Early Life and Education of Azealia Banks: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Azealia Banks. A timeline of key moments.

Azealia Banks is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter known for her music and controversial social media presence. Hailing from Harlem, she gained recognition after releasing music on Myspace and later signed with XL Recordings. Her breakthrough song "212" was highly acclaimed, considered a defining track of the 2010s by prominent music publications. Banks continues to be a figure of public interest due to her outspoken and often contentious online activity.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

December 2014: Call for reparations for African Americans

In December 2014, Azealia Banks called for over $100 trillion to be paid to African Americans as financial reparations for the enslavement of their ancestors, citing U.S. reparations to Native American communities and German reparations to Jewish survivors of the Holocaust as precedents.

June 2016: Twitter account reactivation

In June 2016, Azealia Banks rejoined Twitter, following a suspension.

July 2016: Admission of skin lightening

In July 2016, Azealia Banks admitted to lightening her skin due to blemishes caused by her birth control regimen and defended skin bleaching.

October 2016: Retraction of Trump endorsement

In October 2016, Azealia Banks retracted her endorsement of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, citing the importance of women's rights, but expressed elation after his victory.

2016: Acknowledgement of sibling's transition

In 2016, Azealia Banks shared that one of her siblings was a trans man and congratulated him on his top surgery.

May 2018: Previous denouncement of Israel

In May 2018, Azealia Banks had previously denounced "racists" in Israel and stated she would never return to the country.

2020: Ordered to seek mental health treatment

In 2020, during a plea deal in Manhattan Court to avoid prison time for assault, Azealia Banks was ordered to seek mental health treatment.

February 2021: Engagement Announcement

In February 2021, Azealia Banks publicly announced her engagement to American artist Ryder Ripps.

April 2022: Twitter account reactivation after Musk acquisition

In April 2022, Azealia Banks rejoined Twitter, following news of Elon Musk's acquisition of the app.

January 2023: Statements on moving to Miami and Ron DeSantis

In January 2023, Azealia Banks stated she moved to Miami because she had become disillusioned with Los Angeles politics and felt "way safer" in Florida, praising Florida's governor Ron DeSantis.

July 2024: Attendance at Trump rally

In July 2024, Azealia Banks attended a rally in support of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign in Florida.

March 2025: Move to Stockholm, Sweden

In March 2025, Azealia Banks revealed she had moved to Stockholm, Sweden, after having previously called Sweden a racist country and suggesting it should be bombed.

April 2025: Regret over voting for Trump

In April 2025, Azealia Banks expressed regret for voting for Trump, stating that the situation was "an absolute disaster".

June 2025: Statements on Zionism and Israel

In June 2025, Azealia Banks stated she is a Zionist and supports Israel, writing "Fuck Palestine" on X. She asserted that Israel should only give Afro-Palestinians asylum, and criticized the two-state solution.

2025: Move to Stockholm and Criticism of the City

In 2025, Azealia Banks announced she was moving to Stockholm to collaborate with Swedish DJ Kornél Kovács. After moving, Banks criticized the city's social scene and nightlife via multiple tweets.

2025: Shift in support for trans people

In 2025, Azealia Banks began expressing support for trans people and criticized J.K. Rowling for her "paranoid" views on trans women, denying being transphobic and citing reactions to "activist" rhetoric.

2025: Performance at Tel Aviv Amphitheater

In 2025, Azealia Banks opened her performance at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater in Israel, wearing the Israeli flag and a star of david necklace.

2025: Diagnosis clarification

In 2025, Azealia Banks stated that her bipolar disorder diagnosis was a misdiagnosis and that she has premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).