RESPECT. Interview: Richie Banks Talks About His Hip-Hop Mount Rushmore, G2M the Label, and the Definition of ‘Traptivist’

Richie Banks is the definition of the young hustler. With the mind of a mogul, the Arkansas native studied and learned from the legends of the natural state. Born and raised Little Rock Ark., Banks is beginning to take over his area and the land as makes from to build his foundation on three words Guap Gang Militia (G2M). Humble with passion in the music, he is believes in less words and more actions.

Since 2018, Richie Banks has delivered several mixtapes from Never Not Working 2, :24, Straight Talk the Mixtape, and his latest Traptivist hosted by Gutta TV. With the mind of mogul and the son of a hustler, Banks can’t lose with an authentic formula like this to the game.

RESPECT.: Who is Richie Banks and where you from?

Richie Banks: He’s a hard-working, go-getting, money-counting, respect-driven son of a hustler and I’m from Little Rock, Ark.

RESPECT.: How did you get your name in the game?

Richie Banks: I got my name in the game from straight hard work. I’ve planted my feet on so many different soils, met with a lot of different DJs, promoters, tastemakers of various cities like models, videographers. All of this played a key part in how I got my name. So much is social media driven these days so for someone like me to be moreso outside with it as opposed to being on the internet, it makes me stand out to the regular consumer.

RESPECT.: Who are your musical influences and inspirations?

Richie Banks: So, I have my own Mount Rushmore as far as musical influences go: Tupac, Pimp C, Nipsey Hussle, and Bankroll Fresh.

RESPECT.: What’s taking Arkansas so long to take off?

Richie Banks: It is but I think its taking off right now, its just in the beginning stages and becoming a city that knows how to produce artists. We’re just in the beginning stages, just give it a little time.

RESPECT.: How did you first get introduced to hip-hop?

Richie Banks: My whole family is involved in the creative side of music in some form or fashion. Since I can remember, I’ve always had the pleasure of enjoying music. We played more music than we watched TV when I was growing up.

RESPECT.: You had a new single “Dump It” with BeatKing and Erica Banks, How important is it to be in the clubs politicking with the DJs like people do on social media? What’s the first step in effective marketing of brands.

Richie Banks: Being in the clubs is very, very important. If you don’t do it right, you make it unimportant. Its important because it shows the DJs you give a f* about your craft, that you’re willing to push it to the next level and on the artist end it’s important because you need to know the feel of how these DJs and tastemakers operate and how they work. You want to build all of these types of relationships with people outside of social media because you can feel each other out more face to face. You can know what’s real and what’s not. Because the internet comes with smoke & mirrors. Anybody can say anything over the internet or over the phone. So, being in the field is very important.

RESPECT.: What’s a “Traptavist”?
Richie Banks: A Traptavi$t is an advocate of the trap… a frontline leader. A hustler/trapper, at the end of the day, it’s the same motor but you’re just switching the car. You’re the one that’s making the car go, you’re the motor. That’s what I want to instill in today’s trapper. Take that and evolve into something legit.

RESPECT.: What are you looking to prove in the game?

Richie Banks: What I’m looking to prove…I’m not trying to prove anything to people watching but to myself. I’m the one putting up everything for my career, the financial resources, everything you’ve seen has come out of my pocket. I’m proving to myself I have the potential to go above and beyond and the talent. That’s why I invest every dime I got in myself.

RESPECT.: Why are you always working?

Richie Banks: That hustle, I’m always trying to prove myself.

RESPECT.: Who do you plan on working with this year from Arkansas?
Richie Banks: I plan on working with anyone who wants to tap in with me. I’m loving the AR music scene right now so it’s whoever taps in with me. I’m more into the vibe, I don’t want to do a song just to do a song, I’d rather have a relationship with the person I’m on a song with because I feel that’s when you make better music! Versus just trying to put some shit together just because.

RESPECT.: You dropped a single “Long Live Bankroll”, what made you drop this record?Richie Banks: Long Live Bankroll Fresh. He’s on my Mount Rushmore, so its just me paying respect to someone I look up to greatly. And I have other appreciation/dedication tracks to my other Mount Rushmore members on the way.

RESPECT.: You collaborated on “Dump It” with BeatKing and Erica Banks last year, how important is it to be in the clubs politicking with the DJs like people do on social media? What’s the first step in effective marketing of brands.

RESPECT.: You dropped “Never Not Workin 2” two years ago with your partner Boddy Beats, how important was the project to you?

Richie Banks: I would say this project was important to me in a sense of getting to another level of music artistry, if you will. And not only that, mixing it in with one of my best homies. In-house producer, GGM member, he’s an artist as well and that’s who I did the mixtape with. The energy that was around it was just so surreal, so I had to put the project out to the best of my abilities. And I was wearing every hat when I put out that project, I didn’t have any manager or anything like that then, it was just me.

RESPECT.: What would Richie tell young Shane 10 years ago about following your passion and pursuing your goals?

Richie Banks: I would tell him everything happens for a reason, everything is shaping your character. For life & for music. Just keep going, keep believing in yourself, and don’t stop for NOTHING or NOBODY, period.

RESPECT.: How far do you want to see your label GGM go?

Richie Banks: I want to see my record label go as far as the next generation. I want GGM to be a staple in the music industry such as Cash Money, such as QC, that’s what I’m aiming for.

RESPECT.: What does RESPECT. mean to you?
Richie Banks: RESPECT. is treating your brother, your sister, your loved ones with the utmost gratitude no matter the circumstances because you know the character of that person.

Stream ‘Traptivist’ below and stay connected with Richie here.