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Chicago Tribune

Chicago teen rapper Star Bandz performs at Lollapalooza for the first time

Star Bandz, a 17-year-old drill rapper from the south suburbs, performed on the BMI stage Friday evening for her first set at Lollapalooza. She opened with 'End of Beginning' by Djo, who was performing at the same time on the T-Mobile stage on the south end of Grant Park, then played her own song, 'Bigger Better Badder,' which erupted the crowd. Speaking to the Tribune before her concert, Bandz said she was excited and grateful to be performing at the festival. She said just wanted the crowd to rock out, but also be safe. 'I don't want to start no mosh pits, they're kind of dangerous, but I do want them to turn up though, that's gonna make me feel real good,' she said. Bandz, a Sauk Village native, first had a breakout song 'Yea Yea' that was released early last year. The music video was filmed during her birthday party and has been growing in popularity since. The viral moment led her to sign with Priority Records and Capitol Records, which she said was a new thing for her. She ended up missing a lot of school to meet with the record labels. 'It was kind of life-changing,' she said. Even before that, she said she was already gaining recognition, and fans would ask her for pictures in public. She released her debut album, 'Estrella,' late last year. Being from Chicago, the city has had an influence on her music. Bandz said she has taken inspiration from artists from the drill rap scene, including Lil Durk and Chief Keef. She opened for Lil Durk at his birthday party last October. Her music has been defined as drill music, which is often associated with violence and gang activity. She says takes what she's been through in life and puts it into her music and her lyrics. Also, when growing up, she learned what type of music excited people. But Bandz said she hardly listens to drill music. She leans towards melodic rap. Another thing that separates her from most rappers is that she doesn't swear in her rhymes. She knows the type of people who listen to her music. 'My grandma watches me and kids too, I don't want to put out a bad influence, or anything bad on my name,' she said. During her BMI set, she first brought out Chucky WackEm, which excited the crowd, then Sugarhill Ddot, a New York native. Sugarhill Ddot and Bandz performed their viral song 'My Baby,' which has raked in more than 25 million views on YouTube. Bandz also played some of her hit songs like 'Too Many Options' and 'Too Slow,' a song by BabyChiefDoit that she's featured on. She also played two unreleased songs. Some fans danced throughout her entire set. High school friends, Leila Redd, Brenda Brown and Kayla Brown said they've been fans since Bandz released 'Yea Yea.' 'I think she's really young and inspiring for the younger generation, and she got bars, she's next up,' said Kayla Brown, a 19-year-old Chicago native. Bandz said when she was younger, she wanted to be a singer and had an interest in rap music. She would rap along with her favorite artists or rap over instrumentals. Her mom's friend, the rapper Big E, encouraged her, urging her to write raps while she was in the fourth grade, but Bandz didn't get interested for a couple more years. 'He called my mom randomly one day and he was like, 'I'm gonna pick up Star tomorrow and take her to the studio. I just want her to rap her favorite song,'' Bandz said. Four months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Bandz was stuck in the house and started writing a song in her notebook. 'I told my mom to tell (Big E) to come over the next day so we can make the song,' Bandz said. 'He took me to the studio and after I did that I had fun and I just kept doing it ever since.' As her career takes off, Bandz said she has goals. 'I want to get rich, but I want to get a Grammy. Just a trophy for what I do,' she said.