Azealia Banks has always worn her heart on her sleeve and yelled to the mountaintops when it comes to her opinions. So it came as no surprise this week when Banks appeared on Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning” and gave her most emotional interview ever as she talked about racism and defending Black culture.
Earlier this month, Banks drew attention when she went on a lengthy Twitter rant about Eric Garner and the systemized and violent racism that plagues the Black community in this country. And when she spoke with radio hosts Ebro and Peter Rosenberg, she focused in on how racism affects Black music and culture. More specifically, she took a shot at white rappers and the media for appropriating Black music.
“That Macklemore album wasn’t better than the Drake record,” she said. “That Iggy Azalea s— is not better than any f—–’ Black girl that’s rapping today.”
Banks spoke further about Azalea’s four Grammy nominations, including her nod for Best Rap Album.
“The Grammys are supposed to be awards for artistic excellence … Iggy Azalea’s not excellent,” she said. “I have a problem when you’re trying to say that it’s hip-hop and you’re trying to put it up against Black culture.”
Althoug the interview seemed wild and entertaining at first, Banks proved that she firmly believed in everything she was saying and feeling as she begin to cry talking about the damage that America’s erasure and appropriation of Black culture has caused her.
“When they give these Grammys out, all it says to white kids is, ‘You’re great. You’re amazing. You can do whatever you put your mind to.’ And it says to Black kids, ‘You don’t have s—. You don’t own s—, not even the s— you created yourself.’ And it makes me upset,” she said.
“At the very f—–’ least, y’all owe me the right to my f—–’ identity. And to not exploit that s—. That’s all we’re holding onto, like hip-hop and rap. And Bill Cosby, and whatever the f— it is. Y’all putting that on TV for the youth to f—–’ see.”
Of course, that’s not all that Banks had to say. Read what she thinks about Azalea, Nicki Minaj, and T.I. after the cut.
