POPBANG (BANGNATIONAL)

Music:

Member Since: 11/26/2005
Band Website: Bangnational.com
Band Members:

"I AM HIP HOP! I AM THE BRONX..!!!," says The Bronx, New York Native Artist POP BANG. These are strong words for a new artist to say. To better understand the statement, we must go a little deeper into the person. In the beginning, all Hip-Hopites came from The Bronx. The Bronx is the heart of Hip-Hop, similar to how Mecca is the heart of the Muslim religion. The biggest difference between these two examples is not that one is a culture and the other is a religion, but rather being that because one is popularly recognized for what it is and the one other isn't. How many artist that are current in today's Hip-Hop industry have been to The Bronx; to visit the birth place of the culture in which they work in and profit from everyday? Hip-Hop was born in the buildings, streets, parks, and minds of The Bronx. Bronx Hip-Hopites just like Pop Bang. In Recent years, The Bronx can boast successful artist such as Fat Joe and Big Pun, but since KRS 1 and Tim Dog The Bronx has not brought fourth an African American Male representative. Katana Enterprises now presents just that.... POP BANG.... Straight out of the Projects on 169th St. and Washington Ave.(9 Live Crew); the same projects that birthed Scott La Rock, Ultramagnetic, and Tim Dog. Pop Bang was born in Lincoln Hospital as Kenyatta Sparks on the 22nd Day of December, 1979. Pop was born and raised right in the heart of The New Hip-Hop Movement. "My Dad is from Harlem, my Mom is from The Bronx. I love my Moms & Pops, but the streets raised me," says Pop. He grew up in the the ghetto streets of The Burnt Down Bronx, at a time when poverty and violence in New York was at an all time high. "I was runnin around bangin Bird Headz and pumpin 2 for 5's on the 9(169th st.).. The Bronx looked like The Holocaust with all the abandoned burnt down buildings. It was crazy," says Pop. When asked to elaborate on his experiences, he just replied, "I'm lucky to be here." Pop got into basketball at the age of 14 after realizing he could dunk on a regulation rim even though he only stood 5'9. "I remember I hit 10 three pointers in a game against Gauchos! Matter of fact, I remember when I did a 360 off a Alley Oop. I was so high when I caught the ball that i was look right at the rim! When I dunked it, the whole crowd ran out the Clairmont Center! They used to call me Pop Hops," says Pop. He was so talented and probably could have pursued a career in it. Basketball was a great get away for Pop, but after he left the games, he went back in the streets. Even though he showed great potential in b- ball, his heart wasn't there. He eventually stopped playing. Pop then started picking up something else.. HIP HOP. "I remember watching a Wu Tang Clan Video one day. They looked and dressed just like me. They made me want to start rappin," says Pop. He started spittin in cyphers on the 9(169th st.) and soon starting spittin in cyphers all over The Bronx. Hustling full-time and rapping part-time was his new agenda. Pop went Up-State to further the Hustle. "I heard the nicks was going for 20's Up-State, so Up-State we went," says Pop. He spent a little time out there getting his weight up, then came back home to The Bronx. This time around, he had intentions to focus on his music career. Pop and his long time friend O started a group named ILL MISERY. They began to record and perform, ripping up venues all over New York. They caught the attention of music producer Kevin (Shekspere) Briggs. Shekspere was working with TLC and Destiny's Child at the time and was at Super-Producer status. They then signed to Spere Records / Arista and started working on their debut album with Shekspere, Grammy Award Winning producer Tricky Stewart, Focus, and others. Then suddenly Spere records took a turn for the worst and folded, leaving MISERY ILL without a record deal. "I mean we was working with the best in the world! In the studio with Scarface, Usher, Blu Cantrell, and all that. I was working with Akon writing songs for other artist. I was also working with artist overseas like Billy Crawford. Then it just stopped," Pop says. So MISERY ILL broke up and Pop went back home to the Bronx. The collaboration Pop did with Billy Crawford (If itâ€™s Alright) was placed on Billy's album (Ride) and went platinum in Europe. Pop wanted to be more hands on with his career so he put together his own company, BANGNATIONAL. Pop then met up with Katana Enterprises CEO and Owner DaDa. DaDa has worked with the lights of Celine Dion, David Foster, and Mya. The two had already known each other from growing up in the same hood. "He believed in me and I believed in him, so we hooked up," says Pop. DaDa then linked Pop with producers Richard (Young Lord) Frierson, Hardwork, and Armando Colone. "We was in the studio all day everyday making records non-stop," Pop says. Pop and producer Hardwork then came up with a song called "NITRO". "We knew it was an instant smash from the door. DaDa took one listen and said that's the first single," says Pop. Nitro has a West Coast bounce, with a Dance Hall groove, and a New York knock that together equates to an instant hit single! The song is currently shooting up the radio charts and is in rotation in radio stations all over North America, Europe, and Asia!!! Pop is the only new New York Hip-Hop artist to be in rotation at numerous stations in the south eastern region of the United States!!! "I did mad shows in south and got crazy love. I f@k wit the south. Music is music and I f@k wit the real Hip-Hop artist in the south, the west, midwest, overseas and all that," says Pop. POP BANG is currently on a promotional tour covering the whole United States and plans to launch his International tour in August of 2008. He is also recording his debut album entitled REPROGRAM, with producers Younglord, Tricky, Primo, DJ Toomp, The Alliance producers Hardwork and Armando Colone just to name a few. POP BANG is like nothing this industry has seen before. The tone of his voice, the way he flows on a track, the energy and intensity he delivers is matched by no other artist. Oh, and his swag is through the damn roof! POP BANG is a true artist that can write, record, and perform at the highest level the mind can imagine. He sets a new bar for the industry standard. He understands Hip-Hop Culture and its past. It is clear to see that he is the voice that will lead this culture into the future. POP BANG IS THE BRONX! AND HE IS HIP-HOP...!!!

Upcoming Tour Dates

March 21, 2008

Hartford CT - Hilton

March 22, 2008

Macon GA - Twiggs Macon National Dragway

April 12, 2008

Huntsville AL - Celeb Basketball Game

April 16, 2008

Atlanta GA - Noir

April 19, 2008

Chattanooga TN - TBA

April 26, 2008