I’m the New Shit, Boo, Young Rapunzel, Who Are You Bitch, New Lunch?
Freaking Azealia Banks, Yes
Please!
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| Photos taken from Last.fm * |
I cannot
remember the first time I heard people talking about Azealia Banks. I feel like
she crept up on me and hypnotized me with her “why you do that do that do do that that that?” rapid, sharp lyrics.
To be quite honest, I often think of my circle of amazing friends as being made
up of a collage of misfits. Too cool, smart, weird, unique, or bold for the
average populace, that being said, I heard
people talking about her, but it took me a while to sit down and look her up
for myself. But the first time I watched Banks kill it, in some sort of low budget
masterpiece posted up on YouTube, I was totally, unequivocally, hooked.
Obsessed even. (Not all of her videos seem questionably low-budget, however, I find those films with debatable quality to add to her appeal. I imagine Banks is highly involved in the development of her image, with her
own direction and styling, therefore freaking
wonderfully perfect.)
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| I love how the cowboy hat keep making an appearance. Watch Luxury below. Oh and those gloves are bad! |
She has, in my opinion, the ultimate potential to be everything ever needed in a black, female, hip-hop icon. I mean, she’s political, or gasp, has an opinion! She’s young, energetic, headstrong, and hopefully uninvolved in the bullshit politics of the record industry. Her style is courageous, distinctive, and fresh. Further, she seems to be happy to do her own thing. Mixing a sort of low budget DIY aesthetic with gay-glam, hood, high-fashion and girly charm and turning it into a witty mash that is uniquely her own. I am so excited by what she has to offer. It is refreshing from the used-up, sold-out, high gloss options we currently have in the main stream; that frankly are so predictable and laughable even, they belong on Saturday Night Live.
She was recently the cover story for Spin Magazine, where she is quoted saying,
“I feel like the rest of the music world has moved with culture, […] the hip-hop world is moving, too, but it’s moving in parts. The core of it is still stuck, you know?”
Ah, yeah, I do. And based on conversations I've had, and read in the blog-sphere and chat forms, anyone mildly concerned with social issues with a love for music does too. It did not escape my notice that Spin categorizes her as a “Pop” artist despite the fact that if she had some blonde or platinum tracks, was featured as some gross, rap man’s video bozo, and of course, less clothes (while also gyrating, how could I forget?) she’d be and emerging Hip-Hop, “Barbie-princess” candidate. (Like we really need more of those.) So maybe it is best to forgo the comparisons, because Banks really is in her own category. But to be frank, if Banks has to fall into the class of “Pop” in order to have commercial success while not fading into some overdone category, I think we’ll all happily take it. I find her to be a desperately needed addition to our popular culture’s creative portfolio. Long live Azealia Banks!
"Liquorice"
"1991"
"Atlantis"
"Luxury"
Links:
* Last.fm-You can listen to music and watch videos here.
Spin Magazine's Story
Azaelia Bank's Offical Site
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I was reluctant to like this artist at first, mostly because I don't like the American flag (in Liquorice) because I think flags are silly. Unless it's the white flag and you're surrendering to me. Anyway, I warmed up to her once she squeezed the hot dog because it was sexual but also humorous. The lyrics are definitely sexual, but I also find humor in them because she is so blatant. She is bold, and that shows confidence. I love the Atlantis video. It's bizarre and colorful, and insane. And I love it. She's fun and also badass in her boldness.
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