Lay Bankz: It's a Philly ting with the new 'After 7' album on repeat mode

I might glow New Jersey and New York City vibes but there’s no denying Philadelphia churns out some amazing musicians and hitmakers - not to mention cheesesteaks and cheesecakes (sorry, Junior’s) - and when it comes to the anthems? How about rap crooner Lay Bankz coming through with a new After 7 album for your listening pleasures? Say less.

Lay Bankz delivers with her new ‘After 7’ studio album

It’s more than an EP and demands full-fledged listening goals. The follow-up to last year’s Now You See Me EP, Lay delivers a full-course audio meal for you to enjoy from track to track.

At only 19 years old, Philadelphia’s “lil mami” Lay Bankz is running circles around the R&B and rap game, blending multiple decades worth of each genre’s musical trends to create her own intoxicating, unique sound. Leaving no stone unturned in her evolution from TikTok’s viral darling to a hit-making diva, Lay shares After 7, her debut full-length project. The project is home to the nostalgia-inducing song of the summer contender “Tell Ur Girlfriend,” which spent multiple weeks at #1 on Billboard’s TikTok Top 50 chart and soared to #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. To date, “Tell Ur Girlfriend” boasts over 143 million global streams to date and over 5 million TikTok creations, capturing the attention of influencers like Charli D’Amelio, Alix Earle, and Brooke Monk. Including a feature from rapper BEAM on “how could you,” After 7 is out now via Artist Partner Group, Inc.

The number 7, according to numerology, is often associated with spiritual wisdom, introspection, intellectual rigor, and poise. Fittingly, After 7 is one of Lay’s most polished releases yet, showcasing her diverse musical palette as she navigates the highs and lows of fame and romantic relationships through coming-of-age bangers. Spanning 15 tracks, the project audibly captures each numerological trait of the number 7 – “7Days7Nights” layers meditative frequencies atop a poignant club instrumental, creating a danceworthy bop that is equally as hype as it is soothing, while the reflective R&B ballad “Double It” finds Lay examining her own vices after a breakup. The recently-released single “Good Look” and the Pharoahe Monch-sampling “Tongue Out Freestyle” sees Lay in emcee mode, delivering fierce, self-affirming rhymes that further prove that she’s musically beyond her years.

What makes After 7 special is how Lay leaves room to showcase the Philly club sound she helped define without shying away from experimentation with other genres. “WOULD YOU?” blends elements of NY drill, ‘90s eurodance, and club-pop as Lay tests her boo’s unconditional love for her with an unconventional version of “21 Questions.” On other tracks, like the funky, FreakNik-inspired “Booty Pop,” Lay gives an animated performance with the same energy as a Missy Elliott and Ciara collab. Clocking in at 35 minutes, After 7 is equally as fun as it is digestible, and should be enjoyed with a side of serious hip-shaking. If you listen to this project long enough, you’ll be singing and dancing in your room like the star of your favorite rom-com movie.

After 7 is the follow-up project to Lay’s 2023 debut Now You See Me EP. Now You See Me is home to viral hits like "Ick" (over 100 million streams, #1 on TikTok's Viral chart, more than 1 million creations) and "Na Na Na" (over 50 million global streams), and has earned praise from Lyrical Lemonade. Fast forward to 2024, the triple-threat established herself as one of the most exciting risers to watch – in the first half of the year, Lay was named Spotify's Most Necessary Artists To Watch for 2024, placed on Complex's list of Rappers To Watch in 2024, REVOLT’s 13 Female Rappers to Watch in 2024 and YouTube's Fifty Deep Music Class of 2024, and walked the Red Carpet at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Last week, she was named Billboard’s May R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month – check out her exclusive interview with Billboard HERE!

With After 7, Lay Bankz proves that there’s no ceiling when it comes to her success. Keep your eyes on the rising rapper/singer/dancer as she blicks her way into your heart one banger at a time.