Azealia Banks, known for her racy lyrics and even bolder personality, has never been shy about giving her opinion and never seemed to care what anyone thought of it, but in a recent interview the rapping sensation showed fans her softer side, getting emotional while defending Black culture.
Earlier this week Banks appeared on Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning” and it wasn’t long before her beef with fellow rapper Iggy Azalea was brought up.
Earlier this month, Banks had given the Australian rapper flack about only loving Black culture when it was convenient and not standing up for the issues affecting the Black community. She went on to talk about the unfairness of the Grammys.
“That Macklemore album wasn’t better than the Drake record,” she told hosts Ebro and Peter Rosenburg referencing Macklemore’s Best Rap Album win at last year’s awards. “That Iggy Azalea s— is not better than any f—–’ Black girl that’s rapping today.”
“The Grammys are supposed to be awards for artistic excellence … Iggy Azalea’s not excellent,” she continued. “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.”
At this point in the interview Banks began to cry as she described how she struggles with the way America appropriates Black culture but won’t give credit where it is due.
“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 end of the day, Banks just wants the respects she feels she deserves.
“At the very f—–’ least, y’all owe me the right to my f—–’ identity,” she said. “And to not exploit that s—.”
