Azealia Banks took time out to respond to a social media critic who posted a bold opinion about the trajectory of the singer’s career.
“Azealia Banks is a prime example of someone who legit could have been one of the greatest of her time but just couldn’t keep it together,” somebody tweeted.
Banks caught wind of the tweet and took to Instagram to respond.
“I would disagree, my only true crime was not being lightskinned and conventionally beautiful. The public & media would forget my mistakes quickly and give me room to simply focus – instead of (which you are doing now) constantly bringing up things I did or said 6 years ago,” she wrote in the post’s caption.
“Aside from your inability to see past the fact that cancel culture disproportionately affects black women and our mental health, I am – in fact, still entirely that b-tch and the greatest of my time. Are you not watching the gen z Renaissance of my debut album? I am forever. . These stale Azealia Banks takes are pitiful tbh.”
The “Nirvana” rapper has not had an easy time of it since crossing over into the mainstream. While she is evidently talented, Banks has been an outspoken and unapologetic Black woman for years — before it was considered relatively acceptable in the male-dominated industry.
During her infamous interview with Hot 97 in 2014, Banks spoke out about the glaring disparities in popular culture’s treatment of Black artists and white artists who create Black music. “At the very f–king least y’all owe me the right to my identity. That’s all we’re holding on to in hip-hop and rap,” she said at the time.
Banks later added, “It’s just upsetting given the deepness of the Blackness that’s gone.”
“I feel like, in this country, whenever it comes to our things, like Black issues or Black politics or black music or whatever, there’s always this undercurrent of kinda like a ‘F— you,'” she said. “There’s always a ‘F— y’all n-ggas. Y’all don’t really own s–t. Y’all don’t have s–t.’ That Macklemore album wasn’t better than the Drake record. That Iggy Azalea s–t isn’t better than any f–ing Black girl that’s rapping today.”
Nobody is perfect. Banks faced backlash when she admitted to bleaching her skin in 2016. The year before, she explained her reasons for not dating Black men.
“Because black men take black women for granted and I’m too busy with music to be fighting for my rights at home. I already have to fight for respect with the black men in hip-hop so When I get home I like things to be nice and easy. Make sense?” she wrote on Instagram.
While we can have our views about Banks’ statements. But the truth is — Black men in the industry have not protected her.
Let’s not even get started on the RZA/ Russell Crowe incident.
Banks has been booted off Twitter over her alleged homophobic remarks, despite being a member of the LGBTQ community. There have been multiple attempts to cancel her and she’s even faced people publicly backing Blaccent-touting Iggy Azalea over her — which…
She’s been through a lot and she’s still here. Salute to Azealia Banks.
