Oakland Rapper Philip Bank$ Explores Hyphy Era, Police Brutality in Debut Album

Bank$'s album "East Bay Times" is a cathartic exploration of loss, grief, and what the Town means to him.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Oakland rapper Philip Bank$ has released his debut solo album "East Bay Times," which draws on his experiences growing up in Oakland during the Hyphy era and grappling with police brutality and violence in the city. The album features collaborations with other Oakland artists and explores themes of loss, grief, and Bank$' deep connection to his hometown.

Why it matters

Bank$'s album provides a personal and nuanced perspective on the lived experiences of young Black men in Oakland, including the impacts of police harassment and the trauma of losing friends to gun violence. The album also sheds light on the Hyphy era, a pivotal moment in Bay Area hip-hop culture that was often misunderstood and maligned by authorities.

The details

Bank$ recruited several other Oakland artists to collaborate on "East Bay Times," including rappers Ian Kelly, Passwurdz, and WeInTheCloud. The album includes tracks that address specific incidents of police harassment Bank$ experienced as a young man, as well as the death of his cousin Jason Roberson, who was murdered in 2017. Bank$ says the album was a cathartic process that allowed him to process his feelings and share stories that reflect the broader experiences of young Black men in Oakland.

  • Bank$ released "East Bay Times" on his 35th birthday in November 2026.
  • The album was the culmination of three years of writing and recording work.
  • Bank$ began toying with the idea of a solo project after the hip-hop trio Trey Coastal disbanded.

The players

Philip Bank$

An Oakland rapper who has released his debut solo album "East Bay Times," which explores his experiences growing up in Oakland during the Hyphy era and grappling with police brutality and violence in the city.

Jeremy Ward (Hiright)

A producer and member of the rap group Barbaydose who pushed Bank$ to get in the studio and create "East Bay Times."

Pendarvis Harshaw

An arts and culture journalist who collaborated with Bank$ on the album, providing commentary that became interludes for several tracks.

Rich Iyala

A San Francisco rapper who coined the phrase "Hyphy Kids Got Trauma," which resonated with Bank$ and inspired the title of one of the album's tracks.

Jason Roberson

Bank$' cousin who was gunned down by a gang member in 2017, inspiring the song "Jason's Lyric" on the album.

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What they’re saying

“We have deeply overlapping Oakland communities.”

— Pendarvis Harshaw, Arts and culture journalist (The Oaklandside)

“One thing that was mind-boggling when my cousin Jason was murdered was seeing everyone at his funeral. It was all my family. That means if I died today, these are all the people who would be at my funeral. It was like seeing your own mortality.”

— Philip Bank$ (The Oaklandside)

“Like many other Oakland kids, I lost my first friend to gun violence when I was about 15. I rap so that I can tell other people's tales. That acknowledgement can lead to healing.”

— Philip Bank$ (The Oaklandside)

What’s next

Bank$ is already planning how to perform the music from "East Bay Times" in unique ways that will resonate with the Oakland community, such as by doing free shows at local landmarks like Lake Merritt.

The takeaway

Bank$'s debut album "East Bay Times" provides a powerful and personal exploration of the experiences of young Black men in Oakland, including the impacts of police harassment, gun violence, and the legacy of the Hyphy era. The album serves as a cathartic outlet for Bank$ to process his own grief and trauma, while also shining a light on shared histories and struggles that extend far beyond Oakland.