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United States Azealia Banks has established herself as a rapper, singer, and songwriter known for her distinct musical style and impactful social commentary.
After separating from major labels, Banks became an independent artist and started her own independent record label.
Azealia Banks collaborated with Mac Cosmetics to release a new violet lipstick named 'Yung Rapunxel'.
Banks signed a new record deal with Parlophone and Warner Records, though she later quit the label in 2023.
Banks signed a new record deal with Parlophone and Warner Records, though she later quit the label in 2023.
Azealia Banks signed a $1 million deal with Toronto-based imprint eOne Music, stating 'I HAVE A HOME AGAIN… I'm crying.'
Rapper Azealia Banks starred in a campaign video for T by Alexander Wang.
Azealia Banks collaborated with brand consultancy Collins to create an online experience allowing users to control her face in her music video for 'Wallace'.
The Australian dance music label Sweat It Out released 'New Bottega' as a collaboration between Australian house producer Torren Foot and Banks, though Banks later stated she had not authorized the release and criticized the remix.
Azealia Amanda Banks was born on May 31, 1991, in Manhattan, New York City, the youngest of three children. Raised in Harlem by her single mother after her father’s passing when she was two, Banks developed an early interest in musical theater, dancing, acting, and singing. At age 16, she appeared in a production of “City of Angels.” Following unsuccessful auditions for TV shows like TBS, Nickelodeon, and Law & Order, Banks decided to pursue a career as a recording artist, focusing on writing rap and R&B songs as a creative outlet. She did not complete high school.
Banks began her music career under the moniker Miss Bank$, releasing her debut recording, “Gimme a Chance,” online in 2008, accompanied by “Seventeen.” She signed a development deal with XL Recordings at 18 but left due to creative differences. After dropping the ‘Miss Bank$’ moniker and moving to Montreal, she uploaded demo tracks such as “L8R” and an Interpol cover. Returning to New York after her Canadian visa expired, she worked various jobs before releasing her debut single, “212,” in 2011. This track gained significant attention, peaking at No. 14 in the Netherlands, No. 12 in the United Kingdom, and No. 7 in Ireland. It was later released as the lead single from her 2012 EP, “1991.” Banks continued to release music, including her mixtape “Fantasea” in 2012, and signed with Interscope and Polydor Records, eventually becoming an independent artist with her own label, Chaos & Glory Recordings.
Her debut studio album, “Broke with Expensive Taste,” was surprise-released in 2014, showcasing her blend of hip-hop, indie pop, and dance music. She also made her film debut in the musical drama “Love Beats Rhymes” in 2017. Throughout her career, Banks has been recognized for her unique artistry, fast-paced rapping, and influential persona, ‘Yung Rapunxel.’ Her journey reflects a consistent dedication to her artistic vision, navigating major label structures and ultimately establishing an independent presence.
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