Ant Banks facts for kids

Ant Banks (born Anthony Banks on May 16, 1969) is an American record producer and rapper from Oakland, California. He is known for helping create the unique sound of Bay Area hip hop in the 1990s.

Musical Journey

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Anthony Banks was born in Oakland, California. In school, he took band lessons and learned to play classical music on different instruments. At home, he taught himself to play funk music on his digital keyboard. He was inspired by famous funk bands like Parliament, Funkadelic, and The Gap Band.

As a teenager, Banks and his friend, rapper MC Ant, started making their own music tapes. They sold these tapes from their car at high school. Their music became very popular with other students.

Becoming a Producer

In 1987, Banks helped record MC Ant's first album, The Great. He also produced the first album for another California rapper, Spice 1, called Let It Be Known. These early projects were very successful. They sold over 100,000 copies without help from a big record company.

This success made Ant Banks a key figure in the Bay Area hip hop scene. He became known for his skill in producing music, especially his unique basslines. He went on to work with many famous artists, including Too Short, E-40, and Snoop Dogg.

Solo Career and Group Projects

In 1994, Banks released his own album, The Big..., which was named after his nickname. He also joined a project to help others. In 1996, he was part of a music collection called America Is Dying Slowly. This album was made by the Red Hot Organization to teach people about important health issues.

In 1999, Banks formed a group called T.W.D.Y. with rappers Rappin' 4-Tay and Captain Save'm. Their first album, Derty Werk, featured the popular song "Player's Holiday." The group released a second album, Lead the Way, in 2000 before making changes to their lineup.

Legacy and Influence

Ant Banks is famous for his talent in creating deep, funky basslines in his music. His sound was so unique that it even inspired artists in other music styles. The famous electronic music duo Daft Punk thanked Ant Banks for his inspiration in the notes of their album Homework.

Discography

Here are some of the albums Ant Banks has released.

Studio Albums

• Sittin' on Somethin' Phat (1993)
• The Big ... (1994)
• Do or Die (1995)

Collaboration Albums

• Don't Try This at Home (1995) with The Dangerous Crew
• Derty Werk (1999) with T.W.D.Y.
• Lead the Way (2000) with T.W.D.Y.

Compilation Albums

• Big Thangs (1997)
• The Best of Ant Banks (1998)

Selected Production Work

Ant Banks has produced songs and albums for many famous artists over the years. Here is a small selection of his work.

• 1990s: He worked on albums for artists like Spice 1, Too Short, Dru Down, E-40, Mac Mall, Mack 10, MC Ren, Snoop Dogg, and B-Legit.
• 2000s: His work continued with artists like The Click, King T, and Too Short.
• 2020s: Banks is still active in music. He has recently produced for Mount Westmore (a group with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short), Kokane, and Suga Free.

See also

In Spanish: Ant Banks para niños