If the first step towards success is preparation, then it is no surprise that Zone 4/Epic recording artist Bando Jonez is on the verge of becoming one of the most recognizable fresh voices in R&B. A child of the 90s, Bando, like many of his peers, fell prey to the allure of the streets his native Atlanta at a young age. When his parents’ drug addiction left him to fend for himself before he had even entered high school, he survived by hustling to feed himself and meet his everyday needs and finding shelter in abandoned houses, hence the name “Bando,” which is Atlanta slang for empty houses repurposed by the hood. Yet while life circumstances found him making some uncomfortable decisions, Bando never lost sight of his passion: music. At the age of 5, he taught himself how to play the piano by ear, mimicking his grandmother. Before long, determined not to seem like he was duplicating his brother’s rap aspirations, Bando discovered his voice. Serving as his own coach, Bando spent hours listening to music and watching videos, then practicing until he was certain he could outdo the R&B greats who molded him. The result is a self-taught vocalist, songwriter, composer and dancer, the type of “total package” R&B music hasn’t seen in a new artist in years. Lyrically, Bando successfully achieves his goal of bringing romance back to R&B, a harkening to years past. But his approach allows the music to speak to and for his generation while still appealing to a more seasoned audience. When he’s not crafting love songs, Bando uses his words to speak for others who have grown up in or are still living the inner-city life that molded him, bringing light to the very harsh realities that often go ignored in today’s music. Regardless of which side he offers up in song, there is an honesty to Bando Jonez that permeates his voice, lyrics and style. All of these qualities were already in him when a chance meeting with Polow Da Don in 2013 finally gave Bando the opportunity to change his life. Upon meeting Polow in passing at a local gas station, Bando didn’t miss the opportunity to put his talents on display. Realizing the type of raw talent he was dealing with, Polow offered him an chance to make music his full-time priority. The first song they recorded together, “Sex You,” became the song that would land Bando a spot on Epic Records’ roster of artists. Now, with the support of Polow and the Epic staff, a team which has already proven a dedication to developing new talent and giving their artists all of the needed tools to succeed, Bando Jonez is poised to become a true game changer in the new R&B landscape. And not just sonically. “Once the masses discover Bando Jonez,” Polow says, “the stereotype of how good music is supposed to look will be forever changed.” While his passion for music remains, Bando’s main motivation in building a musical legacy is a desire to create better options for his community. “I have to do this,” he explains. “Think about all the people who come from where I come from, who don’t have this option, who don’t have music or another talent to help them get out of that life. I want to be able to use my talent to create jobs and options for other kids who grew up like me so that they know this isn’t the only way out. But above all, I want them to know that they can be greater than their current circumstances”
All of this and his wiki page breaks kayfabe and casually drops that he used to be Lil Corey and has recorded and dropeed music in the past before jumping back into the story and saying that he bumped into Polow da Don at a gas station and got signed.
he looks like Michael blackson
