Cleveland, Ohio has been making noise lately with the break out of artists like Q Money, YSN Flow, Doe Boy, Chxpo, 55 Bagz, and more. If you ask anyone from the cit who follows local music, they will undoubtedly know of Bankie. Formally known as Bankie Iz, and previously to that Bankie Travolta, Bat Boy Bankie is a living underground legend in Ohio, not to mention one of the most versatile artists I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to. From deep emotional cuts painted with complex melodies and insightful self-aware lyrics to unmatched witty bars backed by animated ad-libs and a plethora of deliveries. His sound and content range from dead serious album cuts, to obscene and playful slaps that only take one play to remember forever. Bat Boy Bankie is one of those rare artists that has managed to convey a real message of positivity while maintaining his edge and authenticity. Addressing topics such as depression, betrayal, loss, addiction, poverty, and even suicide, Josh has flipped these normally tragic topics into a story focused greatly on perseverance rather than despair. The song 

“Side Tracked” tells a tale of a man down and out on his luck, but never willing to give up. It tells the story of someone who has truly lost everything, but somehow maintains faith in their self and is able to see the bright side during the darkest of times. The self-directed video (Edited by Liam Walsh) was shot inside one of the many abandoned churches on the financially broken east side of Cleveland Ohio. You can literally feel the grit through the screen. The video is kept to black and white which helps highlight the emotional undertones, as you listen to the artist explain how he plans to do leverage his circumstances in order to make it out of a bad period in his life. Recently Cleveland's heavyweight Doe Boy signed Bankie to his Empire records backed RBMG imprint. Press play on Bankie's latest audio/visual offering titled "Side Tracked". Directed by Liam Walsh