Katie Got Bandz
{{short description|American rapper}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Katie Got Bandz
| alias =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_name = Kiara Johnson
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1993|07|22}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| occupation = Rapper
| associated_acts = Jeremih, Plies, DC Young Fly, Chief Keef, Lil Durk, King L, Wale, Lil Herb, Lil Reese, BJ The Chicago Kid
| years_active = 2011–present
| label = EGL Entertainment
| website =
}}
Kiara Johnson, also known by her stage name Katie Got Bandz (born July 22, 1993), is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois, most recognized for her song "Pop Out" featuring King L.Yohance, Kyle [http://allhiphop.com/2015/07/28/exclusive-katie-got-bandz-chicago-drill-music-drillary-clinton-3/] All Hip Hop. July 28, 2015.Battan, Carrie [http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15073-katie-got-bandz-pop-out-ft-king-louie/] Pitchfork. March 6, 2013.Raymer, Miles [https://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/katie-got-bandz-explains-the-meaning-of-opp/] Vice. December 3, 2012.
Early life
Katie is from Bronzeville, a neighborhood in the Low End area of South Side, Chicago. Katie cites her neighborhood as the muse for her lyrics and the stories she tells while rapping.Barber, Andrew [http://www.fakeshoredrive.com/2012/05/fsd-feature-katie-got-bandz-drillville.html/2/] FSD. March 23, 2012. Her favorite rappers were Waka Flocka Flame, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Lil Wayne. Prior to rapping, she studied biology and pre-med at Truman College.{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2012/05/you-need-to-know-katie-got-bandz |title=You Need To Know: Chicago Teen Rapper Katie Got Bandz |publisher=Fuse|accessdate=5 June 2016}}
Musical career
Katie is the debut female rapper of Chicago's drill music scene,Caramanica, Jon [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/arts/music/chicago-hip-hops-raw-burst-of-change.html?pagewanted=2 Chicago Hip-Hop’s Raw Burst of Change] New York Times. October 4, 2012. though she has announced plans to transition her music to a more global sound. In several interviews she spoke of the poor reputation Chicago has with respect to crime and violence and the attack of drill music as a result. Katie has said that her intention with drill music is to portray her authentic experience and emphasizes she does not want to influence crime or contribute to the already high crime rate in Chicago through her music.Todd, Jessica [http://www.vladtv.com/article/213728/katie-got-bandz-drillary-clinton-3-will-be-my-last-drill-album/]Vlad TV. July 29, 2015.
Her last project Drillary Clinton 3 was released on December 23, 2015, and she intended to transition her sound with this project while paying homage to drill music at the same time. After a three-year hiatus, she returned with the single "Work It Girl", released on May 10, 2018. She stated that she felt "refreshed" and was ready to let her fans "discover a different side" of her. She released her first mixtape in four years, Rebirth, in July 2019.The TRiiBe [https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/block-beat-triibe-katie-got-bandz-rebirth/Content?oid=72080556 The Return of Katie Got Bandz] Chicago Reader. July 31, 2019. In 2022, she had a verse on Nicki Minaj's 'Super Freaky Girl: Queen Mix', which was highly popular and sampled from Rick James' 'Super Freak.'
Discography
=Mixtapes=
- 2012: Bandz and Hittaz{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/bandz-hittaz/559714438 |title=Katie Got Bandz - Bandz and Hittaz |publisher=Apple Music |accessdate=5 September 2012}}
- 2013: Drillary Clinton{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/drillary-clinton/1485585243 |title=Katie Got Bandz - Drillary Clinton |publisher=Apple Music |accessdate=25 June 2013}}
- 2014: Drillary Clinton 2{{cite web|url=http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/28699/katie-got-bandz-drillary-clinton-2.html |title=Katie Got Bandz - Drillary Clinton 2 |publisher=LiveMixTapes |accessdate=25 June 2014}}
- 2014: Coolin in Chiraq{{cite web|url=http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/31316/katie-got-bandz-coolin-in-chiraq.html |title=Katie Got Bandz - Coolin In Chiraq Hosted by DJ Bandz, DJ Scream, DJ Lil Keem |publisher=LiveMixTapes |accessdate=19 December 2014}}
- 2015: Zero to 39th{{cite web|url=https://spinrilla.com/mixtapes/katie-got-bandz-zero-to-39th |title=Katie Got Bandz - Zero To 39th |date=6 May 2015 |publisher=LiveMixTapes |accessdate=19 December 2015}}
- 2015: Drillary Clinton 3{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/drillary-clinton-3/1136085043|title=Katie Got Bandz - Drillary Clinton 3|publisher= Apple Music |accessdate=24 May 2020}}
- 2019: Rebirth{{cite web|url=https://www.datpiff.com/Katie-Got-Bandz-Rebirth-mixtape.943860.html|title=Katie Got Bandz - Rebirth|publisher=DatPiff|accessdate=24 May 2020|archive-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414011841/https://www.datpiff.com/Katie-Got-Bandz-Rebirth-mixtape.943860.html|url-status=dead}}
- 2022: Drillary Clinton 4{{Cite web |title=Stream and Download Mixtapes - Katie Got Bandz - DC4 |url=https://www.certifiedmixtapez.com/Main/Details?refId=01c14b32 |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=www.certifiedmixtapez.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Got Bandz, Katie}}
Category:African-American songwriters
Category:African-American women rappers
Category:American hip-hop singers
Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians
Category:Songwriters from Illinois
Category:American drill musicians
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century African-American women