Azealia Banks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Azealia Banks
Banks performing in 2018
Born	Azealia Amanda Banks (1991-05-31) May 31, 1991 (age 34) New York City, U.S.
Other names	Miss Bank$ Азилька
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter actress
Years active	2008–present
Works	Discography songs videography
Musical career
Genres	Hip hop hip house pop rap
Labels	Parlophone Prospect Park E1 Chaos & Glory Interscope Polydor XL

Azealia Amanda Banks (born May 31, 1991) is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. She grew up in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Banks started sharing her music on Myspace in 2008. When she was 18, she signed a deal with XL Recordings.

Her song "212" became a huge hit. Music magazines like Rolling Stone and Billboard called it one of the best songs of 2011 and of the whole decade. Besides her music, Banks is also known for her active presence on social media.

Over the years, Banks has worked with different record labels, including Interscope and Polydor Records. She later became an independent artist and started her own record label, Chaos & Glory Recordings. She has released a studio album, Broke with Expensive Taste (2014), three mixtapes, and two extended plays (EPs). In 2017, she starred in her first movie, the musical drama Love Beats Rhymes. Critics have praised her music, which mixes sounds from house, rap, pop, and electronic music.

Life and Career

Early Life and First Songs

Azealia Amanda Banks was born in Manhattan, New York City, on May 31, 1991. She was the youngest of three children. Her father passed away from cancer when she was two years old. After his death, Banks had a difficult childhood and moved in with her older sister when she was 14.

From a young age, Banks was interested in acting, dancing, and singing. At 16, she acted in a musical called City of Angels. An agent noticed her and sent her to auditions for TV shows, but she didn't get any parts. She decided to stop pursuing acting and started writing rap and R&B songs. She left high school to focus on her music career.

Using the name Miss Bank$, she released her first song, "Gimme a Chance," online in 2008. She also sent her music to the American DJ Diplo. Soon after, she signed a deal with the record label XL Recordings and moved to London to work with producer Richard Russell. She left the label a short time later because they had different creative ideas.

2011–2012: Breakthrough with 1991 and Fantasea

After leaving XL Recordings, she started going by her real name, Azealia Banks. She moved to Montreal, Canada, for a while and uploaded demo songs to YouTube. When her visa expired, she returned to New York. She worked different jobs to support herself, including selling keychains and dancing.

In September 2011, Banks released her debut single, "212", for free on her website. It was officially released in December and became the lead single from her EP 1991. The song was a success in Europe, reaching the top 20 in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

Banks performing at Art Basel in Miami Beach, 2012

Even without a record label, Banks started working with producer Paul Epworth on her first album. In January 2012, she was featured on the song "Shady Love" by the band Scissor Sisters. That same month, she released two more tracks online: "NEEDSUMLUV (SXLND)" and "Bambi."

In May 2012, Banks announced she would release a mixtape called Fantasea. It came out on her Twitter account on July 11. Her first EP, 1991, was released in May 2012. It performed well on several U.S. charts, including the R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts. In 2013, the EP was certified gold in Australia.

2013–2016: Broke with Expensive Taste and Slay-Z

Banks performing at Life Ball in 2013

Banks announced that her first album would be called Broke with Expensive Taste. The first single from the album, "Yung Rapunxel", was released in March 2013. The next single was supposed to be "ATM Jam" featuring Pharrell, but it was later removed from the album's tracklist.

Banks performing at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival

In July 2014, Banks announced she had left her record label, Universal Music Group. She started her own label, Azealia Banks Records, and released the single "Heavy Metal and Reflective".

On November 7, 2014, Banks surprise-released her album Broke with Expensive Taste on iTunes. The physical CD was released in March 2015. That year, she performed at the famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

In February 2016, she released the single "The Big Big Beat". This was the lead single for her second mixtape, Slay-Z, which was released for free on March 24, 2016. A year later, Slay-Z was re-released on streaming services with a new bonus track.

2017–Present: Acting and New Music

Banks performing at the O2 Brixton Academy in September 2024

In 2017, Banks launched an online store called CheapyXO, where she sells merchandise and skincare products. She also announced her next project would be a mixtape called Fantasea II: The Second Wave. She released the promotional single "Escapades" from the project. In the fall of 2017, she went on a North American tour.

Banks made her movie debut in the film Love Beats Rhymes, which was released on December 1, 2017. She played the main character.

In 2018, Banks signed a record deal with Entertainment One. She released the singles "Anna Wintour" and "Treasure Island." In December, she released a Christmas-themed EP called Icy Colors Change.

Banks left eOne Music in 2019 and released a project called Yung Rapunxel: Pt. II on SoundCloud. In 2020, she released several more songs, including "Black Madonna".

In 2023, she released the song "New Bottega" with Australian producer Torren Foot. In March 2025, Banks revealed that she had moved to Stockholm, Sweden.

Artistry

Musical Style and Influences

Banks has said she admires artists like Beyoncé and Aaliyah. She has called Beyoncé "the queen of everything." Her music often draws inspiration from black gay culture, especially the 1990 film Paris Is Burning.

Music experts describe Banks's sound as a mix of hardcore hip-hop, indie pop, and dance music. She is known for her fast-paced rapping style, also known as "flow". A reviewer for Exclaim! magazine praised her rapping speed, saying she perfectly combines high-energy beats with smart lyrics.

Yung Rapunxel Alter Ego

Banks has an alter ego named "Yung Rapunxel." The name comes from a time when she wore a long hair weave and called herself Rapunzel.

She told Rolling Stone magazine that Yung Rapunxel is a character who is a sweetheart but is misunderstood because she is so true to herself. Banks explained, "She literally just lives in her head; she does what she wants to do."

Personal Life

Health and Wellness

Banks has been open about her experiences with mental health. In 2020, she was ordered to attend mental health treatment as part of a court case. She has shared that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but later said in 2025 that this was incorrect. She stated that she has premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Political Views

Banks is known for speaking her mind on social and political issues, especially those related to African-American civil rights. In 2014, she spoke about the idea of reparations for slavery.

She has shared her support for different political figures over the years. In 2016, she first endorsed Donald Trump for president, but later retracted her support before he was elected. After he won, she posted messages of support for him. In 2021, she moved to Florida and praised its governor, Ron DeSantis.

During the 2024 presidential election, she first said she would vote for Kamala Harris but later posted that she had voted for Trump. In 2025, she expressed regret for her vote. In June 2025, Banks stated her support for Israel.

Discography

Studio albums

• Broke with Expensive Taste (2014)

Filmography

Tours

Headlining

• Mermaid Ball (2012–13)
• Broke with Expensive Taste Tour (2014–15)
• Azealia Banks: North American Tour (2017)
• Back to the Union Jack (2024)

Featured act

• ShockWaves NME Awards Tour (2012)

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Azealia Banks para niños