Chicago’s South Side has no shortage of rap talent, but 17-year-old Star Bandz is carving out a space that feels both local and pointedly hers. Her new music video for “Like This,” a standout from Estrella (Deluxe), takes viewers through familiar territory—but what’s striking is how the familiarity is used. Directed by Christian Loggins, the video avoids spectacle. Instead, it leans into specificity: front porches, alleyways, murals, and city light that doesn’t just set the scene but is the scene.
The track itself doesn’t chase maximalism. It’s built on a steady, confident beat, with Star Bandz’s delivery cutting through with clarity. There’s no overexertion in her presence—she doesn’t need to prove herself through excess. Her cadence is measured, self-assured, even in the silences. In a moment where many teen rappers are nudged toward mimicry, she opts for grounding. “Like This” isn’t a flex anthem. It’s a location drop.
Much of the power comes from how the video treats space. There’s a refusal to romanticize. The neighborhoods shown aren’t filtered through nostalgia or struggle-porn. They’re presented with a kind of visual realism that doesn’t apologize for itself. Whether she’s posted on a stoop or framed against a mural, Star Bandz seems less like she’s performing for an audience and more like she’s checking in with her surroundings—places that clearly shaped her, and that she now shapes in return.
What’s emerging here isn’t just a teenage artist with buzz, but a rapper with command of her context. Past numbers back it up—over 24 million views on “My Baby” with Sugarhill Ddot, a viral From The Block performance with over 6 million views, and industry nods from Complex and Pitchfork. Those stats could inflate the ego of most artists. Instead, Star Bandz redirects that momentum toward affirming her roots.
Her co-signs—from Lil Durk to Polo G—suggest that Chicago’s rap establishment sees something sustainable in her approach. Touring with Sugarhill Ddot and DD Osama may have expanded her visibility nationally, but this video draws everything back to the source. That return matters.
There’s no reinvention happening in “Like This”—and that’s intentional. In fact, what makes it resonate is how little it tries to stretch past its own frame. It’s not looking to define an era or break genre. It’s simply a sharp, intimate reminder that sometimes, the most enduring statements are built on what’s already there.
