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Azealia Banks

- BBC - Sound of - 2012

2012

The year's most promising new artists

Azealia Banks

3rd place for Azealia Banks

Azealia Banks has come 3rd in the BBC Sound of 2012 countdown. 20 year-old MC Azealia stormed into the musical consciousness of the masses in early September when the fizzing beats of 212 sparked the attention of blogs and radio stations around the globe who found favour in the lyricist's accelerated rhymes and potty mouth as much as the Lazy Jay sample which underpinned it.


This was not the first we had seen of Azealia however, the Harlem girl graduated from the same Manhattan based LaGuardia High School, which spawned Al Pacino and Nicki Minaj, before trying her hand at acting and musical theatre. She soon diverted her attention to hip hop, popping up as Miss Bank$, with the Ladytron sampling Seventeen attracting the attention of XL Records, before appearances on the 1Love video series and Major Lazer EP Lazers Never Die.


A cover of Interpol's Slow Hands followed before Banks parted ways with XL and started a major label scramble for her signature. Now based in London, NME's coolest person of 2011 is working on her hotly anticipated debut release with Florence + The Machine producer Paul Epworth.


Articles and Features

BBC News Interview

Read the full article 04/01/12

"Foul-mouthed New York rapper (and former stage-school student) Azealia Banks takes third place in the BBC's Sound Of 2012 new music list..."

Pitchfork Rising - Azealia Banks

Read the full article 22/11/11

"The multi-talented Harlem rapper/singer plots her 2012 takeover..."

GQ&A: Azealia Banks

Read the full article 24/11/11

"The 20-year-old Harlem rapper is hip-hop's most talked-about new sensation and has been at the centre of an intense industry buzz ever since the release of her first recording..."

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Upcoming UK live dates

08 June 2012
Crina Bottom Farm, North Yorkshire, UK
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09 June 2012
Platt Fields Park, Manchester, UK
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15 June 2012
Victoria Park, London, UK
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23 June 2012
Hackney Marshes, London, UK
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06 July 2012
Cardigan Bay, Abersoch, UK
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Most Played Tracks

  1. 212 (feat. Lazy Jay)

    Scrobbles 222152 - Listeners 40575

  2. 212

    Scrobbles 263755 - Listeners 23355

  3. Liquorice

    Scrobbles 42695 - Listeners 5557

  4. fuck up the fun

    Scrobbles 27475 - Listeners 4607

  5. l8r

    Scrobbles 22696 - Listeners 3643

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