On Feb. 2, 2025, Tank and The Bangas won the Grammy Award for “Best Spoken Word Poetry Album.” The win marks the first Grammy Award for this New Orleans-based band. They were nominated many times before, and this time, they took home the prize for their album The Heart, The Mind, The Soul.
The album features Grammy Award winners Jill Scott, Samara Joy, Robert Glasper, and the first-ever Spoken Word Poetry Album winner, J. Ivy. It’s chock full of superstars, yet no one overshadows Tank. Her voice is captivating, and she draws her delivery from personal experience. She shares vulnerability as if we’re reading a page from her journal, providing the full spectrum of who she is—her vocal range and witty lyricism shine throughout the album.
“Open To Thyself” is reminiscent of an early 2000s track—it’s groovy and feels like a warm hug. We find Tank offering encouragement to herself and embracing self-love: “Even when I feel like my motivation has left me, I got this. When my prayers have no words, I got this. And my knees don’t feel like bending; I’ll make them.”
The honesty of this album resonates, and you can’t ignore the music. As a band, Tank and The Bangas are among the best. When you hear arrangements like “Ghetto Earth” and “Who Ha?” you’re captivated by the pure beauty in every keystroke and drum kick.
“Remember“ is my favorite track. Samara Joy sounds like a 2025 Billie Holiday while Robert Glasper tickles the keys, and Tank flows in and out, weaving her way through the production. It is almost surreal.
Tank and The Bangas are able to cross genres while maintaining their New Orleans influence. This particular album showcases their nimbleness as they travel across the spectrum of music.
After listening to this album, it’s no surprise we can now address them as the Grammy Award-winning Tank and The Bangas.
Here are the standout tracks:
“Enjoy The Ride“
“Open To Thyself”
“Ghetto Earth“
“Who Ha?” (feat. J Ivy)
“Remember” (feat. Samara Joy, Robert Glasper)
