Jacob Banks
Jacob Banks (born 24 July 1991) is a Nigerian-born English singer and songwriter from Birmingham. Banks won the 2012 MOBO UnSung regional competition in Birmingham and the Adidas "Are You In" music competition. His music is influenced by a range of genres including soul, R&B and hip hop.
Jacob Banks

Tore Sætre · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Jacob Banks
- Birth Name
- Jacob Akintayo Akinoso
- Born
- 24 July 1991
- Birthplace
- Nigeria
- Occupation
- * Singer
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Languages
- English
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Jacob Banks (born 24 July 1991) is a Nigerian-born English singer and songwriter from Birmingham. Banks won the 2012 MOBO UnSung regional competition in Birmingham and the Adidas "Are You In" music competition. His music is influenced by a range of genres including soul, R&B and hip hop.
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Jacob Banks (born 1991) is a British composer and singer. The composer was born in Nigeria. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q16995276 · wikipedia · Jacob Banks
In this article
Biography
Biography
Banks is currently signed with American label Interscope Records.

Jacob Banks in a concert with Jacob Banks at the Vigeland stage in the Vigeland Park. The concert was part of Piknik i Parken and took place on 17. June 2018 in Oslo.
Tore Sætre
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jacob Banks • Birth Name — Jacob Akintayo Akinoso • Alias — Jacob Banks • Born — 24 July 1991 • Birthplace — Nigeria • Genre — * R&B • hip hop • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • Instrument — * Vocals • guitar • piano • Years Active — 2012–present • Label — Interscope • Website — www.mrjacobbanks.com/
2012–present: Breakthrough
2012–present: Breakthrough
In October 2012 he recorded his debut EP titled The Monologue which was released in January 2013. The second release from The Monologue, titled "Worthy", was played by BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe as his "Next Hype" record on his Radio 1 show and received additional plays on 1Xtra, XFM, 6Music and Annie Nightingale. In April 2013, Banks played his first headline show at the London St Pancras Old Church. He supported Emeli Sande on her April 2013 UK tour. Banks features on Wretch 32's song "Doing OK", the second single from Wretch's forthcoming third studio album. Banks features on Chase and Status' "Alive" from their album, Brand New Machine. He also supported them, on their Brand New Machine 2013 UK tour. Banks announced he was to release a joint EP featuring himself, Wretch 32 and George the Poet titled Gambling Man in 2013. However, this did not occur. On 1 May 2014, his collaboration with All About She, "I Can't Wait", was released for free download as part of their debut extended play Go Slow. Banks has also worked with other artists such as Bondax, Jake Gosling, Knox Brown, Plan B and Wretch 32. On 21 July 2015, Banks' second extended play entitled The Paradox was released. It features a guest appearance from Odd Child Recordings rapper Avelino on the track "Monster". In 2016, Banks was featured on Norwegian production team Seeb's release, "What Do You Love". The song reached number 2 on VG-lista, the official Norwegian singles chart. On 9 March 2017, Banks premiered his two-part narrative video, written and co-directed by himself, for his single, "Unholy War". The single is off his EP, 'The Boy Who Cried Freedom'. In November 2018, he released his new album, "Village", which made No. 1 on new and upcoming albums on Spotify.
In popular culture
In popular culture
Banks' song, "Monster 2.0" was featured in the Codemasters game, Dirt 4. • Illustration — Jacob Banks at the stage in Frogner Park, which took place on 17 June 2018 in Oslo. "Move With You" was featured in the EA Sports game, FIFA 15. In 2013, "Worthy" was played on the American TV series Suits in season 3, episode 9. "Unknown" was featured in the Season 3 finale of the Starz TV series Power, and received viral attention for his tremendous voice. This attention led to the song "Monster" featuring in the first episode of season 4. In 2021, “Unknown” was featured on A spinoff of the Power Series Power Book 2: Ghost Season 2 Episode 5. In 2018, "Unknown" was featured during the TV Series Suits in season 7, episode 13. "Monster" was used during the TV series "Quantico" in Season 1 Episode 2 which aired in October 2015. "Monster" was also sampled to create rapper Flawless real talk's song of the same name. In 2017, "Unholy War" was featured in the season finale of the TV series Redemption, Season 3 Episode 3 of the TV Series Lucifer and in the reveal trailer for the 2017 Need for Speed game, Need for Speed: Payback. In 2018, "Unholy War" was featured during the season 1 finale of the TV series Black Lightning. It was also featured on the Starz TV series Power. In 2018 Banks penned and performed the song "In The Name of Love" for the movie The Equalizer 2. "Love Ain't Enough" was used in the EA Sports game, FIFA 19. Banks' collaboration with X Ambassadors, "Baptize Me" was featured in the 'Game of Thrones' soundtrack. In 2018, "Unholy War" was used in the TV series "Queen of the South" in season 3, episode 5. In 2019, "Every Age" was featured in a commercial for the gum brand Extra. In 2020, "Slow Up" was used in the second season of the British series "Save Me". In 2021, "Slow Up" was used in the Netflix film Fatherhood, "Found " was featured in the final season of Lucifer, and "Something Beautiful" was featured in the feature film Tom & Jerry. In 2019, "Unknown (To You)" was used in the TV series The Resident in season 2, episode 20. In 2023 "Monster" was used in the final installment of the Equalizer franchise, The Equalizer 3. In May 2024, “Slow Up” was featured at the end of episode 6, season 2, of The Responder, which aired on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and on Britbox in July 2024.
Albums
Albums
• Title — Details • Village — * Released: 2 November 2018 * Label: Interscope * Format: Digital download, CD • Lies About the War — * Released: 26 August 2022 * Label: Nobody Records * Format: Digital download, CD, LP • Our Time Together (Live) — * Released: 11 July 2024 * Label: Nobody Records * Format: Digital download, CD * Sound Engineer: Thierry Galeuchet
Extended plays
Extended plays
• Title — Details • The Monologue — * Released: 26 April 2013 * Label: Full + Bless, Renowned * Format: Digital download • The Paradox — * Released: 21 July 2015 * Label: Full + Bless, Renowned * Format: Digital download • The Boy Who Cried Freedom — * Released: 20 April 2017 * Label: Interscope * Format: Digital download • For My Friends — * Released: 12 March 2021 * Label: Darkroom/Interscope Records * Format: Digital download • Yonder: Book I — * Released: 21 November 2024 * Label: Nobody Records * Format: Digital download • Yonder: Book II — * Released: 29 January 2025 * Label: Nobody Records * Format: Digital download • Yonder: Book III — * Released: 5 March 2025 * Label: Nobody Records * Format: Digital download
As lead artist
As lead artist
• Title — Year — Album • "Kids on the Corner" — 2013 — The Monologue • "Worthy" • "Move with You" — 2014 — FIFA 15 (soundtrack) • "Monster" (featuring Avelino) — 2015 — The Paradox • "Grace" • "Unholy War" — 2017 — The Boy Who Cried Freedom • "Chainsmoking" • "Unknown (To You)" — Village • "Be Good to Me" (featuring Seinabo Sey) — 2018 • "Love Ain't Enough" (with Ghetts) — 2019 — rowspan="6" Non-album singles • "Every Age" • "Like You'll Never See Me Again" — 2020 • "Blame" (with Grace Carter) • "Stranger" • "Devil That I Know"
As featured artist
As featured artist
• Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Certifications — Album • UK — UK Dance — UK Indie — UK R&B — SCO — NOR — SWE • "Doing OK" (Wretch 32 featuring Jacob Banks) — 2014 — 60 — — — 8 — 12 — — — — — — • "Alive" (Chase & Status featuring Jacob Banks) — 21 — 4 — — — — — 26 — — — — — * BPI: Gold — Brand New Machine • "Redemption" (Sigma and Diztortion featuring Jacob Banks) — 2015 — 138 — — — — — — — — — — — — — Life • "Love Me" (WiDE AWAKE featuring Jacob Banks) — 2016 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — • "What Do You Love" (Seeb featuring Jacob Banks) — — — — — — — — — — — 2 — 20 — * IFPI NOR: 2× Platinum — Intro to Seeb • "Remember" (Seinabo Sey featuring Jacob Banks) — 2018 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — I'm a Dream • "Only Way Is Up" (Gaël Faye featuring Jacob Banks) — 2020 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Lundi Méchant • "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Other appearances
Other appearances
• Title — Year — Album • "Jail" (Nick Brewer featuring Jacob Banks) — 2013 — Flat 10 EP • "I Can't Wait" (All About She featuring Jacob Banks) — 2014 — Go Slow EP • "Blame it On Love" (Uppermost featuring Jacob Banks) — 2015 — New Moon EP
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Reference “Record Label” in the source article.
- 2.Liverpool Sound City. Jacob Banks.
- 3.Cofie, Bibi. MOBO UnSung 2012: Artist Catchup. MOBO.
- 4.Hawkins, Shane. New Noise: Jacob Banks. Wonderland.
- 5.Morris, Matt. Jacob Banks – The Monologue (Full EP Stream). Hypetrak.
- 6.Cochrane, Greg. BBC Newsbeat – Introducing – Jacob Banks. BBC News. 28 March 2013.
- 7.Collins, Hattie. i-N Session: Jacob Banks. i-D Magazine.
- 8.Maz, Maz. Jacob Banks Announces Headline Show. MTV The Wrap Up.
- 9.Hunger TV. Jacob Banks: Worthy. Hunger Magazine.
- 10.Alya, Alya. Music: Jacob Banks Interview. Live Magazine.
- 11.Hung, Steffen. norwegiancharts.com – Discography Jacob Banks. norwegiancharts.com.
- 12.Jacob Banks shares his stunning two-part 'Unholy War' video. Vaunter. 9 March 2017.
- 13.Weston, Christopher. Fatherhood soundtrack: What songs feature in the 2021 Netflix movie?. HITC. 2021-06-18.
- 14.iTunes (US). Village by Jacob Banks. 2 November 2018.
- 15.Woods, Thomas. Jacob Banks Chats Lies About The War, Anime & Being an Independent Artist. Pause. 25 August 2022.
- 16.Jacob Banks Our Time Together, Live in Montreux Jazz Festival. Pause. 11 July 2024.
- 17.iTunes (UK). The Monologue by Jacob Banks.
- 18.iTunes (UK). The Paradox by Jacob Banks.
- 19.iTunes (UK). The Boy Who Cried Freedom by Jacob Banks. 20 April 2017.
- 20.For My Friends by Jacob Banks.
- 21.iTunes (UK). Worthy – Single by Jacob Banks. Apple Music Preview.
- 22.iTunes (UK). Move With You – Single by Jacob Banks. Apple Music Preview. 4 August 2014.
- 23.Zywietz, Tobias. Chart Log UK: New Entries Update – 10.10.2015 (wk41). zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. 19 January 2014 * For "Redemption": cite web.
- 24.Official Charts Company. Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40. 22 December 2013.
- 25.Official Charts Company. Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50. 1 September 2013.
- 26.Official Charts Company. Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40. 7 September 2013.
- 27.Official Charts Company. Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100. 12 January 2014.
- 28.Norwegian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Discography Jacob Banks.
- 29.Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Discography Jacob Banks.
- 30.United Kingdom. Jacob Banks.
- 31.International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. IFPI.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 20 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
42,438 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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