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.

Lay Bankz: The 'Good Look' is a fire anthem demanding of your full attention

It’s a non-stop grinding Monday and what better way to get your day going than with a cup of morning Joe and a fire anthem? Lean on hip-hop artist Lay Bankz coming through with some hard-hitting vibes courtesy of a must-hear ‘Good Look’ single.

Lay Bankz’ does much more than sound good on her newest tune

Credit the signature delivery or a fire instrumental, Lay comes through with a repeat-worthy gem you can’t deny - at all. It’s a must-hear and a no-brainer for the Attack The Culture Top 50 Must-Hear Songs homepage playlist.

Women’s History Month is still underway, and the boss b*tch energy is running rampant in the atmosphere! Lay Bankz is one of the many baddies killing the game with her infectious club bangers, spitting ice cold rhymes with red-hot intensity. Following her first-ever festival performance at Rolling Loud California this past weekend, the 19-year-old shares her new single “Good Look.” The Philly riser cuts through insistent percussion like a knife, bodying the beat with braggadocious bars that prove why she’s that girl: “Can't nobody check me less it's coming with some commas/I'm a top 10, you ain't not, Iguodala/I'm a boss b*tch, raw b*tch without that condom/I got all this ass and I get it from my momma,” she raps. Rest assured – if you’re riding with Lay Bankz, it’s always a good look.

“Good Look” arrives as Lay’s third single of 2024, following the nostalgia-inducing pop banger “Tell Ur Girlfriend” (3M+ streams to date) and the sultry “Diamondz n Roses.” All three singles continue the momentum from Lay’s breakout year in 2023, marked by several viral singles such as “Na Na Na” (45M+ streams) and “Ick” (80M+ streams) and an acclaimed debut EP. Both "Na Na Na" and "Ick" are highlights from Now You See Me, Lay's debut EP, which shows her range across 7 memorable tracks. To close out 2023, Lay released "Sloppy Seconds (Ick Pt. 2)," the equally-cheeky follow-up single to "Ick,” generating nearly 7 million streams since its release in December.

Earlier this year, Lay was named one of 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. Stay tuned for more music from Philly’s sweetheart as she dances her way into our hearts, one club banger at a time. 

Lay Bankz: Philly's own keeps it 100 and doesn't regret it with 'Tell Ur Girlfriend'

The streets are ruthless and if you’re playing by the rules of hip-hop artist Lay Bankz, it’s only a matter of time before more than just your friends know things are more than just platonic with ‘Tell Ur Girlfriend’ detailing it out.

Lay Bankz lays down the law in ‘Tell Ur Girlfriend’

From the Valentine’s Day vibes brewing to just not being able to resist the power of some lust, Bankz doesn’t hold back with her newest audio gem.

Lay Bankz seamlessly fuses the past, present, and future with her unqiue hybrid of club music, hip-hop, and R&B. The Philadelphia 19-year-old's new single "Tell Ur Girlfriend" succinctly synthesizes her eras-spanning appeal. The new song layers serrated synths and space-age squelches of turn-of-the-millennium R&B atop the sliding 808s of drill and insistent five-beat pattern of East Coast Club to create a futuristic, dancefloor-filling anthem. Twirling melodies and fastpaced rhymes with ease, Lay grounds the proceedings in a well-drawn relationship drama. She and her partner are each stepping out on their significant others, but Lay is tired of living a lie. "If you want me, you gotta put the word in/Tell your girlfriend...that I'm your girlfriend," she sings.

"Tell Ur Girlfriend" continues the momentum from Lay Bankz's breakout 2023, marked by several viral singles and an acclaimed debut EP. She kicked off the year with the frenetic club-rap anthem "Na Na Na," a viral smash that generated over 127k video creations on TikTok and over 45 million global streams. Lay tapped into the zeitgeist once again with her single "ICK!," a ferocious club-rap song about the moment sparks stop flying, which became one of the biggest viral hits of 2023, peaking at #8 on Billboard x TikTok's Viral Chart behind more than 1 million video creations, and generating over 90 million streams across platforms. Both "Na Na Na" and "ICK!" are highlights from Now You See Me, Lay's debut EP, which shows her range across 7 memorable tracks. To close out 2023, Lay released "Sloppy Seconds (Ick Pt. 2)," the equally-cheeky follow-up single to "ICK!," generating nearly 7 million streams since its release in December.

Lay's new singles continue to exhibit why Lay Bankz is one of the most exciting risers in hip-hop and R&B today. Lay Bankz first emerged onto the scene as a dancer, gaining a following on social media with her energetic interpretations of regional dance moves, like the "blick." When she built a large enough platform, she showed the world her true talent with the viral hit "Left Cheek (Doo Doo Blick)," a club and R&B hybrid that generated nearly 450k creations on TikTok. The success of "Doo Doo Blick" established Bankz as a bonafide TikTok phenomenon–with over 2.4 million followers and 88 million likes–and one of the most sought-after talents in the club scene–she showed off her chops on "PIANO," a highlight from Bandmanrill's debut album, and recently got a call from Ciara, who recruited Lay Bankz to appear on the "Dance Mix" of her new single "Da Girls." Videos of Lay dancing with Ciara generated over 1 million combined views on TikTok. Lay earned critical acclaim from Pitchfork for her seamless club-n-b single "In My Bag," and showed off her bars in a a performance with On The Radar. She was mentioned by Complex as a Philly artist on the rise in their list of The Best Rap Cities Right Now.

Most recently, Lay joined fellow club-influenced artist Skaiwater on "choosin u" and walked the Red Carpet at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Earlier this year, she was named one of Spotify's Most Necessary Artists To Watch for 2024.

With "Tell Ur Girlfriend" and much more on the way, Lay Bankz looks to continue her mission to bring Philly to the masses. Next, Lay performs at Rolling Loud California 2024 in Los Angeles on Friday, March 15th. Stay tuned for much more from the rapidly rising artists as the year continues.