Show Banga

Bay Area rapper Show Banga first gained traction through a steady output of singles paired with numerous guest spots. His interest in rhyming began during childhood, though he only committed fully to hip-hop once high school started. Early affiliations included the San Francisco crew Go-Gettaz, while later sharpening his abilities through regular appearances in Team Backpack cyphers. From 2011 onward he uploaded material directly to the internet, where cuts such as “Shots Fired” and “It’s My Swagger” showcased rapid-fire delivery reminiscent of Lil Wayne or André 3000 alongside a hardened edge comparable to then-emerging Vince Staples. In 2013 he issued his debut album, Don’t Stop Votin’, via HomeTeam Entertainment. The next year the breakout single “I Been That,” which featured Sage the Gemini, secured him a contract with Empire Distribution, while the Dave-O-produced “Milli” from the A-Team further expanded his reach. Mayor 4 Life followed as his sophomore LP and first release under Empire; Juneonnabeat handled several beats, and the project featured E-40, Rich the Kid, Sage the Gemini, plus recurring partner Iamsu!. ShowTime 2 surfaced in 2016.