Azealia Amanda Banks (/əˈziːliə/ born May 31, 1991) is an US rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress. Raised in the Harlem neighborhood of NYC, Banks began releasing music through Myspace in 2008, eventually being signed to XL Recordings at age 17. After releasing her debut single 212, she secured a recording contract with Interscope and Polydor, then released her first EP, 1991 (2012) that headed US-Heat chart. Banks' debut album, Broke With Expensive Taste, experienced several delays since its initial announcement before being released in 2014. In 2016, she released the mixtape Slay-Z. Her second studio album, Fantasea II: The Second Wave, is due to be released June 2018. Banks' outspoken views and controversial social media presence have been subject to media scrutiny throughout her career.

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