User:Clbanks497

Corey Drumz of I.K.E.

 * Corey L. Banks aka Corey Drumz.jpg

Born Corey Lawrence Banks, Corey Drumz of I.K.E. (formerly known as CeStyle) is the youngest son of 1981 BMI Song Writer Of The Year, Larry Banks and soul singer Jaibi. Raised in Hollis Queens NYC, Hip-Hop music came as natural as breathing and Corey took to it like a sponge. Getting his knowledge of writing and song structure from his father and his emotional delivery and voice from his mother (Jaibi) who was a well respected female soul singer.

By the age of 13, Corey was offered entrance to various prestigious performing arts schools, but turned them all down. At the age of 14, Drumz lost his mother and become more street oriented. He gave up singing and started releasing his talents through Hip Hop under the stage name CeStyle becoming one of the most respected MC's on the East Coast. At the age of 21 his father passed and shortly after, Drumz became a member of EPMD's original Hit Squad as well as MC Serch's Serchlight Mob (Nas, O.C. and CeStyle & Kamal B Wize better known as the group Total Pack). While in the group Total Pack, Drumz was signed to Columbia Records making history as being the first Hip-Hop artists to be signed to multi album deal without having a demo (the only other artist to do that before him was Janice Joplin who ironically was also signed to Columbia Records). The deal with Columbia didn't work to Drumz' advantage due to creative differences between himself and his partner at the time, Kamal B Wise, as well as a lack of guidance and attention from his label but that would not stop his growth. Drumz then signed a solo deal with Wild Pitch/EMI still using the name Total Pack and had 3 songs featured on the classic Wild Pitch Blends promo tape. Wild Pitch eventually lost its distribution with EMI before releasing his album leaving Corey stuck on the label for 2 years without a record being released. Through due diligence, Corey obtained his release from Wild Pitch relinquishing them of all financial obligations in return for control of his masters. He then went on to release records on various compilation albums with DJ Stretch Armstrong (Stretch Armstrong Presents: Lessons 1 and 2) as well as a various 12" inch singles. Changing his stage name in 2002 from CeStyle to Corey Drumz, today he is incorporating all of his musical and self-promotional skills to create a unique niche' and sound in entertainment unmatched by any other artist, building his increasing on the brand of Corey Drumz and I.K.E. Corey is also the founder of ItsIKESpace.com, a celebrity news/gossip and artist resource community. The I.K.E. slogan is "Go Ask Tina If I.K.E. Got Hitz!!!"