Azealia Banks Makes Triumphant Return to Coachella

There was a lot riding on Azealia Banks’ Coachella performance, considering for the last several months her name has popped up everywhere outside of her actual music, which is not a relatively new phenomenon for the Harlem rapper. However, Azealia rose to the occasion, bringing out her realest self for her second Coachella set. This time, it was all about the music.

For her first of two shows in the desert of Indio, Calif., Banks arrived on stage rocking a flowy white top with a bare midriff and cutoff jean shorts plus heels. The “212” rapper greeted the crowd (“Coachella, make some muthaf**kin’ noise!”) before launching into her action-packed set, complete with a live band and background dancers. Azealia delivered a series of selections off her 2014 debut Broke With Expensive Taste.

“I’m so happy to be back out here,” she declared. This isn’t Banks’ first rodeo, as she performed at Coachella back in 2012.

This time around, her 45-minute set included 1500 or Nothin’ and DJ Cosmo as her backing band, and a stage decorated with a digitized American flag—not to mention a highly-animated Banks. Stuttering drums opened her set with “Idle Delilah,” as Banks gyrated alongside her dancers and rapped to animal sounds.

Overheard during Azealia's set: "That bitch makes my pu**y pop" #Coachella2015

— Rap-Up (@RapUp) April 11, 2015

“My name is Azealia Banks and I’m from New York City. Are you ready to have a good f**kin’ time?” she asked the crowd, who answered with substantial screams.

Recent hits like “Ice Princess” and “Yung Rapunxel” were crowd favorites (Banks even had a megaphone to assist her on the latter track), with Banks bouncing in between rapping and singing. The energy was consistently high, only slightly dipping for “Wallace” and “Nude Beach A-Go-Go.” She re-upped the liveliness just in time for closing, as Banks bid the crowd farewell with her biggest hit “212” before exiting the stage with a “thank you” and a smile.

In addition to Coachella, Banks has lined up tour dates for L.A. (4/16), New York (5/11), Chicago (5/15), and Boston (5/19).

—Kathy Iandoli

Azealia Banks Coachella Set List

“Idle Delilah”
“Gimme a Chance”
“1991”
“Heavy Metal and Reflective”
“Wallace”
“Ice Princess”
“Chasing Time”
“Yung Rapunxel”
“Luxury”
“Miss Amor”
“Nude Beach A-Go-Go”
“212”