Recently Azealia Banks took to the Hot 97 airwaves to unapologetically talk Iggy Azalea and Black music being smudged out by white artists. The 23-year-old Harlem native dropped her new album, Broke with Expensive Taste   in early November of this year.

And while she may have ruffled a few feathers with her recent radio interview, Banks sparked a well overdue conversation within the Black community, pertaining to our identity, our lives and why we shouldn’t allow others to erase, or dilute what we have created.

Although it may appear as though the outspoken rapper was quick to throw shade at the 24-year-old Australian rapper, she was in fact speaking to a larger issue. Highlighting that Blacks are rarely given the credit they deserve, and often have our work, which we created, pushed to the sidelines to make way for white talent. “That Iggy Azalea sh*t isn’t better than any f*cking Black girl that’s rapping today,” she passionately explained. “The Grammy’s are supposed to be like accolades for artistic excellence, you get what I mean? Iggy Azalea is not excellent.”

 

Banks later became very emotional as she went on to say,

“… when they give these Grammy’s out, all it says to white kids is, “yeah, you’re great, you’re amazing, you can do whatever you set your mind to.” And it says to Black kids, you don’t have sh*t, you don’t own sh*t, not even the sh*t you created for yourself. And it makes me upset,”

shining a light on the larger issue of America’s constant disregard for Black identity, creative thinking and life.

I couldn’t agree more.

While some may deem the 212 rapper as that stereotypical bitter, crazy Black girl – which is what typically happens when Black women take a stand– with the recent announcement of the 2015 Grammy nominations , she said exactly what everybody needed to hear, right now, whether they liked it or not.

As expected, Iggy completely missed the point, as it flew over her head and into her pool of privilege, sparking her explosive tirade via social media. In her tweets, the Fancy rapper referred to Banks as ‘bigot’ and ‘poisonous,’ proving, once again, that she simply does not see that the issue is bigger than her, and to be honest, it’s not looking like she will ever get it.

And to that…all I have to do is say is: girl, bye.

Banks’ outspoken nature, while perhaps intimidating to some, in my opinion, is what’s needed, considering the racial turmoil that the country is currently in. By taking a strong stance, she is paving the way for Black creatives, as a much needed voice of power and leadership as an artist in contemporary American society.

Thankfully, Q-Tip took some time out, to give Iggy a history lesson on hip-hop. Check it out:

As Banks continues to speak up for herself, along with the protection of Black creativity and identity, I hope that more and more people will start to see Banks’ in a new, more positive light and focus on the important message she is trying to resonate in our minds.

In light of Azealia Banks’ epic Hot 97 interview and in true Blavity style, here are a few female artists to check out that are currently making major moves in the music business, enjoy!

Ebony ‘Wondagurl’ Oshunrinde

17-year-old Grammy nominated producer from Toronto, Canada.

@WondaGurlBeats

Tink

Multi-talented singer, rapper and songwriter hailing from Chicago.

@Official_Tink

 

 Nitty Scott

Up and coming emcee from Brooklyn, New York

@NittyScottMC

 

Love how Kayla takes Iggy to task for appropriating black culture? We do too.

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