iTunes (UK). Retrieved 13 August 2015.
22. "Move With You – Single by Jacob Banks". Apple Music Preview. iTunes (UK). 4 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
23. Peak positions for the featured singles in the UK:
    • For "Doing OK": "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Zobbel.de/. 1 September 2013.
    • For "Alive": "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 19 January 2014.
    • For "Redemption": Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: New Entries Update – 10.10.2015 (wk41)". zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
24. Peak positions for the dance singles in the UK:
    • For "Alive": "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 22 December 2013.
25. Peak positions for the indie singles in the UK:
    • For "Doing OK": "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 1 September 2013.
26. Peak positions for the R&B singles in the UK:
    • For "Doing OK": "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. 7 September 2013.
27. Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
    • For "Alive": "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 12 January 2014.
28. "Discography Jacob Banks". Norwegian Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
29. "Discography Jacob Banks". Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
30. "British certifications – Jacob Banks". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 June 2024. Type Jacob Banks in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
31. "IFPI". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 14 December 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

External links

• Official website

• 1991 births
• Living people
• Nigerian emigrants to the United Kingdom
• English people of Nigerian descent
• British hip-hop singers
• 21st-century Black British male singers
• Interscope Records artists
• Singers from Birmingham, West Midlands