Rapper Philip Bank$ on Hyphy kids, cops, and growing up Black in Oakland

"he was in the middle of reading "The Riders Come Out at Night," a book written by The Oaklandside's Darwin BondGraham and journalist Ali Winston about the Oakland Police Department's history of corruption and reform. It's clear from our conversation that Bank$ cares deeply about his hometown. He is knowledgeable about the role that local elected officials and police have played in the community and he's hungry to learn more about the history of this place."

"He tapped that history for his debut solo album " East Bay Times," released in November, on his 35th birthday. Bank$ said the album is a culmination of three years of writing and recording work. He had been toying around with the idea of doing a solo project ever since he and the other members of the hip-hop trio Trey Coastal went their separate ways."

"Bank$ already had some tracks in the works, he said, "so in 2024, without me asking or saying anything, Hiright went ahead and created new beats for those tracks." The studio sessions soon became a Town Biz convening. Bank$ recruited rappers Ian Kelly for the track "Land of the Oak," Passwurdz of the East Bay hip-hop collective Grand Nationxl for "So Amazing," and WeInTheCloud (a member of Barbaydose) for "Spiritual.""

Philip Bank$ knows Oakland intimately and maintains connections across the city. He goes rock climbing at Pacific Pipe with members of the Black Rock Collective and discusses ways to improve Oakland with friends and family. He was reading "The Riders Come Out at Night," a book about the Oakland Police Department's history of corruption and reform. He drew on Oakland history for his debut solo album East Bay Times, released in November on his 35th birthday. The album culminated three years of writing and recording after Trey Coastal members separated. Producer Hiright created beats in 2024 and sessions became collaborative, recruiting Ian Kelly, Passwurdz, and WeInTheCloud for tracks.

Read at The Oaklandside