If you've spent more than five minutes on TikTok lately, you've probably heard that machine-gun flow. It’s high-energy, it’s rhythmic, and it’s coming from a girl who isn't even old enough to vote yet. Star Bandz has basically become the face of Chicago’s new wave, but as she blows up, everyone is asking the same thing: what is Star Bandz real name, and is she actually as young as she looks?
Honestly, the rap world is usually full of mystery, but Star is pretty an open book.
The Face Behind the Name: Star Ana Flowers
The girl behind the viral hits is Star Ana Flowers.
Yeah, that’s her actual birth name. It’s not some elaborate marketing scheme or a name she picked out of a hat to sound cool. She was born Star Ana Flowers on March 31, 2008. If you're doing the math, that makes her 17 years old right now.
Growing up in Sauk Village, a suburb in the south Chicagoland area, she wasn't always planning on being the next big thing in drill music. But her name always suggested she was headed somewhere big. Her family actually calls her Star. It’s not just a stage persona.
The "Bandz" part? That’s a bit more "industry." She’s mentioned in interviews that she added that because, well, she likes money. Simple. Direct. Very Chicago.
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Why the Name Matters
In an industry where rappers change their names three times before their first mixtape, Star Ana Flowers sticking with her birth name says a lot about her brand. It's authentic. When her mom, Ana Deleon, started posting videos of her rapping on Facebook and Snapchat years ago, she was just Star.
The Meteoric Rise of a 17-Year-Old
Most kids her age are worrying about prom or getting their driver’s license. Star is busy signing deals with Priority Records and Capitol Records.
It started with covers. She’d have her mom record her doing NBA YoungBoy tracks—specifically "House Arrest Tingz"—when she was still in middle school. But things got real when she dropped "Yea Yea" on her 16th birthday. The track didn't just bubble; it exploded.
Then came the collaborations.
- Sugarhill Ddot: Their song "My Baby" racked up over 13 million views on YouTube.
- Veeze: The Detroit heavyweight jumped on the remix of "Yea Yea," giving her a massive stamp of approval.
- DD Osama: Another heavy hitter in the teen rap scene that she’s linked up with.
It's kinda wild to think she only started taking the studio seriously around 2019. Back then, she was just an 11-year-old being brought to the studio by a family friend to "get the feel" of the microphone.
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What Makes Her Different?
You might notice something if you listen closely to her lyrics. Or rather, you'll notice what's missing.
Star Bandz doesn't cuss in her music.
In a genre like Chicago drill, which is famous for being gritty and often hyper-violent, Star is carving out a "clean" path. It’s not because she’s trying to be a "kid's artist," but because she actually wants to be a role model. She’s mentioned that she knows little kids are watching her. She remembers being that kid looking up to rappers, and she takes that responsibility seriously.
She's basically the "clean" drill queen. It’s a weird niche, but it’s working. Her debut mixtape, Estrella (which means "Star" in Spanish), proved she could hang with the heavyweights without needing the explicit tag.
A Village of Women
A huge part of Star’s story is the women behind her. Her mom, Ana, has been her manager, camerawoman, and biggest hype-person since day one. Then there’s her grandmother and aunt. They all saw the "star" in her before the rest of the world did.
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She credits her work ethic to them. Growing up watching the women in her life "grind" gave her that same mentality. While other rappers are out spending their first checks on chains, Star has been vocal about the fact that she’d rather save her money or help take care of her baby sister.
The Future for Star Ana Flowers
Is she just a viral moment? Probably not.
She’s already made her debut at Lollapalooza, which is a massive rite of passage for any Chicago artist. She’s also transitioned from local schools (she attended Bloom Trail and Bloom Township High) to homeschooling to keep up with the demand of her career.
She's moving fast.
If you want to keep up with her journey, the best thing to do is follow her on TikTok and Instagram, where she’s constantly teasing new snippets. She’s also worth watching for her "no-cuss" challenge to the industry—seeing if she can maintain that mainstream appeal while keeping the lyrics PG-13 is going to be one of the most interesting storylines in hip-hop this year.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Estrella (Deluxe) album to hear her growth from her early viral clips.
- Watch her Genius "Verified" episode for "Yea Yea" to see how she breaks down her writing process—it's actually pretty insightful for an artist her age.
- Keep an eye on her collaborations with other "New Wave" artists like BabyChiefDoIt; that's where the most interesting sound experimentation is happening right now.