Rap-Up.com || Azealia Banks Flaunts Sassy Style in PAPER Magazine

Azealia Banks has ignited the Internet with her music and feisty persona, and now she’s lighting up the cover of PAPER magazine’s Music Issue, on sale now. The 21-year-old Harlem native shows off her quirky personality and style, posing with a seashell bikini, gold Mickey Mouse purse, and a fork in her hair, in the colorful images captured by Emily Shur. In the interview, she discusses her debut album Broke with Expensive Taste, making the move to Los Angeles, and grappling with her newfound success.

On the inspiration behind “212”: “Nobody was listening to my music. I had been dropped from [the English record label] XL. My manager dropped me. My boyfriend left me. I was starting to accept that my career was never gonna happen. So the song was just me, like, ‘F**k y’all. Y’all not gonna help me? I’m gonna get it myself.’”

On why she chose to live in L.A.: “For me there’s three options of where to live: L.A., London and New York. London’s too expensive and New York’s too exciting: too many parties, too many of my friends. If I wanna make this my life, I have to live somewhere I can work, somewhere I can focus. My album will not come out in September if I live in New York.”

On life in the spotlight: “The music industry is like a machine. It’s always going, and this new generation of artists—me, A$AP Rocky, Rita Ora—we’re the fuel that’s keeping it going. And once you get in that machine you’ve gotta run with it. There’s a crazy inertia that’s been going for years and years and years, and it’s not gonna stop for you, so you’ve gotta keep fu**ing working. The minute you stop working, that’s when you get stuck in the gears. And that’s when it grinds you up and spits you out.”

On the advice she received from Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine: “The music is what’s important. These people are not gonna wanna talk to you if you don’t have music; they’re not gonna be interested. And your star is not always gonna be as bright. So you really have to seize the day.”

Photo credit: Emily Shur/Paper

Posted in Azealia Banks, Photos | Permalink

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19 Comments

Alex
June 19th, 2012 at 7:37 am
She’s beautiful! She’s is blowing up before our eyes. People might not believe it but she is about to be the next big thing!

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My name is oo Reply:
June 19th, 2012 at 7:58 am
@Alex, we’ll see .

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Pure Reply:
June 19th, 2012 at 8:20 am
@Alex,
TRUTH.

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CarlosBonegro
June 19th, 2012 at 8:20 am
shes the best female emcee since missy

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Muah
June 19th, 2012 at 8:47 am
I love how she is a rapper that actually has talent!!!!! Plus she looks great!

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Trace
June 19th, 2012 at 8:52 am
And then people have to nerve to say Rap-Up is forcing Rita Ora down our throats.

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Rapverse
June 19th, 2012 at 8:56 am
Miss Ratty lace front. Ugly chick.

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xxx
June 19th, 2012 at 10:20 am
love her. just afraid that as soon as she gets more mainstream she’ll start working with all those high-profile producers and lose her sound.

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Greg F Reply:
June 19th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
@xxx, I feel the same ! She better not though .. I know I didn’t stan for this girl just to have her music turn to trash :O

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TheCudder
June 19th, 2012 at 10:23 am
beautiful
Azealia,i love u

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FckYouSaidBXTCH
June 19th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
GIRL. Please Hang It Up & Close Yo Stank Azz Legs !

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Tango P.i
June 19th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
in the words of Al G “Kepp it real”….. side eye

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Redchainsaw
June 19th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Did anyone else call the number posted in the front page? LOL

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JAMEX Reply:
June 19th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
@Redchainsaw, YEAH LMAOOOOOOOOO

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2257
June 19th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
I’d paint that ass. She could def get it around here.

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Isabel
June 19th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Wow, she looks beautiful, especially in the last 2 shots. Perfect lips and skin!

And I spent some time getting myself familiar with her music, and as a hip hop head, I can say that this girl is the real deal when it comes to rap.

Her flow, her wordplay, her natural ability is off the chain.

And she gives me Lauryn Hill realness when she sings- vibratto and all.

I am seriously impressed!

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TShephy
June 19th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
I liked her concept of using house beats. Its refreshing… She did not however have to “try” and diss the LEGEND she’s imitating in the magazine?? That turns me off. #remainTRUE

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Sassy banks
September 16th, 2012 at 9:56 pm
My birth giving name is Sassy Banks I love it if you need a model for free an will com to u u got it !!!!! Love it I’m from S.F Cali an got a hook up on a few bay rappers.

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Sassy banks
September 16th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
My birth giving name is Sassy Banks I love it if you need a model for free an will com to u u got it !!!!! Love it I’m from S.F Cali an got a hook up on a few bay rappers . Will send pic your pretty don’t listen to hatters I don’t

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