· LUCY LOVES ME · Music
Tell Ur Girlfriend by Lay Bankz – The TikTok Anthem We Didn’t Know We Needed
Times have certainly changed. When I was a tween, my friends and I might dress up and sing along to Bananarama or watch Grease on repeat. Honestly, I was just as happy curling up with a good book.
Fast forward to today, and kids as young as 11, maybe even younger, are belting out songs like Tell Ur Girlfriend by Lay Bankz.
While undeniably catchy, the song delves into Bankz’s internal struggle over whether to confess her affair to her boyfriend.
Fed up with the deception, she shifts gears and delivers an ultimatum to her secret lover: “If you want me, it’s time to make a move. Tell your girlfriend… that I’m your girlfriend.”
And that’s a polite description of the track.
Yet, despite its bold subject matter, Gen Z can’t get enough of Tell Ur Girlfriend. It’s everywhere. On TikTok, YouTube, you name it.
So, who exactly is Lay Bankz, and why has this track sent the TikTok generation into a frenzy?
Who is Lay Bankz?
20 year-old Lay Bankz, born Layia Watkins in Philadelphia, isn’t just a one-trick pony. She’s a triple threat – singer, rapper, and dancer – serving up a sonic cocktail that’s equal parts R&B smoothness, pop catchiness, and Jersey club spice.
After inking a deal with Artist Partner Group (APG) in 2022, Lay started dropping viral bombs like Left Cheek (Doo Doo Blick) and Na Na Na.
But it’s Tell Ur Girlfriend that got her climbing the Billboard Hot 100 and the Gen Z crowd scrambling for their phones. And now it’s stuck in my head too.
Why Is everyone obsessed with Tell Ur Girlfriend?
The song resonates deeply with Gen Z for a few key reasons:
That Hook – You’ll be humming it in your sleep, in the car, in the shower, while at work – resistance is futile.
The Lyrics – Lay Bankz is giving us the modern-day romance anthology we never knew we needed. It’s blunt, it’s messy, it’s real.
It’s basically every relationship drama you’ve ever had, but set to a sick beat.
TikTok’s New Best Friend – Tell Ur Girlfriend is to TikTok what butter is to toast – a match made in viral heaven.
Those punchy lines? Lip-sync gold. That beat drop? Cue the dance challenges. It’s like Lay consulted a panel of TikTok experts before hitting the studio.
Why Gen Z’s Gone Gaga for Tell Ur Girlfriend
It’s relatable – Gen Z’s love lives are messy and Tell Ur Girlfriend captures that chaotic energy perfectly. It’s as if someone put their group chat to music.
It’s bold – In an age where everyone’s tiptoeing around, Lay Bankz comes in swinging like a wrecking ball in stilettos. There’s no hidden meaning here – just raw, unfiltered sass.
It’s content creation gold – Tell Ur Girlfriend is a TikTok challenge waiting to happen.
It embraces the beautiful disaster – Gen Z isn’t about those picture-perfect Insta posts anymore.
They’re all about the mess, the cringe, the glorious disaster that is young adulthood. Tell Ur Girlfriend is the soundtrack to that beautiful chaos.
Why TikTok Videos Are More Than Just Entertainment for Gen Z
It’s fascinating to see how tracks like Tell Ur Girlfriend become so popular with young people today.
They are not just listening to music—they’re participating in it, creating a wave of content that connects them to a larger community.
The rise of TikTok has turned music into a shared, interactive experience.
In my day, I was more likely to bury my head in a book, escaping into stories. But for this generation, social media and music provide a way to express themselves, gain attention, and even form their identities.
The time they spend making videos isn’t just about entertainment—it’s a form of self-expression and validation that reflects how they communicate and connect with the world around them.
What’s Next for Lay Bankz?
As Tell Ur Girlfriend continues its reign of social media terror, the burning question remains: Is Lay Bankz a one-hit wonder or the next big thing?
Only time (and TikTok’s fickle algorithm) will tell.
For now, she’s got Gen Z in the palm of her hand, turning relationship drama into digital gold.
They are not just listening to this song – they are living it, breathing it, and putting it all over social media.
Lay Bankz has tapped into something primal with Tell Ur Girlfriend. It’s messy, it’s petty, and it’s catchy as hell.