Introduce yourself to people not familiar with your career so far please!
I go by Banman. I’m a 29-year-old independent hip-hop artist from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
My story didn’t start in a good place. I struggled with addiction to crack cocaine and crystal meth, using intravenously, and I ended up homeless, living out of my car. I hit a point where I had nothing left. But even then, I still had my music. I would sit in my car and practice nonstop, holding onto the only thing I hadn’t lost — my dream. Recovery changed everything. For over a decade, I was stuck in a cycle of relapsing, but I’ve finally
reached a point where the obsession to use has been removed. I found God, rebuilt my life from the ground up, and now I’m focused on discipline, growth, and building something real through my music. I’m almost six months sober, and I’m locked in on becoming who I’m meant to be.
Through chasing my dream, I found God — and in finding God, I found my purpose.
This isn’t just music to me. This is my life.
How would you describe your sound or artistic style to someone hearing you for the first time?
My sound is motivational and emotional hip-hop with real life behind it.
Some songs are confident and high energy, while others are more personal and reflective.
You can hear that in my singles from the Legacy EP rollout. “Rollin” is about momentum and being locked in, and “Ready or Not”, released on March 27th, is about stepping into the next level and knowing I’m about to blow up whether people are ready or not. The rest of the project leans deeper into emotion. Songs like “Game Time,” “Seems I’ve Changed,” and “Make the Choice” all carry a deeper message. “Make the Choice” is about deciding to chase my dream even when people doubted me —including someone close to me who said I couldn’t do it.
“Game Time” and “Seems I’ve Changed” reflect growth, pressure, and realizing it’s time to change my life.
When did you first realize you wanted to pursue music seriously?
It started about 13 or 14 years ago. I had written a few verses and remember walking home at night, practicing them in my head. I
looked up at the sky, saw the North Star, and had this thought that maybe I could actually go big one day. I remember thinking, that would be so sick.
That was the first time I believed it could be something more.Later, after everything I went through, that same dream came back — but this time with purpose and discipline behind it.
Who or what are your biggest influences, both musically and outside of music?
Musically, artists like Eminem, 50 Cent, and Dr. Dre are big influences for me. Eminem is my biggest influence. The way he expresses his truth so clearly and powerfully through his words has always stood out to me. That’s something I try to bring into my own music.
Outside of music, my biggest influence is my relationship with God and the discipline I’ve built through recovery. That’s what drives everything I do now
How does your personal life or background shape your creative process?
Everything I make comes from real experience. I’ve lived through addiction, homelessness, and rebuilding my life from nothing. When I was at my lowest, music was the one thing I held onto. Now my music reflects that transformation. It’s about growth, discipline, and proving that you can
come back from anything.
Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished project?
It usually starts with a feeling or something I’m going through. When I hear a beat that connects, I start writing from a real place. Then I refine it to make sure the message actually hits — not just the sound. I don’t follow a strict process. Sometimes I start with a topic and find a beat later, and other times the beat sparks everything. I also like to tell my story through full projects. Ups & Downs reflects both the darkness of addiction and the light in recovery, while Legacy builds on that — showing my confidence, growth, and direction now.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far as an emerging artist?
Breaking out while rebuilding my life at the same time. Another major challenge is getting my music heard by the right people. Social media is crowded, and it’s not easy to stand out. I also don’t get much support locally.
But I’ve learned not to rely on validation. I stay focused, keep working, and trust that the right people will find the music.
What moment made you feel like this could really become something big?
When I realized my story could actually help people. I’ve performed before, and my song “What’s Best” made people cry. Moments like that showed me this is bigger than just music.
How do you balance staying authentic while also thinking about growth and visibility?
I stay authentic by only speaking on what I’ve actually lived. Growth comes from consistency and discipline — but I’m not going to fake anything just to get attention.
What themes or emotions do you return to most in your work?
Transformation, redemption, discipline, faith, and becoming a better version of yourself. A lot of my music is about proving that you can change your life. My dream kept me hopeful at my lowest point. Through chasing it, I found God — and in finding God, I found my purpose.
What sets you apart from other artists coming up right now?
I’m not talking about something I saw — I’m talking about something I lived. I went from addiction and homelessness to rebuilding my life with purpose. That’s real, and people can feel that. On top of that, I bring versatility. I switch my flow and energy from track to track while still staying true to who I am.
Is there a song or project that feels especially personal to you? Why?
“Seems I’ve Changed” is one of the most personal songs because it reflects how much I’ve grown as a person. It also features Mike Repic, someone who’s been a big part of my life and growth, which makes it even more meaningful. “Game Time” is another key track. It’s about realizing time is running out and making the decision to change your life. Both are on my upcoming EP Legacy, dropping May 15th. Before that, I released Ups & Downs (March 1, 2025), which shows where I was mentally and
spiritually at that time. Legacy shows who I’m becoming now.
What have you learned about yourself since starting to share your work publicly?
That being honest is a strength. Being real about my past and my growth connects more than trying to be perfect.
If you could collaborate with any artist right now, who would it be and why?
Dr. Dre and Eminem. When I found God during recovery, I felt like I was given a vision for my life. Since then, I’ve been focused on bringing that vision to reality. Dr. Dre represents the level of legacy and impact I’m working toward, and Eminem inspired me early on with how he tells his truth through music.
What can listeners expect from your upcoming releases?
I’m currently rolling out my EP Legacy, which drops May 15th, 2026.
I’ve already released two singles from it. “Rollin” dropped March 6th, and “Ready or Not” was released on March 27th.
The EP shows both sides of the journey — the struggle and the growth.
“Seems I’ve Changed,” “Game Time,” and “Make the Choice” are all part of the project, and they represent some of the most personal work I’ve made.
Overall, Legacy is about growth, discipline, and becoming who you’re meant to be.