Azealia Banks American singer, rapper and songwriter Date of Birth: 31.05.1991 Country: USA

1. Biography of Azealia Banks
2. Early Musical Beginnings
3. Music Career
4. Continued Success

Biography of Azealia Banks

Azealia Banks is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter. She was born in Harlem, and her mother took care of her and her two older sisters after her father passed away from pancreatic cancer when Azealia was only two years old. Despite growing up in Harlem, Azealia did not experience the hardships commonly associated with the area, as her mother earned a good income, providing her with a comfortable childhood.

Early Musical Beginnings

Azealia developed a passion for music at a young age. Initially, she focused on musical theater, where she could showcase her vocal and acting abilities. By the age of 10, Azealia began performing in off-Broadway productions in Lower Manhattan, often playing lead roles. Her success was not solely due to her natural talent; she also received formal training at an arts school. Instead of completing regular high school, Azealia decided to fully dedicate herself to her music career.

Music Career

In February 2009, Azealia recorded and released her debut composition, "Gimme a Chance," under the stage name "Miss Bank$." The track featured a collaboration with DJ Diplo on "Seventeen." Later that year, she signed a contract with XL Records and started working under the guidance of producer Richard Russell. However, their creative differences led to the termination of the contract.

After leaving XL Recordings, Azealia also dropped the stage name "Miss Bank$," opting to perform under her own name. She moved to Montreal and continued her work, initially sharing her demo recordings on YouTube. In September 2011, Azealia released her debut single, "212," on her official website. The song received positive reviews in Europe, reaching the 12th position on the UK charts, 17th in the Netherlands, and 7th in Ireland. Azealia began working on her first album with British producer Paul Epworth, without being signed to any label at the time.

On January 16, 2012, her track "NEEDSUMLUV (SXLND)" was released as a tribute to the late singer Aaliyah on what would have been her 33rd birthday. A week later, her second track, "Bambi," produced by Epworth, was included in the soundtrack of the Paris fashion show "Mugler." In February, Azealia announced that her upcoming album would be titled "Broke with Expensive Taste."

Continued Success

In May 2012, Azealia announced the release of her mixtape, "Fantasea," and released the first track on May 11. The full mixtape was made available on July 11 through her Twitter account. A week later, Azealia launched a new project, the online radio station "Kunt.FM." Her second single, "Esta Noche," was initially planned for release on September 25, 2012, but due to conflicts with the producer, its release was postponed indefinitely. It was later revealed that Azealia was working on various projects with Lady Gaga and Kanye West.

On December 31, 2012, Azealia released her new composition, "BBD," which would be included in her upcoming album.