Azealia Banks | |
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_(53997797453)_(cropped).jpg) Banks in 2024 | |
| Born | Azealia Amanda Banks (1991-05-31)May 31, 1991 (age 34) New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2008–present |
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| Website | www |
Musical artist | |
Azealia Amanda Banks (/əˈziːliə/ə-ZEE-lee-ə; born May 31, 1991) is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Raised in theHarlem neighborhood of New York City, she began releasing music throughMyspace in 2008 before being signed toXL Recordings at age 18. Banks's song "212" was called one of the best songs of 2011 and one of the defining songs of the decade by music publications, includingRolling Stone andBillboard. In addition to her music, Banks' social media presence has received significant publicity.
Banks subsequently signed withInterscope andPolydor Records before separating in 2013. Banks became an independent artist and started her own independent record label, Chaos & Glory Recordings. She later signed toParlophone andWarner Records before quitting her label in 2023. Banks has since released three mixtapes (Fantasea in 2012,Slay-Z in 2016, andYung Rapunxel Pt.II in 2019), a studio album (Broke with Expensive Taste in 2014), and two extended plays (1991 in 2012 andIcy Colors Change in 2018). In 2017, Banks had her film debut in the musical dramaLove Beats Rhymes, portraying the lead character. Banks's works have garnered acclaim from critics, drawing on various sounds includinghouse,rap,pop,electronic music, andavant-garde.
Throughout her career, Banks'social media activity and outspoken views, especially onU.S. politics andrace, as well as disputes with other artists, have generated controversy. Banks has been accused ofhomophobia,transphobia, andxenophobia towards multiple nationalities.Complex noted in 2014 that "she gets more attention for her public feuds than she does for her music".
Azealia Amanda Banks was born on May 31, 1991, in New York City'sManhattan borough; she was the youngest of three.[5][6] Her single mother raised her and her two siblings inHarlem, after their father died ofpancreatic cancer when she was two years old.[7] Following her father's death, Banks says that her mother "became really abusive—physically and verbally. Like she would hit me and my sisters with baseball bats, bang our heads up against walls, and she would always tell me I was ugly. I remember once she threw out all the food in the fridge, just so we wouldn't have anything to eat." Due to escalating violence, Banks moved out of her mother's home at age 14 to live with her older sister.[8]
At a young age, Banks became interested in musical theater, dancing, acting, and singing. At 16, she starred in a production of the comedy-noir musicalCity of Angels, where she was found by an agent who sent her to auditions forTBS,Nickelodeon, andLaw & Order, all without success.[9] At this point Banks decided to end her pursuit of an acting career, citing the stiff competition and overall sense of nonfulfillment.[10] Because of this lack of fulfillment, she began writing rap andR&B songs as a creative outlet. She never finished high school, instead choosing to embark on a career as a recording artist.[5]
Under the moniker Miss Bank$, she released her debut recording, "Gimme a Chance" online on November 9, 2008.[9] The recording was accompanied by the self-produced track "Seventeen", which sampled theLadytron song of thesame name. Banks sent both tracks to American DJDiplo.[11] Later that year, she signed adevelopment deal with record labelXL Recordings and began working with producerRichard Russell in London, leaving the label later that year due to conflicting ideas.[12][13][14]
Richard [Russell] was cool, but as soon as I didn't want to use his beats, it got real sour. He wound up calling me "amateur" and the XL interns started talking shit about me. It just got real fucking funny. I was like, "I didn't come here for a date. I came here to cut some fucking records." I got turned off on the music industry and disappeared for a bit. I went into a bit of a depression.
After leaving XL Recordings, Banks dropped the 'Miss Bank$' moniker and formally became Azealia Banks, which preceded a move toMontreal. Using YouTube as a portal, she uploaded several demo tracks, including "L8R" and a cover of "Slow Hands" byInterpol. After her Canadianvisa expired, Banks returned to New York, where she sold keychains at a Manhattan jazz club and danced at aQueens strip club to make ends meet.[9] "That's when I was really depressed", Banks said. "I don't have a manager, I don't have a boyfriend, I don't have any friends, I don't have any money. Here I am working at the strip club, trying not to say the wrong thing and get into fights with these girls who don't give a shit."[9]
In September 2011, Banks released her debut single, "212", as a free digital download from her website. It was released officially on December 6, 2011, as the lead single from her EP1991.[15][16] The track attained moderate European chart success, peaking at No. 14 in the Netherlands, No. 12 in the United Kingdom and No. 7 in Ireland.[17][18][19]
Though unsigned at the time, Banks began working with British producerPaul Epworth on a debut studio album.[20] It was announced in December 2011 that she would feature on "Shady Love", a track on American bandScissor Sisters' fourth studio album,Magic Hour, although the appearance was uncredited.[21] An accompanying video was released in January 2012 following its radio premiere fromAnnie Mac (BBC Radio 1) on January 4,[22] though the single's release was canceled for unconfirmed reasons. Banks released the track "NEEDSUMLUV (SXLND)" online on January 16, 2012, coinciding with what would have been the 33rd birthday of the late singerAaliyah, who is sampled on the track.[23] A week later saw the emergence of a second track, "Bambi", produced byPaul Epworth and selected as the soundtrack for aThierry Mugler fashion show in Paris.[24]
In May 2012, Banks announced plans to release amixtape—originally titledFantastic—titledFantasea.[25] Preceding its release the tracks "Jumanji",[26] "Aquababe",[27] and "Nathan" (featuring rapperStyles P) were made available online.[28]Fantasea was released via Banks's Twitter account on July 11,[29] and described as "thrilling document of a phenomenally gifted performer in a state of flux".[30]
Banks's first EP,1991, was released in the UK on May 28 and in the US the next day.[31][32] The 4-track EP, which includes212, was not eligible for theUK Albums chart, but the title track charted at No. 79 on theUK Singles chart.[33] It also reached No. 133 on theUS 200,[34] while reaching No. 17 on theUS R&B/Hip-Hop chart,[35] No. 12 on theUS Rap chart,[36] and headin'US Heat chart.[37] In 2013,1991 was certified gold by theAustralian Recording Industry Association.[38]
Banks was scheduled to release her second single, "Esta Noche", fromFantasea, on September 25, 2012, but it was pulled the day of its release due to sampling disputes between Banks and its producer,Munchi.[39] Banks collaborated with both Lady Gaga and Kanye West, but these songs remain unreleased.[40] On December 31, 2012, Banks released "BBD", a collaboration with Sup Doodle andApple Juice Kid.[41]
Early in 2012, Banks revealed that her debut album would be calledBroke with Expensive Taste, and said it would include contributions from musicians includingToko Yasuda,Theophilus London, Kevin Hussein, andAriel Pink.[42][43] She initially said the album's lead single would be a track titled "Miss Amor" and that it would be accompanied by aB-side, "Miss Camaraderie", both produced byLone,[44] but these plans changed: in January 2013 she announced that the first official single from the album would be "Yung Rapunxel", which was released in March 2013 onSoundCloud.[45][46]
In May 2013, Banks announced that the second single fromBroke with Expensive Taste would be "ATM Jam", featuringPharrell.[47] On June 29, she debuted the song at the2013 Glastonbury Festival,[48] with New York City radio stationHot 97 premiering a clean, shortened version of the studio recording three days later.[49] On July 11, the full studio version of "ATM Jam" was released onBBC Radio 1.[50] Banks confirmed in November 2013 that "ATM Jam" would not appear onBroke with Expensive Taste due to negative fan feedback and personal disinterest regarding the song.[51][52]
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Banks announced in mid-July that after a long battle, she had parted ways with Universal Music Group. She reportedly has possession and the rights to the work she released with Interscope.[53] On July 28, 2014, Banks released the official second single fromBroke with Expensive Taste, titled "Heavy Metal and Reflective", on her own label,Azealia Banks Records.
Banks surprise-releasedBroke with Expensive Taste underProspect Park on iTunes on November 7, 2014.[54] The physical album was released on March 3, 2015.[55] In 2015, Banks performed at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and posed nude for the April issue ofPlayboy, shot byEllen von Unwerth.[56] In late 2015, Banks revealed that she was unable to release new music until March 2016,[57] due to the separation from her label, Prospect Park, but as of February 2016 she was officially cleared of her contract and able to release new music.
In February 2016, Banks released the single, "The Big Big Beat", with its official video uploaded to Vevo in April.[58] The song would serve as the lead single to Banks's second mixtape,Slay-Z, which was released on March 24, 2016.[59] In July 2017,Slay-Z was reissued to iTunes, Spotify, and other online music stores under her independent record label, Chaos & Glory Recordings. The re-issue would include theLunice collaboration, "Crown", which was released as the project's sole bonus track.[60]
In early 2017, Banks launched her online store, CheapyXO. The site features artist merchandise from Banks as well as original skin care products.[9] The site also includes "CheapyXO Radio" which links to a playlist curated by Banks herself. Banks would later relaunch the site in 2020 to include her podcast,Cheapy's Two Cents, as well as, "Botantica XO", which is composed of spiritual items.[61]
Banks announced that her next project will beFantasea II: The Second Wave, a follow-up to 2012 mixtapeFantasea.[62] On June 5, 2017, Banks released the song "Chi Chi"[63] intended to be the lead single fromBusiness & Pleasure, however, it was later demoted to a stand-alone single.[64] On June 26, 2017, Banks released the promotional single, "Escapades", from the upcoming albumFantasea II: The Second Wave.[65] After a yearlong hiatus from touring, Banks returned to New York City to embark on aNorth American tour with 20 dates across the U.S. and Canada. The tour began on October 4 in Chicago and concluded on October 31 in San Francisco.[66] Banks also performed across Europe in a handful of shows during 2017.
It was announced in 2015 that Banks would make her acting debut as the main character in theRZA-directed musical drama filmCoco (now known asLove Beats Rhymes).[67] The film was officially released on December 1, 2017.
On January 31, 2018, Banks announced that she had signed a US$1 million record deal withEntertainment One.[68] On March 9, 2018, she released "Movin' On Up" to iTunes and other streaming platforms as the second promotional single fromFantasea II: The Second Wave.[69] The song was previously featured in the 2017 filmLove Beats Rhymes which Banks starred in. In March 2018, she announced that the first official single from her forthcoming album would be "Anna Wintour". It was released on April 6, 2018, and the official music video for the single was released on May 24, 2018.[70][71] On July 6, a second single, "Treasure Island", was released.[72][73] In November, Banks announced on herInstagram account that she would release the Christmas-themed EPIcy Colors Change on December 7. A demo of the title track was released in December 2017. The project was released on December 19 after several delays, with a promotional single, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", released on December 13.[74] Another promotional single fromFantasea II: The Second Wave, "Playhouse", was released exclusively onSoundCloud on April 12, 2019.[75] Banks first teased the track back in 2016 by playing the entire song on the live streaming app,Periscope.[76]
Banks separated fromeOne Music in 2019. Consequently, she announced in May of that year that she had been working on a project calledYung Rapunxel: Pt. II. The title references Banks's debut single offBroke with Expensive Taste, "Yung Rapunxel". It was released through SoundCloud on September 11, 2019, before later being taken down.[77]
On December 16, 2019, Banks released the promotional singles "Count Contessa" and "Pyrex Princess" on various streaming platforms. "Pyrex Princess" is a song fromBusiness & Pleasure, previously released on August 22, 2018, before being taken down. "Count Contessa" was previously published on SoundCloud in 2013.[78] A music video for "Count Contessa", directed by Rony Alwin and shot in Bali, Indonesia, was previously released on December 8, 2015.[79]
Throughout the first quarter of 2020, Banks debuted her podcastCheapy's Two Cents and released multiple promotional singles, including "Slow Hands", anInterpol cover previously uploaded in 2012,[80] as well as "Salchichón" being produced by frequent collaborator Onyx.[81][82] Additionally, Banks released multiple tracks exclusively on her SoundCloud, such as "Diamond Nova", which previously served as the B-side to her 2013 single "ATM Jam", featuring and produced byPharrell,[83] as well as the Spanglish single, "Nirvana".[84]
On June 9, 2020, Banks released the lead single[64] from her as-yet-unreleased albumBusiness & Pleasure titled "Black Madonna" featuring producerLex Luger.[85] On December 23, 2020, she released the promotional single "Mamma Mia" on all platforms, where it was previously released on her SoundCloud account since April 2020.[86][87] Banks released the single "Six Flags" featuring Slim Dollars on January 7, 2021.
On July 7, 2021, Banks released the single "Fuck Him All Night". A perfume of the same name was launched months later.[88] She also announced that she was under new management.[89][90]
Banks began teasing a track titled "New Bottega" in August 2022.[91] On November 9, she announced that she had officially signed toParlophone Records, underWarner Music Group.[92] In January 2023, she posted an Instagram Story stating that she had left Parlophone and announced that she would instead release "New Bottega" independently.[93] After several delays, "New Bottega" was released by the Australian dance music labelSweat It Out on March 10, 2023, as a collaboration between Australian house producerTorren Foot and Banks.[94] However, the following May, Banks said she had not authorized the release and criticized Torren Foot's rework of the song, which she called "a piss poor remix of [her] master track". She also criticized Sweat It Out for marketing "New Bottega" as a dance recording instead of a hip hop song.[95]
Banks has said she admires American recording artistsBeyoncé andAaliyah, calling the former "the queen of everything. She's the most remarkable performer and musician. And this is just my humble opinion, but I just think she's better than everyone else making music right now."[97] Banks is inspired by, and has drawn directly upon, black gay culture, such as the filmParis Is Burning, in her music.[98]
AllMusic characterizes Banks as "a stylish vocalist who combineshardcore hip-hop,indie pop, anddance music".[99] Meanwhile,The Guardian's John Robinson considered Banks's style "an appealing blend ofMissy Elliott anddance-pop".[100] In regards to her musical style, Banks has frequently been noted for the use of profanity in many of her songs, particularly herreclamation of the word "cunt",[101][102][103] examples including her debut single "212", in which she uses the word more than ten times, or other songs such as"Fierce", in which she refers to herself as the "cunt queen".[104][105] Banks attributes this to her upbringing in Harlem, saying, "...I'm from Harlem. I went to art school; I grew up with the cunts. And that term doesn't come from me! People think I invented it, but I didn't. To be cunty is to be feminine and to be, like, aware of yourself. Nobody's fucking with that inner strength and delicateness. The cunts, the gay men, adore that. My friends would say, 'Oh you need to cunt it up! You're being toobanjee.' Banjee means unrefined and rough. You need your cunts: they fix your hair for you and do your makeup. They give you confidence and give you life."[97] She is also known for her often fast-paced rapping, or "flow".[103] In a review of Banks's debutEP1991, Chris Dart ofExclaim! found Banks's rapping speed "remarkable", commenting that she "manages a feat that takes most rappers the better part of a career to master: the perfect marriage of bangin', club-friendly beats and smart, crisply delivered lyrics".[106]
Since writing "212", Banks has adopted an alter ego, "Yung Rapunxel". This alter ego was adapted from Banks calling herselfRapunzel due to a longweave she wore while working atStarbucks as a teenager. Banks discussed this withRolling Stone saying, "Yung Rapunxel is that girl who pisses people off but doesn't really mean to. She's actually a sweetheart! But people are so taken aback that she's so herself; she's not even trying to be unique or different. She literally just lives in her head; she does what she wants to do. So, the lipstick is here for someone who is happy to be themself."[97]
In October 2019, Banks announced that she would perform under the name Azilka (Russian:Азилька) during her tour inpost-Soviet countries.[1]
In February 2021, Banks publicly announced her engagement to American artistRyder Ripps,[107] but the next month Banks announced the end of the relationship.[108] They had made an audiosex tape and sold it as anNFT.[109]
In November 2023, Banks posted anInstagram story in which she accused American record producerDiplo of sexually coercing her during the time they worked together when she was 17 years old. She said that he would pressure her to have sex with him in exchange for music and then refuse to give her the tracks. She also accused him of sexual misconduct towards other women, calling him "someone who needs to becanceled from the [music] industry".[110]
In March 2025, Banks revealed that she had moved toStockholm,Sweden. She had earlier labeled Sweden a racist country, calling for it to be bombed.[111][112]
In July 2016, Banks admitted to lightening her skin due to skin blemishes caused by herbirth control regimen and defended the process ofskin bleaching.[113] In December of the same year, she revealed that she had had amiscarriage and asked her fans for advice and support.[114]
BuzzFeed News wrote Banks "has been frank about her own mental health issues".[115] In 2020, during a plea deal in Manhattan Court to avoid prison time for assault, she was ordered to seek mental health treatment.[116] The British magazinegal-dem reported the same year that she hasbipolar disorder,[117] but she stated in 2025 that it was amisdiagnosis and that she haspremenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) as well aspost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) andattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).[118]
Banks isbisexual. During the few instances where she has discussed her sexuality with the press, she has expressed dissatisfaction with society's labeling of others based onsexual orientation. In an interview withThe New York Times, she said, "I'm not trying to be, like, the bisexual,lesbian rapper. I don't live on other people's terms."[7]
Banks has been accused of both homophobia and transphobia, withOut editors calling her a bully to the LGBT community rather than an ally.[119][120] In 2015, she used homophobic language when she called a flight attendant a "fucking faggot" during what is described as an "in-flight meltdown".[121] Later that month, Banks posted whatBillboard called a "Twitter tirade" against the LGBT community when she tweeted, "LGBT community are like the gay whiteKKK's. Get some pink hoods and unicorns and rally down rodeo drive... If I am to be a part of an LGBT community I want to be in it with people who aren't so weak or so easily moved ya know."[122] In 2020, she said gay men were "appropriating horse culture" by using harnesses,ketamine, and sexual lubricant.[123]
Banks has expressed a broad range of views on trans people over the years. In 2016, she shared that one of her siblings was atrans man and congratulated him on histop surgery.[124] In 2021, she said thattrans women are "just gay boys on hormones using male aggression to force their ways intowomen's spaces",[125] and argued in 2023 that state funding for other healthcare issues should take precedence over funding forgender-affirming surgery, which she compared tocosmetic surgery.[126]
In 2025, she started to express support for trans people and criticizedJ. K. Rowling for her "paranoid"views on trans women.[127] When asked about her own past comments, she denied being transphobic and said that she had been reacting to "activist" rhetoric at the time; she also argued that "a female and a woman are two different concepts". She also mentioned her sibling is atrans man and noted the "pain" and "ostracism" that is caused by transphobia.[124]
In July 2025 Banks sparked criticism for stating that beinggay ortransgender is unnatural, claiming they stemmed fromtrauma responses.[128]
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Banks is known for publicly speaking out on African-American civil rights issues, with a commentator atSplice Today describing her as having "that hot New York temper where she will pop off if you cross her the wrong way".[98][129] In December 2014, she called for over $100 trillion to be paid to African Americans asfinancial reparations for the enslavement of their ancestors, citing U.S. reparations to Native American communities and German reparations to Jewish survivors ofthe Holocaust as precedents.[129][130] On Twitter, she urged young African Americans to take an interest in such issues, adding, "We are the children of the people who perished in the name of modern capitalism and we deserve a piece of that fucking pie".[129][130] She added that reparations could be used to improve educational prospects for black Americans.[129]
Banks has shared many opinions onDonald Trump, with comments on him and his policies dating back to 2015.[131] Her first remark was about his stances onimmigration, expressing on Instagram that she "sort of" was in agreement with Trump, and later claimed on Twitter that the United States was "playing foster parent" for the Mexican government.[132] Banks later endorsed Trump in the 2016 election over Twitter in February of the same year, stating she planned to vote for Trump because he was "evil like America is evil".[133] However,Business Insider suggested that Banks may have made these statements to gain publicity in the lead up to the release of her single "The Big Big Beat".[134] Banks later retracted her endorsement onFacebook in October 2016, due to concerns over his positions on women's issues, stating that "I made a major mistake endorsing toupey-toupee. Women's rights are important and we must protect them",[135][136] and stated that she regretted commenting on the election in the first place.[137][138] Nevertheless, when Trump eventually won, Banks said she was "elated" and congratulated Trump on the result.[139][140]
In April 2022, Banks posted an Instagram story repeatedly chastising Ukraine in the2022 Russian invasion of the country. She claimed, without evidence, that Ukraine's presidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy preventedAfrican exchange students from leaving the country, in reference to Ukrainians authorities who barred Black immigrants from fleeing at the onset of the war.[141][142] She also claimed without evidence that Ukraine was using its embassies in African countries to recruit mercenaries to fight in Ukraine. Banks said that Zelenskyy was trying to provoke a globalnuclear war and urged Ukraine to surrender.[141] In a previous Instagram story from April 1, she had praised Russia's presidentVladimir Putin, saying that she "really fucking love[s]" him and calling him her "favoritesuper villain ever".[143] In July 2025, she mocked Ukrainian marine Oleksandr Kiriienko's emaciated appearance following his Russian captivity, writing on X, "Well, something needed to stop his fat a** from eating."[144][145]
Banks moved from Los Angeles to Miami in 2021.[146] In January 2023, she said that she did so because she had become disillusioned with the politics of Los Angeles and that she felt "way safer" in Florida.[147] She also praised Florida's governorRon DeSantis, whom she called "focused on the basic shit" and "practical about a lot of things".[126][147]
In July 2024, Banks attended a rally in support of Trump's2024 presidential campaign in Florida,[148] despite having previously offered her support forRon DeSantis andhis campaign.[149] On November 4, the day before the election, she posted on X (formerly Twitter) that she would be voting forKamala Harris due to concerns overElon Musk's involvement with Trump; she wrote that Musk "belongs nowhere near American politics".[150][151][152] On November 6, she posted an image on X, purportedly of her ballot with Trump selected, captioned, "I lied, I voted for Trump yesterday."[153] However, after Trump was revealed to have won the election, she revealed that, despite her previous comments, she had actually voted for Trump, posting a photo of her ballot on Twitter.[154]
In April 2025, she expressed regret for voting for Trump, writing: "Ok I think it's time everyone who voted for Trump admit that we made a fucking mess. Like this is an absolute disaster. He's so petty and vindictive rn. Tbh, rightfully so, but not when the wellbeing and livelihood of billions of people – damn near the entire world lay in your hands."[155][156][157]
In June 2025, Banks stated that she is aZionist and supportsIsrael, writing "FuckPalestine" on X. She wrote, "No Black Person Should Support Palestine", citinganti-black racism in the Arab world. She asserted that Israel should only giveAfro-Palestinians asylum, claiming, without proof, that the other Palestinians had carried out a genocide against them.[158] She criticized thetwo-state solution, stating, "No. [Mandatory Palestine] should all be Israel. Palestine cannot support itself without help from other countries, so the people should just leave or become naturalized Israelis."[159] At the end of June, she was named as one of "12 people who made the world freer this year" at the 2025 Sinai Awards organized by the magazineTablet.[160] She had previously denounced "racists" in Israel and stated she would never return to the country in May 2018.[161]
In July 2025, Banks defended Trump over accusations of him appearing in theEpstein files, claiming that "[having sex with] 14 year old girls was really only made a social taboo in the 1990s", and complained about women discussing it saying that such women were having sex with "40 year olds at [age] 15".[162][163][164]
On October 9, 2025, Banks opened her performance at theTel Aviv Amphitheater inIsrael, wearing theIsraeli flag and a star of david necklace.[165]
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On May 11, 2016, Banks posted a series of Tweets thatTime said were "racially-charged" and "inappropriate" towardsZayn Malik; the following day, Banks' Twitter account was suspended.[166] Banks rejoined Twitter in June 2016, only for her account to be deactivated again in 2018, as a result of a dispute withMonét X Change, and then suspended once again in October 2020 following remarks about theCOVID-19 vaccine that were deemed transphobic.[167][168][169] Banks rejoined Twitter in April 2022, following news ofElon Musk's acquisition of the app, where her account still remains active.[170] Banks was then suspended from Instagram in October 2022, but rejoined the platform one month later in November under a different account.[171][172]
Banks has developed a reputation for disputes with several public figures onsocial media,[173] particularly Twitter, withComplex noting that "she gets more attention for her public feuds than she does for her music".[174][175] Banks has come to be associated with her online behavior largely contentious interactions with other famous figures.[176] However, Banks' opinions on certain political issues have also garnered notice from the media and public.[177][178][179]
Banks has been involved in altercations with crew and passengers aboard commercial flights, resulting in her being removed from airliners, and she has accused some foreign airlines of racism against her.[180][181] She also denounced "racists" in Israel and Australia and said she would never return to either country.[161][182]
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In April 2022, Banks posted an Instagram story repeatedly chastising Ukraine in the2022 Russian invasion of the country. She claimed, without evidence, that Ukraine's presidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy preventedAfrican exchange students from leaving the country, in reference to Ukrainians authorities who barred Black immigrants from fleeing at the onset of the war.[183][142] She also claimed without evidence that Ukraine was using its embassies in African countries to recruit mercenaries to fight in Ukraine. Banks said that Zelenskyy was trying to provoke a globalnuclear war and urged Ukraine to surrender.[183] In July 2025, she mocked a Ukrainian marine's emaciated appearance following his Russian captivity, writing on Twitter, "Well, something needed to stop his fat a** from eating."[144][145]
Over her career, Banks has offered multiple opinions onIsrael and its relations internationally, previously declaring in an Instagram comment that canceling her performance in the country would be "totally anti-Semitic".[171] However, after her performance inTel Aviv on May 7, 2018, she denouncedracism that she experienced in the country, and said that she would never visit again.[184] In June 2025, Banks stated that she is aZionist and supportsIsrael, writing "FuckPalestine" on X. She wrote, "No Black Person Should Support Palestine", citinganti-black racism in the Arab world. She asserted that Israel should only giveAfro-Palestinians asylum, claiming, without proof, that the other Palestinians had carried out a genocide against them.[158] She criticized thetwo-state solution, stating, "No. [Mandatory Palestine] should all be Israel. Palestine cannot support itself without help from other countries, so the people should just leave or become naturalized Israelis."[159]
Banks isbisexual, saying on Twitter in response to allegations of discrimination that "All of my friends are gay, I am bisexual".[185] However, Banks has been identified by many as a controversial figure within the community, withOut describing her as a "bully".[179]
Despite identifying as a member of the community, Banks has long expressed views described ashomophobic, dating back to January 2013, whenThe Guardian accused Banks of using "homophobic language" when she used the word "faggot" againstPerez Hilton on Twitter.[186][187] One month later in February 2013, Banks was criticized for using the same word against producerBaauer.[188] Later, in September 2015, a video surfaced on social media of Banks using the slur once more against aDelta flight attendant.[189][190] In response to backlash from the video, Banks likened the LGBT community to theKu Klux Klan on Twitter, calling the community the "GGGG", similar to the abbreviation of the Ku Klux Klan, KKK.[191] Further expanding on the event, she called members of the community "weak" and "easily moved", and lamented being part of the same community as those she criticized.[192] After having used the word against Zayn Malik as well, she offered an apology and vowed not to say the slur again over Facebook.[193]
Regarding thetransgender community, Banks' statements date back to 2016, when she congratulated her transgender brother on his successfulchest reconstruction surgery.[194] However, in 2021 when commenting on Instagram, she stated that transgender women were "gay boys" that had received plastic surgery, and compared gender-affirming surgery tocastration in a move thatPinkNews declared transphobic.[195] However, Banks appeared to change course in 2025 in a dispute withJ. K. Rowling, where Banks criticizedRowling's views on transgender topics.[196]
Banks has long been a supporter ofAfrican-American social issues, and has called forreparations to be made to the descendants of slavery multiple times since 2014.[197] Banks has voiced support for practicingAfrican diaspora religions such asPalo Mayombe andSantería over platforms such asPeriscope and Facebook.[198]
Billboard has described Banks' as being more well known for her "feuds on and off social media with her fellow musicians" than her music.[199] Some of Banks' more notable disputes with celebrities include:
In September 2018,Kanye West posted on Twitter with aMAGA hat, saying that it represented "America becoming whole again".[200] SingerLana Del Rey responded to West over Instagram saying that Trump's presidency was a "loss for the country", and that West's comments were a "loss for the culture".[201] Banks took notice of Del Rey's comments and accused her ofperformative activism on Twitter, bringing up Del Rey's past collaboration withASAP Rocky, who Banks accused of assaulting female fans.[200][202]
Del Rey responded to Banks' comments on Twitter by telling her to "pull up anytime", insinuating that she wanted to fight Banks in a tweet that received more than 300,000 likes.[203][204] Del Rey also accused Banks of sabotaging her own career, stating on Twitter that Banks "[could have] been the greatest female rapper alive".[205] Banks responded by criticizing Del Rey's appearance, which in turn led to Del Rey commenting on Banks' mental state, which Banks replied to by threatening to sue Del Rey.[206]
On May 11, 2016, Banks posted a series of Tweets about British singer Zayn Malik that multiple media outlets called a "racist rant".[207][208] Banks started her series of posts by claiming Malik had taken inspiration from her artistry.[209] Then, in response to a post Malik made that Banks assumed was about her, she replied claiming that she had more artistic merit than Malik; after this, Banks made negative comments about Malik'sSouth Asian heritage, calling him "curry scented", in addition to homophobic and racial slurs in a moveThe Atlantic labeled as "unvarnished racism".[207][210] Later that day,Rinse FM announced that Banks would be dropped from headlining at the Born and Bred Festival as a result of the altercation.[211][212]
Furthermore, Twitter then suspended Banks' account on May 12, 2016, one day after her remarks on Malik.[166][210]
As a reaction to Banks' comments on Malik, actressSkai Jackson, who at the time was fourteen years old, criticized Banks on Twitter, saying that Banks "needs to simmer down a little", which Banks responded to by telling Jackson to "start hermenses" and "stay in a child's place".[213]
On the same day Banks commented on Malik, Banks apologized over Twitter "to anyone who was offended", but clarified that she was not apologizing for making these remarks.[214] However, later in October 2016, Banks made a full apology to Malik over Instagram, saying that she had misconstrued Malik's original post, and called the language that she had used "derogatory".[215][216]
On June 17, 2018, Banks posted to Instagram that she and singerGrimes would be releasing music together, which Grimes later confirmed.[217] Grimes purportedly invited Banks to a house at her andElon Musk shared inLos Angeles to finish the music they collaborated on in August of that same year, where Banks then claimed over Instagram that Grimes had left her alone in the house with Musk "for days".[218] During her stay, Banks took to Twitter to claim that Musk had benefitted fromapartheid, and likened her stay with Musk to the plot ofGet Out.[219]
Supposedly during Banks' stay at Musk's residence, Musk posted on Twitter that he was "considering takingTesla private at $420", referencinga euphemism for marijuana, with Musk also stating that he had acquired the funding necessary toprivatize the company, with Banks alleging that Musk was under the influence of LSD while he posted this.[220] TheSecurities and Exchange Commission then sued Musk, accusing him of being deceitful towards investors, claiming that Musk did not have the funding he claimed to have in his Twitter post.[221] As part of this lawsuit, both Banks and Grimes were subpoenaed and demanded to preserve evidence related to the trial.[222]
In 2019, Banks posted screenshots from a series of text conversations from as early as August of the previous year over Instagram.[223] The conversations largely took an inflammatory tone, with Grimes commenting on Banks' weight, and Banks making remarks about Grimes' appearance, in addition to claiming she smelled "like a roll ofnickels".[224][225]
In late 2024, Banks replied to a post Grimes made on Twitter insinuating that Musk had left her, causing the end of their relationship, which Grimes then denied.[226] Grimes then complimented Banks, and later clarified in another post that the metallic scent Banks complained of was caused byshell casings.[227]
In February 2025, Banks criticized an interview Grimes gave withTime, telling her to return toCanada, in addition to making comments about her appearance.[228]
In October 2016, Banks filed a police report against actorRussell Crowe, claiming that he choked and spat at her before proceeding to call herthe n word during a party in his hotel suite. However, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office dropped the case in December.RZA supported Banks' claims the following year during an interview withThe Breakfast Club, but also condemned her alleged "obnoxious and erratic" behavior.[229][230] Crowe in turn claimed that he removed Banks from the premises because she threatened to physically assault other attendees.[231]
In December 2016, Banks posted a series of videos onInstagram detailing her cleanup of a closet in her apartment where she claimed to have been practicingwitchcraft. She admitted to practicing "three years worth ofbrujeria". The video appeared to show dried blood, feathers, and thecarrion of dead chickens.[232] In January 2021, she received criticism after posting a video on Instagram of her exhuming the remains of her dead pet cat, Lucifer, and collecting some of his bones. She later said in an interview that she did not eat the cat and exhumed it fortaxidermizing purposes.[233][234][235]
In late 2024, Banks shared a post on Twitter criticizing the appearance of singerCharli XCX, and in response,The 1975 frontmanMatty Healy criticized Banks and accused her of jealousy.[236] Banks then went on to further criticize the looks of both Healy and his fiancéeGabbriette.[237] In response, Healy shared a post appearing to threaten to attack Banks, which he later deleted and apologized for.[238] Nonetheless, Banks in another post alluded to taking legal action against Healy.[239] A legal representative for Banks then sent a cease-and-desist letter to Healy, which Banks posted to Twitter, but was later removed.[240][241]
In July 2025, Banks posted screenshots on Twitter of multiplenude photos thatConor McGregor appeared to have sent Banks, one of which was sent with the caption "Don't be a rat cos all rats get caught", which Banks interpreted as a threat.[242] Banks then alluded to McGregor's bid for the Irish presidency, before posting another screenshot where it appeared Banks no longer had access to the photos.[243]
In April 2016, Banks shared a series of posts on Twitter thatPeople described as indicating that politicianSarah Palin should besexually assaulted, ostensibly as a result of asatirical article claiming Palin was pro-slavery.[244][245][246] Palin condemned these comments on Facebook, and accused Banks of not standing against racism and misogyny.[247] Palin then said she planned on taking legal action against Banks for these comments.[244] Banks then posted an apology to Palin onTumblr in which she claimed not to call for Palin's assault.[248]
Banks shared a post on Twitter in 2025 suggesting thatJ.K. Rowling's husband left her for a transgender woman, which is why Rowling holdscertain views on transgender topics.[196][249] Rowling then mentioned that she was abused by her first husband in a post responding to Banks, which Banks said she had not seen because she had blocked Rowling.[250]
Banks has also gained the attention of the media and general public for criticizing certain countries' governments or people on social media platforms, including:
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In 2022, Banks announced on Instagram that she would be canceling a show inBrisbane hours before she was set to perform because of a past experience in the city where a bottle was thrown at her on stage.[251] Banks then announced she would not be touring Australia again.[252] Banks then went on to criticizeracism in the country and the strength of theAustralian dollar, in addition to saying the country made her "utterly miserable".[253]
In 2023, the track "New Bottega" was released by Australian producerTorren Foot featuring Banks, who went on to criticize the version of the song that was released on Instagram, comparing it to the track's original mix.[254] After this, Banks went on to criticizeAustralia's music industry, calling the country "unimportant" andits culture "trash".[255]
In early 2019, Banks shared a post on Instagram criticizingAer Lingus, claiming the airline had banned her.[256] Banks also went on to call Irish women "ugly", additionally likening them toOompa-Loompas in another Instagram story, before calling herself the "queen of Ireland".[257][258]
Later that week, Banks posted multiple comments on Instagram calling Irish people "inbred", as well as appearing to make light of theGreat Famine.[259][260] Responding to these comments, a barrister suggested that these could breach the United Kingdom'sCommunications Act 2003, and that Banks could be subject to legal action upon landing in the country, where she was slated to perform next. Banks then replied accusing the barrister of racism.[261]
Banks once again criticized Aer Lingus in 2025 on Twitter, reiterating her comments on the appearances of the airline's staff, this time likening them to characters fromJames and the Giant Peach and claiming that the airline "needs help".[262][263]
Banks criticized racism that she experienced while she was in Israel for a show inTel Aviv in 2018 on Twitter.[184] Banks described negative exchanges with Israeli vendors and passengers onEl Al, as well as claiming to have experienced racial profiling atBen Gurion Airport, vowing "never to return" to Israel.[264][265] Banks then shared another post on Twitter the Jewish people had too much influence in the entertainment industry.[266]
In the lead up to her concert in Tel Aviv, Banks had condemned the Palestinian-ledBDS Movement and labelled it anti-Semitic over Instagram.[171] After the concert, Banks pushed back against claims ofapartheid in Israel on Twitter, citing supposed diversity in her audience.[184]
In the wake of theIsrael-Hamas war andGaza genocide, Banks appeared to double down on these sentiments on Twitter, declaring her support forZionism, and claiming that "no black person should support Palestine", accusingArabs of anti-Black racism.[267] Banks also accused Palestinians in theGaza Strip of carrying outgenocide againstAfro-Palestinians, a claim she made without providing evidence.[268] In another post, Banksclaimed Palestine was not a country, writing that Palestinian territory "should all be Israel".[269]
Later that month, Banks announced on Twitter that she would be withdrawing from the lineup of twomusic festivals in the United Kingdom, Maiden Voyage andBoomtown.[270] Banks had claimed that the two festivals were pressuring her into expressingpro-Palestinian views, which she described asextortion.[271] After which, a representative from Boomtown refuted this in a comment to theEvening Standard, saying that the festival does not "dictate the personal views and beliefs of performers".[272]
In 2019, Banks accused the staff ofSAS of profiling her on a flight leaving fromStockholm over Instagram, leading to Banks deeming Swedish people as racist.[273] Soon after this incident, Banks then shared another post calling for Sweden to be bombed.[274]
In 2025, Banks announced that she was moving to Stockholm to collaborate with Swedish DJKornél Kovács [sv].[275][276] However, after moving Banks then criticized the city's social scene and nightlife over multiple tweets.[277]
Banks caused controversy in October 2025 by making derogatory comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina in an interview and on social media.
In a video clip that circulated online, when asked if she would recommend the location she was in for a visit, Banks responded: "Yeah, I mean, we're not in f**cking Bosnia. I mean, this is not Palestine".
Following social media backlash and the clip going viral, a user compiled a list of her "100 best arguments," which included Bosnia. Banks then replied to this post with another dismissive comment, asking, "Who gave Bosnia the internet?".[278]
Over the years, Banks has gained publicity for her public conflicts.[279][199] However, her actions on social media have drawn criticism from organizations such asPETA,GLAAD, and theNational Black Justice Coalition, the latter of which publicly called for Banks to be banned from Instagram.[280][281][282] In addition to having been banned from social media platforms multiple times, Banks has had performances canceled as a result of statements made online.[211]
After having her performance at a music festival canceled in 2016 over her remarks about Zayn Malik, Banks was then removed from the lineup of the Milkshake Festival in 2025 due to backlash over Banks' opinions on the LGBTQ community.[283][284] When Swedish singerLoreen was added to the lineup after Banks' cancelation, Banks then insulted her and accused her of beinganti-Semitic.[285]
Banks has also sparked, and contributed to, discussions aboutcancel culture, given that Banks is seen to have retained some level of notability despite potentially problematic behavior, and Banks herself said toRolling Stone that she does not think she has been "canceled".[286][287] However,Them has said that Banks may be more prone to cancelation because of her status as a queer Black woman.[288]
Banks has been defended to various degrees by multiple outlets, withCrack labelling her "misunderstood", andDazed pointing to her struggles withbipolar disorder, with both publications tying in the struggles many Black artists face in the music industry.[289][290] In June 2025, she won a Sinai Award from online magazineTablet for being one of the "12 people who made the world freer" that year, as the "originaluncancellable rapper".[291]Spiked has also praised Banks for her opinions on Zionism and Israel.[292]
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The American Ruling Class | Empire Falls Singer and Dancer | Feature film |
| 2017 | Love Beats Rhymes | Coco | Feature film |
| 2020 | The Azealia Banks Cooking Show | Herself | Short film |
Headlining
Featured act
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | BBC | Sound of 2012[12] | Herself | Third |
| Rober Awards Music Poll | Most Promising New Artist | Won | ||
| Best Dance Anthem | "212" | |||
| 2012 | NME Awards | Dancefloor Anthem | Nominated | |
| Philip Hall Radar Award[12] | Herself | Won | ||
| mtvU Woodie Awards | The Breaking Woodie | Nominated | ||
| O Music Awards | Best Web-Born Artist[296] | |||
| Urban Music Awards | Best Single[297][298] | "212" | Won | |
| Best International Artist[297] | Herself | Nominated | ||
| Artist of the Year[297] | ||||
| European Festival Awards | Newcomer of the Year[299] | |||
| MOBO Awards | Best International Act[300] | |||
| 2013 | NME Awards | Villain of the Year[301] | ||
| UK Music Video Awards | Best Urban Video – Budget | "Atlantis" | ||
| BET Awards | Best Female Hip Hop Artist[302] | Herself | ||
| Best New Artist[302] | ||||
| International Dance Music Awards | Best Rap/Hip-Hop Dance Track | "212" | ||
| 2014 | Billboard.com Mid-Year Music Awards | Most Memorable Feud | Herself vsT.I. | |
| Rober Awards Music Poll | Best R&B | Herself | ||
| 2015 | BET Awards | Best Female Hip Hop Artist[303] | ||
| International Dance Music Awards | Best Rap/Hip-Hop/Trap Dance Track | "Heavy Metal and Reflective" | ||
| A2IM Libera Awards | Groundbreaking Album of the Year | Broke with Expensive Taste | ||
| Rober Awards Music Poll | Floorfiller of the Year | "Trap Queen" (withFetty Wap) (Remix withQuavo &Gucci Mane) | ||
| 2016 | Music Society Awards | Hip-Hop Recording of the Year | "Ice Princess" | |
| Hip-Hop Album of the Year | Broke with Expensive Taste | |||
| 2017 | Slay-Z | |||
| Best Urban Album | ||||
| Best Hip-Hop Recording of the Year | "The Big Big Beat" | |||
| Artist of the Year, Female - Hip-Hop | Herself |
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| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
