Katie Got Bandz, born Kiara Johnson in 1994, never anticipated a future in rap. However, her journey into the music industry began unexpectedly when her cousin, Donta 'Block on da Trakk' Moye, invited her to collaborate on a track. This partnership led to the creation of her debut song "I Need a Hitta," which gained significant traction on YouTube and marked the inception of her career as one of the pioneering female rap artists from Chicago.
Block recognized a gap in the drill music scene for female representation, which inspired him to involve Katie. Their track "I Need a Hitta" quickly gained popularity, and despite Katie being incarcerated for gun-related charges when the video was released, its unexpected success upon her release motivated her to pursue a rap career.
Before venturing into music, Katie worked at McDonald's but left to sign a recording contract with Lawless Records. She has consistently assured her fans of her commitment to the rap industry, expressing her determination in interviews by stating, "I ain't want to be a one-hit wonder, so I'm like, 'Let me just keep going.'" Unlike some of her contemporaries, Katie has vowed to carve out a unique identity, distancing herself from artists like Nicki Minaj, who often use sexuality to sell records. She has frequently highlighted the scarcity of opportunities for female rappers, who struggle to secure deals with major labels as readily as their male counterparts. While artists like Chief Keef, King Louie, and Rockie Fresh have been signed to prominent labels, few women in rap enjoy similar recognition.