We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Guy Banks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Guy , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Creativity has been my strong suit for most of my life. Working a typical nine to five never quite fit me, and I would find myself unemployed hustling on the streets. In my early twenties I was focusing on a career as a rap artist. I didn’t have much knowledge about the business and was figuring out how to make it on my own. I went to prison for 11 years, and it was there where I learned the business of music and discovered a new and better way to approach becoming a full-time industry professional.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi

I’m Guy L. Banks also known by my industry name Tronee Threat. I’m a Hip -hop artist, producer, song and screenwriter from Columbus OH, now residing in Yellow Springs. I have been in hot pursuit of success a little over a year now after being released from serving an 11-year prison sentence.

Since then, I have visited multiple universities and nonprofit organizations performing music and speaking about my journey through incarceration. I offer a wide variety of creative works outside of the previous list including, but not limited to music workshops, community conversations, and event hosting.

Through my art, my mission is to create a thriving nation of artists who come from underserved and overlooked communities and assist in relieving them of the trauma and systemic oppression that has inflicted pain and suffering in their lives.

I understand that art, has been a key factor in upward mobility and ownership in the Black Amercian community, therefore I use music and visual art not only for the purpose of entertaining, but more so as a teaching tool, and a vehicle used to move into other industries where there are promising futures.

I always choose to lead by example, I follow those who I consider the best at what they do, and I pass on the knowledge to others. I believe everyone has a purpose and no matter what yesterday looks like as long as we are still alive and have an ability to do, we can always improve and become better.

My latest works are “Can U Imagine”, which is my first full length musical project. Release date 08.18.23, which will be available for download and streaming on all major music store platforms, and “The Origin of Black American Violence” a short film, available now for streaming and download on YouTube and Apple music.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

An artist should never be boxed into categories. If there something a viewer does not like about the art that is being made available, unless it is being forced on them to pay attention, they should ignore it or find a way to promote something they want to see out of art own their own.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I realize I’m just a human without all the answers to the problems of our world. I also know my art is a fraction of what’s available for consuming. I have learned to not entertain all the opinions about my art and not to take critiques too personally. I won’t be able to connect with everyone. And my ideas will be challenged in positive and negative ways.

My personality and mission off stage has fixed viewers into thinking I’m a saint or a programmed person, especially because of my imprisonment. And because my mistakes are documented and publicized there is an idea that I can be controlled. I don’t subscribe to that notion. I remain a free artistic spirit, and I plan to stay that way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Instagram.com/troneethreat
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6wmmvJH14w&pp=ygUNdHJvbmVlIHRocmVhdA%3D%3D

Image Credits
Images by Shelle Fisher Photography & Design