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

Azealia Banks Performs at Fashion’s Night Out + Launches MAC Lipstick

Rapper Azealia Banks celebrated Fashion's Night Out in New York Thursday (Sept. 6) with the launch of her new lipstick "Yung Rapunxel" for MAC cosmetics. The lipstick, which is named after her alter ego, is a limited-edition product that comes in a deep plum-colored shade of awesomeness.

Trent Fitzgerald

Azealia Bank Confirms She Worked on Song for Lady Gaga

Girl power! Up and coming "It" rapper Azealia Banks has revealed that she has indeed worked on a song for Lady Gaga while denying that she did the same for Gaga's fellow pop diva Rihanna.

Amy Sciarretto

Azealia Banks Embraces the Glamorous Life + Examines Fame in ‘1991’ Video

Azealia Banks has always resembled a young Naomi Campbell, and she milks her drop dead good looks in her '1991' video, an ode as much to her fashion sense as it is to her hometown of NYC.

Jessica Sager

Azealia Banks Creates Limited Edition MAC Lipstick

Azealia Banks is quickly establishing herself as an "It" girl in the fashion and beauty worlds. The rapper, who is the face of Alexander Wang's T line, has teamed up with makeup giant MAC Cosmetics to create a limited edition lipstick, dubbed Yung Rapunxel.

Amy Sciarretto

Azealia Banks to Drop ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ Album in February 2013

With all of these magazine covers you would think that Azealia Banks is releasing her debut album real soon. Sadly, that's not the case. The pop vixen announced on Twitter that she will release her new LP 'Broke with Expensive Taste' in the first quarter of 2013.

Trent Fitzgerald

Azealia Banks Talks Abusive Upbringing in Dazed & Confused Magazine

Azealia Banks maybe pop music's newest "It" girl, but the young superstar had it rough growing up in New York. In her recent cover story for Dazed & Confused magazine, the '212' rapper opens up about her abusive childhood.

Trent Fitzgerald

Azealia Banks Is Looking Fierce on the Cover of Spin Magazine’s ‘Look’ Issue

Well looky here! Azealia Banks looks dazzling on the cover of SPIN magazine's "Look" issue with the teaser line, "The Wild Style of Pop's Fierce New Face."

Trent Fitzgerald

Azealia Banks and Her Red Lips Don’t Miss a Beat in ‘Van Vogue’ Video

Azealia Banks and her glossy red lips are all up in your face in her video for the rapid fire jam 'Van Vogue' from her '1991' EP.

Amy Sciarretto

Azealia Banks Dazed & Confused Magazine Cover Banned Outside of the U.S.

Not only is Azealia Banks a controversial figure in the social-networking community, she also is raising eyebrows overseas with a risqué Dazed & Confused magazine cover. According to the U.K.'s The Telegraph, the mag's August issue has been banned in seven different countries.

Trent Fitzgerald

Azealia Banks Throw Shots at Jim Jones on ‘Succubi’ Dis Song

Azealia Banks is not letting her Twitter spat with Jim Jones died down. The '212' rapper is now throwing lyrical shots at him on her dis track 'Succubi.' The song was release just days after the two Harlem rappers were arguing over the definition of the word "vamp."

Trent Fitzgerald