Ice Princess (song)

"Ice Princess"
Song by Azealia Banks from the album Broke with Expensive Taste
Released November 6, 2014
Format Digital download
Recorded 2012
Genre Trap[1][2]
Length 3:43
Label
Writer
Producer AraabMuzik
Broke with Expensive Taste track listing

"BBD"
(8)		 "Ice Princess"
(9)		 "Yung Rapunxel"
(10)

"Ice Princess" is a song recorded by American rapper Azealia Banks for her debut studio album Broke with Expensive Taste (2014). Production of the song was handled by AraabMuzik, with writing coming from Banks, Kevin James, and Jonathan Harris. Musically, "Ice Princess" is a slow tempo song that contains sparse beats, minimal instrumentation, and a booming, static bass. The song contains a sample of In the Air, a song by progressive house DJ Morgan Page. Lyrically, the song sees Banks bragging about her wealth, with Jordan Sargent of Pitchfork Media describing the song as Banks "spitting knotty rhymes about her diamonds"[3]

"Ice Princess" garnered praise from contemporary music critics. To promote the song, an accompanying music video for the song was released on March 31, 2015. It features Banks ruling over a kindom of ice warriors, soaring through the sky destroying anything colorful, turning everything into ice. Despite not being released as a single, "Ice Princess" peaked at number 2 on the US #Trending140 chart, largely due to the songs video release.[4] Banks has since performed the song on her "Broke with Expensive Taste World Tour".

Background

In 2011, it was reported that Banks was working on a studio album with British producer Paul Epworth despite not having signed to a particular record label at that time.[5] In January 2012, Banks signed a record deal with Interscope and Polydor Records to work on her album, and a month later, she announced the title of the album—Broke with Expensive Taste.[6] Approximately a year later, she handed a complete album in to the labels. Banks initially thought that the album would receive favorable reception from the labels; however, the representatives told Banks that she had not recorded a "hit" single for the album. Ultimately, Banks ended the record deal with Interscope/Polydor in July 2014. She later approached Jeff Kwatinetz and signed a contract with his company, Prospect Park.[7] Banks eventually released the album on November 7, 2014.[8]

Composition

"Ice Princess" is a song that runs for three minutes and forty-three seconds. The production consists of a chilled-out, yet booming beat, with blizzard sound effects in the songs intro.

Critical reception

"Ice Princess" gained highly positive reviews. Jordan Sargent of Pitchfork Media described the song as "Banks at her best: doing something unexpected simply because she can."[3] While Brennan Carley of Spin described the song as having the potential to "be the single that finally breaks the Harlem MC on the radio, and it's about time."[9] Kate Beaudoin from Mic commented on the song, praising Banks' flow "It's a captivating video and an even better song. Her flow is unbelievable: "You broke honey, and they call me Banks cause I can loan money / Colder than December, my diamonds on Anna Wintour / So that's fly ice in my life / I don't see no limits so I strive and I shine twice," Banks raps. Anyone who can fit Anna Wintour into a rhyme about winter automatically gets points."[10]

Music video

The video starts with the camera panning through a cloud-filled sky. As the clouds clear, we see Banks sitting on an ice throne, with a huge serpent circling her throne. As the camera pans closer still, we see Banks has snakes for hair, in the style of Greek mythology's Medusa. We then witness Banks walking through her army of ice warriors, as they dance around her in sync with one-another. As the chorus hits, colorful, shimmering objects are seen floating in the sky. As the second verse starts, Banks is seen flying on the serpent previously seen circling her throne, as she disintegrates the colorful flying objects with her magical powers. The video ends with Banks' alternate reality being overflown with color, which ultimately sees the demise of the ice princess.[11]

Banks initially caused controversy with promotion for the song, posting pictures of her in makeup for the video, claiming she was in whiteface, which some found to be offensive. However, she ultimately revealed she was trolling the media, and the makeup was not finished, and was for her music video.[12] Reviews of the music video were highly positive, with Kate Beaudoin from Mic calling the video "Epic".[10]

Live performances

On April 10, 2015, Banks performed "Ice Princess" at the Coachella Festival.[13]

Credits and personnel

Personnel

Credits adapted from Broke with Expensive Taste liner notes.

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Billboard Twitter Top Tracks[14] 41

References

  1. ↑ Carley, Brennan (November 6, 2014). "Azealia Banks Silences Haters on Debut ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’". Spin. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  2. ↑ Fitzgerald, Colin (November 10, 2014). "Azealia Banks: Broke with Expensive Taste". PopMatters. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Azealia Banks - 'Ice Princess'". Pitchfork. November 12, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Billboard on Twitter". Twitter. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  5. ↑ Cragg, Michael (December 19, 2011). "New music: Azealia Banks – Liquorice". The Guardian. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (February 14, 2012). "Who Is Azealia Banks?". Complex. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  7. ↑ Guiducci, Mark (November 19, 2014). "An Interview with Azealia Banks". Vogue. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Broke with Expensive Taste – Album". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ Carley, Brennan (November 6, 2014). "Review: Azealia Banks Silences Haters on Debut 'Broke With Expensive Taste'". Spin. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Azealia Banks Just Released an Epic New Music Video For 'Ice Princess'". Mic. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Azealia Banks - Ice Princess". YouTube. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Azealia Banks Stirs Controversy With '#whiteface' 'Ice Princess' Posts". Yahoo!. February 3, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  13. ↑ "No More Drama: Azealia Banks Electrifies at Coachella". Billboard. April 10, 2015.
  14. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/280396/Azealia%20Banks/chart?f=2047

External links