Azealia Banks

Azealia Banks is a rapper-singer whose undeniable talent on the mic is often overshadowed by her confrontational personal style. Born in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood in 1991, Banks escaped a difficult childhood by pursuing her love of musical theater. She dropped out of high school and sought a recording career. After several stops and starts, she self-released her debut single, ‘212,’ in 2011. Early the next year, she announced that her debut studio album would be titled ‘Broke With Expensive Taste.’ The album, which finally dropped in late 2014, included the singles ‘Yung Rapunxel’ and ‘ATM Jam,’ featuring Pharrell. The outspoken and brash Banks continues to make headlines for her public beefs with several other celebrities, most notably Iggy Azalea and Lady Gaga.

Selected discography: ‘1991’ EP (2012), ‘Fantasea’ mixtape (2012), ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ (2014)
Related artists: Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Beyonce
Further reading: Azealia Banks Talks Fashion + Quitting Rap, Watch Azealia Banks’ ‘No Problems’ Video, Azealia Banks Reveals Party Style Secrets

Best New Artist – 2012 PopCrush Music Awards
Best New Artist – 2012 PopCrush Music Awards
Best New Artist – 2012 PopCrush Music Awards
While some of the artists nominated in our Best New Artist category have been around for a few years, they made their big breaks into the mainstream pop scene in 2012. Sharp-tongued rapper Azealia Banks, spunky British songstress Cher Lloyd, silky smooth crooner Frank Ocean and Jay-Z protégé Rita Ora are some of the entertainers in the running for the 2012 PopCrush Music Award for Best New Artist,
Style Secrets
Style Secrets
Style Secrets
Azealia Banks is stunning without much help, but she knows how to turn it out when she needs to. The '212' rapper revealed her secrets to her high fashion yet streetwise style in a new clip for ASOS. What's her biggest trick?
'Fierce' Video
'Fierce' Video
'Fierce' Video
Azealia Banks may be more famous for her stunning good looks than for her music (which is actually great) -- and she doesn't seem to mind. The New York native struts, writhes and grinds her stuff in her new 'Fierce' video for ASOS.
Azealia Banks Attacks Dolce + Gabbana for Racist Collection
Azealia Banks Attacks Dolce + Gabbana for Racist Collection
Azealia Banks Attacks Dolce + Gabbana for Racist Collection
Azealia Banks has quite a relationship with fashion. Her unique look has earned praise from fashionistas, and over the summer, she was anointed the face of Alexander Wang's T diffusion line. She also had her very own shade of limited edition lipstick from MAC. Now, the outspoken rapper, known for her Twitter tiffs with other artists, has turned her rage to Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana
Azealia Banks Talks Cosmetics + the ‘C-Word’
Azealia Banks Talks Cosmetics + the ‘C-Word’
Azealia Banks Talks Cosmetics + the ‘C-Word’
Azealia Banks is such an 'It' girl. She has her own signature (and limited edition) shade of purple lipstick (dubbed 'Yung Rapunxel') designed by MAC, which is available for a few more days. That is further proof that she has arrived. The volcano-hot rapper recently spoke about her love of cosmetics, the feminist nature of the 'C' word and her gay following. She is cruising towards icon status, th

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