Rap-Up.com || Azealia Banks Signs to Universal Music

Azealia Banks is officially off the market. The much-buzzed-about Harlem rapper-singer has signed to a major label and plans to release her debut album later this spring.

The 20-year-old Banks, who was named one of Rap-Up.com’s 10 Artists to Watch in 2012, inked a deal with Universal Music. “I am now officially signed to Universal Music,” she announced via Twitter.

Kanye West, who was reportedly interested in signing Banks, called her “the future of music” and her video for “212” has become a viral sensation, racking up over 2.5 million views on YouTube. Banks was previously signed to U.K. imprint XL Recordings under the name Mi$$ Banks, but never released an album. She is now eyeing a May or June release for her debut.

“God dealt me a really fucked up hand at birth. Half the shit I’ve been through & successfully gotten through would blow some of your minds,” she tweeted. “God just dealt me a new hand today. I reaaaaaaaaaaallllly good hand.”

The LaGuardia High School alum plans to celebrate the big news. “Wow I just wanna drink a million bottles of champagne and do a million bell kicks right now,” she wrote. “Lol, my mom says first thing I have to buy her with my money is this Sean John comforter set she’s been eyeing at Macy’s. Classic.”

Expect to see more from Banks, who recently shot a video for “Liquorice” directed by Lady Gaga’s stylist Nicola Formichetti and released a collaboration with Machinedrum called “NEEDSUMLUV (SXLND).”

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37 Comments

Aaron
January 18th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
FLOP.

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IKARYSS Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
@Aaron, definitely not.

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Lmfao Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 6:21 pm
@IKARYSS, excatly she will flop lmaoooo

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Peasant Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
@Aaron, i like her face. she’s so pretty..i though she would of sign to goodmusic. def’ looking out for her

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Lucas
January 18th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
I hope she fades. IGGY AZALEA >>>>

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ohhey Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
@Lucas, Please! Iggy worse. At least this Azealia chick is bearable.

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Jerry Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
@ohhey, fucking idiots picking sides already. can she eat first god damn. fucking loser. why cant you just enjoy more than one artist. what is you fucking problem

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DDT Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
@Lucas, Iggy sucks balls. Im sorry to say it. She has a nice rapping voice but she needs to work on her delivery.

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DRB
January 18th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
You can’t be a flop without releasing anything…

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hih8er Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:08 am
@DRB, pineapples bitch! Yeah u can two words Rebecca Black

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DRB
January 18th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
I’m gonna need her to upgrade her weaves once the checks come in though.

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blv
January 18th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Yeah!!!she about to slay this year….i dont like Iggy..TEam Azealia all day!!!!!!

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tyujksgd
January 18th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
I’m not here for her. Iggy Azalea>>>>>>

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Jerry Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
@tyujksgd, Stop commenting over and over again. why did you come here if youre not here for her?

this girl got you shook.

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tyujksgd Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
@Jerry, Stop commenting over and over? …I only remember hitting that send button once, so I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. And I came here because it’s one of the first stories on the Rap Up homepage… When I said I’m not here for her, I meant I’m not a fan, I don’t like her as yet and I feel that Iggy has much more appeal and she’s generally more likable. The hate surrounding this girl is shocking for someone so new in the game and I worry not that she will shit all over my favs but that she’ll go down as a ‘flop’ because she won’t have the public on her side.

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Mama Bear Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 12:58 am
@tyujksgd,

Nicki was in her position years ago. Look at her now

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Teezy Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
@tyujksgd, Then why did you even comment? Youre a negative person! Be glad she got a deal and quit hating!

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IKARYSS
January 18th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
All you people are comparing Iggy and Azealia for no reason. They’re not that similar. Iggy raps, Azealia raps and sings. They don’t have a similar sound either. Plus, there is no need to put artists up against each other

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Tionne
January 18th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Congrats to her the chick is young and she got something going for her.. but ima really need ppl to stop comparing the female emcees yall are feeding into the medias attempt to only have 1 female rapper in the game.. if you don’t like any of them then fine but at least more are coming into the game opening the door for some more chicks to get their shine

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nyfan1
January 18th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
I’ve been listening to Azealia material over the past couple of weeks. The girl is very talented. Her covers of ‘valerie’ and Interpol’s ‘slow hands’ are amazing. She’s got a great singing voice. Looking forward to the album.

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Think about it
January 18th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Your all acting wack as fuck! There is plenty of room for more than one female rapper! #TeamAzealia #TeamIggy #TeamMinaj #TeamMissy and #TeamQueenB! They’re all different so quit comparing them when there are no comparisons! I want to see them all when this year!.. Even though I believe Kim’s time is up, I want to see them all win.. And quit trying to play Iggy! Iggy>Kreashawn Anyday!

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Bryan Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
@Think about it, Agree, nice to finally see some more female rappers…..

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toastTHEMup
January 18th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
this is my chick…i dont give a damn…she is fresh…she is the future…dont hate…no female is doin the way she is…not a nicki…not a iggy…not a missy…if i could compare to anybody it would be M.I.A…but she dont even sound like her either

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toastTHEMup Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 6:58 pm
@toastTHEMup, i would even say she is close to a female Q-Tip..not like Q-Tip…but that same kinda presences

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just sayin Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
@toastTHEMup, yea she does have that q-tip voice and vibe..thinks that why i dig her

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4real Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
@toastTHEMup, co-sign ab MIA

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just sayin
January 18th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
im rooting for her i think she could be refreshing if she uses her talents correct i like her different sound and its nice to see a chocolate girl getting put on that also don’t have to take off her clothes (yet)…we shall see tho
and record deals DOES NOT mean you are on the track to be big. depends on what she does with it

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Breezy
January 18th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
who?

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Chicago
January 18th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
She’s the reason Nicki Minaj is running over to the UK to promote Reloaded because she’s trying to block this girl’s shine. Yeah, I said it! It’s the truth! Everything Nicki Minaj does is not coincidence.

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RDK Reply:
January 18th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
@Chicago,are you dumb you must be sigh.

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lol wut. Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
@Chicago, lol are you crazy? nicki minaj is going to the UK for promo. for her album that comes out febuary 14th …

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bluie day Iveyz Reply:
January 19th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
@Chicago, lol are u dumb dum crazy

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nicegirl
January 18th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Congrats!! She has potential.

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Kimmy
January 18th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Gooooooo grl wrkkkk lol

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A Realist
January 19th, 2012 at 9:35 am
lol she went to LaGuardia.

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bluie day Iveyz
January 19th, 2012 at 10:03 pm
nice music.

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Azealia Banks Signs With New Manager | thefemmemc
April 19th, 2012 at 8:48 am
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