| Azealia Banks | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Krystal Pepsy |
| Born | 1991 |
| Origin | Harlem, New York, United States |
| Genres | Hip Hop, Electro House |
| Occupations | Rapper, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2011 – present |
| Labels | Unsigned |
| Website | azealiabanksforever.com |
Azealia Banks is a 20-year-old rapper and lyricist from Harlem, NYC. Music producer Diplo provided the beat for her first single, “Seventeen”, released in 2009. Banks also collaborated with Diplo and Switch on Major Lazer’s EP “Lazers Never Die” in 2010. Banks revealed her versatility and range as a singer when she covered indie heavyweight Interpol’s “Slow Hands” in late 2010. In 2011 she attracted global attention when she topped the NME’s "Cool List" for the year.[1] On January 4, 2012, the BBC announced that Banks had finished in third place of the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll.[1] Her song "212" appeared on NPR Music's 100 Favorite Songs Of 2011.[2]
Contents |
Azealia 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.
Banks’ first recording “Seventeen”, released in 2008, was produced by Diplo and generated a great deal of buzz among industry blogs and publications. In 2009, she earned a record deal with XL Records working with Richard Russell only later to give it up because she didn’t like the direction they were taking with her music. Banks then moved to Montreal where she continued to record on her own. She self-uploaded the track “L8R” and did a cover of Interpol’s “Slow Hands”. In September 2011, Banks made her single "212" available as a free download from her website. The song was released officially on December 6, 2011.[4] "212" was recently ranked as the highest-ever rated song on The Singles Jukebox.[5] In September 2011, the song was chosen as the 'Record of the Week' by Nick Grimshaw on the UK's BBC Radio 1. She also appeared in Pitchfork.com's Top Ten Best Tracks Of 2011 for her song "212". She was listed 4th in This Must Be Pop's Top 10 of 2012.[3] Although Banks is most well known for her blunt rapping style, she actually prefers singing. Before she was signed she had begun working with British producer Paul Epworth on an album. She is planning to release four new tracks before going on her next UK tour in February 2012 opening for Two Door Cinema Club. Her upcoming Paul Epworth produced album is to be released soon after.
It was announced on December 25, 2011 that she will feature on the Scissor Sisters song "Shady Love" under the pseudonym Krystal Pepsy.[4]
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [5] |
UK Indie [6] |
|||
| "212" (featuring Lazy Jay) | 2011 | 175 | 18 | N/A |
| "Liquorice" | — | — | N/A | |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Shady Love" (Scissor Sisters vs. Krystal Pepsy) |
2012 | N/A |
| Title | Year | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Can't Stop Now" (Kicks Like a Mule Remix) |
2010 | Lazers Never Die | Major Lazer |
| Song | Year | Director | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| "L8R" | 2011 | BBGUN | [7] |
| "212" (featuring Lazy Jay) | Vincent Tsang | [8] |
| Year | Organisation | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | BBC Sound of 2012 | Sound of 2012[1] | Third |