Videos: Azealia Banks

212

Azealia Banks is a rapper and lyricist from Harlem, New York who is currently unsigned, and was formerly known under the pseudonyms Miss Bank$. Banks rose to fame in 2011 when she topped NME's "Cool List" for the year. On December 5, 2011, the BBC announced that Azealia had been nominated for the Sound of 2012, to which she ultimately finished third[1]. Her debut single, "212" featuring Lazy Jay, was released on December 6 - peaking at number one hundred and seventy-five on the UK Singles.

Azealia Amanda Banks was born in 1991. Her mother raised Banks and her two older sisters in Harlem after their father died when she was two years old. At a young age she became interested in musical theater, acting, and singing. At age 10, she began performing in off-Broadway musicals with the Tada! Youth Theater in Lower Manhattan. She won lead roles in three productions (Rabbit Sense, Sleepover, and Heroes) in addition to performing as a soloist. Banks was classically trained in the performing arts at the renowned LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan, the same school Nicki Minaj attended. At age 16 she starred in a production of the comedy-noir musical City of Angels. Banks never finished high school, however, instead choosing to follow her dream of becoming a recording artist.
[edit] Commercial breakthrough + Debut album (2008-)

"Richard [Russell] was cool, but as soon as I didn't want to use his beats, it got real sour. He wound up calling me 'amateur' and the XL interns started talking shit about me. It just got real fucking funny. I was like, 'I didn't come here for a date. I came here to cut some fucking records.' I got turned off on the music industry and disappeared for a bit. I went into a bit of a depression."
-Banks talking of her departure from XL Recordings[3].

Under the monicker 'Miss Bank$', Azealia released her debut recording "Gimme A Chance" onto the internet in February 2009[4]. The recording was accompanied by "Seventeen", a track produced by American DJ Diplo which sampled the Ladytron song of the same name[4]. Later that year, Banks signed to record label XL Records and began working with producer Richard Russell; although she proceeded to leave the label following conflicting ideas[1][3].

Following her departure from XL Records, Banks left behind the 'Miss Bank$' monicker and formally became Azealia Banks, which preceeded a move to Montreal; where she began recording music alone. Using Youtube as a portal, Banks uploaded several demo tracks - including "L8R" and a cover of "Slow Hands" by Interpol. In September 2011, Banks released her debut single "212" as a free digital download from her website - proceeding to release it officially on December 6. The track has received positive reviews, having been selected as BBC Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw's 'Record of the Week' and nominated as one of Pitchfork.com's 'Top Ten Tracks of 2011'.

Although currently unsigned, Banks began working with British producer Paul Epworth (of Adele, 21 fame) on a debut studio album. Four tracks from the album are said to be released ahead of her supporting slot on the February 2012 Two Door Cinema Club tour. It was announced in December 2011 that Banks would feature on "Shady Love", the lead single from Scissor Sisters fourth studio album. An accompanying music video was released in January 2012 following its radio premiere from Annie Mac (BBC Radio 1) on January 4 - with the single scheduled for a release in the United Kingdom on February 13.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[2] UK
Indie
[5]
"212" (featuring Lazy Jay) 2011 175 18 N/A
"Liquorice" — — N/A
[edit] As featured artist
Title Year Album
"Shady Love"
(Scissor Sisters vs. Krystal Pepsy) 2012 N/A
[edit] Guest appearances
Title Year Album Artist
"Can't Stop Now"
(Kicks Like a Mule Remix) 2010 Lazers Never Die Major Lazer
[edit] Music videos
Song Year Director Reference(s)
"L8R" 2011 BBGUN [6]
"212" (featuring Lazy Jay) Vincent Tsang [7]
"Shady Love" (with Scissor Sisters) 2012 N/A N/A
[edit] Awards and nominations
Year Organisation Award Result
2011 BBC Sound of 2012 Sound of 2012[1] Third