Azealia Banks: Once Promising, Now Dead In The Water
WHEN 212 crash landed, Azealia Banks looked for all the world like she was going to be the most famous human on the planet. She had it all – a quick tongue, a great look and a tune so huge that the rest of hip hop was going to have to keep tabs on her. And then we waited. And waited some more.
2011 was the time she set the world alight and since then, she’s done nothing. Sure, there have been releases, but they’ve been stodgy, sub-par affairs, blighted by Banks’ insistence on maintaining eye-contact with everyone through the medium of thoroughly pointless beefs.
Usually, beefs kick off between people who are both on the rise. Initially, Azealia was worth listening to, disses included. However, soon enough, she became little more than an internet troll with one decent single behind her and an ever-delayed LP before her. Naturally, beefs usually crop up when someone has something to promote, but in Banks’ case, she’s just angrily shouting at the night sky and hoping people will maintain enough interest until her album comes out.
Alas, the product doesn’t cover the annoyance. Azealia’s beefs feature Angel Haze (resulting in some beef records, which Haze won hands down, thanks to being a superior artist), Perez Hilton (who Banks called “a messy faggot”), the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD, calling the organisation was “fucking complete bullshit”), a feud with producers Baauer and Diplo (Banks calling Baauer to “drown in faggotry”), as well as spats with T.I., Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, The Stone Roses, Iggy Azalea, Kreayshawn, A$AP Rocky, Rita Ora, Shystie, Sam Sparro, Jim Jones, Lil’ Kim, Nicki Minaj, Disclosure, Funkmaster Flex, Lily Allen, Dominique Young Unique, Pharrell, former managers Troy Carter and Dave Holmes, and novelist Amanda Brunker.
That’s over TWENTY beefs compared to one good record.
Of course, the proof of the pudding is in the eating so now, after throwing it down with so many people, she better have the goods to back it up, right? Well, thus far, the output has been weak and to make matters worse, Banks continually announces that her album is being delayed, time and time again.
This week, she confirmed that her debut – Broke With Expensive Taste- will not be released until March. That’s after an initial scheduled release of September 2012.
Talking about the new record, she tweeted: “The label changed their mind. The first single is gonna be Chasing Time and not Soda,” adding: “Obeying my label is the best decision I’ve ever made. My relationship with them is so good right now!”
Banks is planning to tour the UK this year too and it will no doubt be popular. However, she’s piled so much hype and ego on herself, that she’s become a curiosity show. The critics have invariably already written their reviews, thanks to continual unpleasant behaviour and her needless point-scoring.
If the LP gets released in March, we’ll soon find out whether she’s worth the attention. Until then, she’s dangerously close to being a dead MC walking.
Posted: 3rd, January 2014 | In: Reviews Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
