Okay, so probably most of you have been watching the 212 video on repeat all day every day right? This single is my absolute favourite thing to listen to when I have a moment to myself – I was gonna say a “quiet moment” but for real, I have this shit cranked. 212 is my cashing-out-the-till song and also my getting ready to go out song.

 I’m not here to be the It Girl or you know, the best top rap bitch whatever. I’m just here to create moments that will last that just draw in as many people as possible at once and make them all like each other. Whatever that means. – (XXL)

I think that Azealia Banks is so appealing to me because her songs are both dirty and fun – she raps with that huge already-iconic smile on her face. But also, she knows her own power, and isn’t afraid of it. I think it’s that self-possession – well, that and the word “cunt” – which is capturing so much attention. I’m really excited for her debut album, Broke With Expensive Taste, and it seems she is too:

I have a big feeling [the album] is going to be classic, in a sense. And even if it’s not classic, it’s going to be really interesting for music. I think. I hope.  (Pitchfork)

I also was especially enamoured of her when I read this quote from her twitter page where she blasted the inclusion of Iggy Azalea on the XXL Freshman Class of 2012 List:

Iggy Azalea on the XXL freshman list is all wrong. How can you endorse a white woman who called herself a “runaway slave master “? Whatever. Sorry guys. But I’m pro black girl. I’m not anti white girl, but I’m also not here for any1 outside of my culture trying to trivialize very serious aspects of it. In any capacity. *kanye shrug* If u hate my music now because of how I feel about this then I guess it’s my loss. I’ll take that loss.

So rad to see that Banks has a vision for her fanbase, and is willing – at the brink of superstardom – to call out racist shit rather than play nice. Women in hip-hop are encouraged to shit-talk each other and it is pretty ballin’ to see Banks using that cockiness to stand up for other black girls.

Here’s Azealia (sporting some serious My Little Pony Hair) doing “212″ at a party at Karl Lagerfeld’s house: