Azealia Banks performing at Glastonbury Festival 2013
American rapper Azealia Banks has recorded songs for one studio album , one extended play (EP) and two mixtapes , as well as various other releases and guest appearances. Between 2009 and 2011, Banks uploaded several demo tracks on to the internet, including "Barbie Shit", "P-U-S-S-Y" and "Seventeen". These tracks caught the attention of XL Recordings , who subsequently signed a developmental record deal with Banks.[1] In 2011, Banks self-released "212 " as the lead single from her debut EP, 1991 .[2] "212" was a commercial success, peaking within the Top 40 of the regional charts in Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom, later being certified platinum by the latter.[3] The EP also spawned the single "Liquorice ", which failed to mirror the success of its predecessor.[4] In July 2012, Banks released a free nineteen-track mixtape titled Fantasea , which included collaborations with Shystie and Styles P . The mixtape received positive reviews from critics, with The Guardian commenting that it "showcase[s] an artist brimming with ideas".[5]
Throughout 2013, Banks released various stand-alone tracks, including diss tracks to Angel Haze and Jim Jones , a collaboration with Paul Oakenfold titled "Venus", and a promotional single with Pharrell titled "ATM Jam ".[6] In November 2014, after numerous delays, Banks' debut studio album, Broke with Expensive Taste , was released. The album spawned four singles, "Yung Rapunxel ",[7] "Heavy Metal and Reflective ",[8] "Chasing Time "[9] and "Ice Princess ".[10] The singles had limited commercial impact compared to that of "212", with none of them managing to break into any mainstream charts. To promote her album, a music video for the track "Wallace " was released, to widespread acclaim from critics.[11] Banks' overall sound has been described as a mix of hardcore hip hop and indie pop ,[12] while her individual releases have been seen as house rap ,[13] witch hop ,[14] and dance pop [15] records, respectively.
^ "BBC Sound of 2012 – Artist Profile – Azealia Banks" . BBC . January 4, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2015 .
^ Battan, Carrie (February 13, 2012). "Azealia Banks Announces "212" EP, UK Tour" . Pitchfork Media . Retrieved August 19, 2015 .
^ "British single certifications – Azealia Banks ft Lazy Jay – 212" . British Phonographic Industry . July 22, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2015 .
^ "iTunes – Music – Liquorice – Single by Azealia Banks" . iTunes Store (GB) . Archived from the original on October 25, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2015 .
^ Virtue, Graeme (September 30, 2012). "Azealia Banks – review" . The Guardian . Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015 .
^ Battan, Carrie (July 2, 2013). "Listen to the Studio Version of Azealia Banks' "ATM JAM", Featuring Pharrell" . Pitchfork Media . Retrieved July 27, 2015 .
^ Minsker, Evan; Snapes, Laura (March 11, 2013). "Listen: Azealia Banks: 'Yung Rapunxel' " . Pitchfork Media . Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015 .
^ Minsker, Evan (July 27, 2014). "Azealia Banks Shares New Single 'Heavy Metal and Reflective' " . Pitchfork Media . Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015 .
^ Minsker, Evan (September 22, 2014). "Azealia Banks Shares New Track 'Chasing Time' " . Pitchfork Media . Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015 .
^ "ultratop.be – Azealia Banks – Ice Princess" . Ultratop . Retrieved July 12, 2015 .
^ Brandle, Lars (March 12, 2015). "Watch Azealia Banks' Interactive Video for 'Wallace' " . Billboard . Retrieved August 14, 2015 .
^ Lymangrover, Jason. "Azealia Banks – Biography" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015 .
^ Jeffries, David. "1991 – Azealia Banks – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards" . AllMusic . Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015 .
^ Carley, Brennan (November 6, 2014). "Review: Azealia Banks Silences Haters on Debut 'Broke With Expensive Taste' " . Spin . Retrieved September 3, 2015 .
^ Carroll, Jim (November 21, 2014). "Azealia Banks: Broke With Expensive Tastes" . The Irish Times . Archived from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015 .