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 from Harlem, New York City. She began her career by releasing music on Myspace, leading to early record deals with XL Recordings, Interscope, and Polydor. She later became an independent artist and founded her own label, Chaos & Glory Recordings. Banks also had stints with Parlophone and Warner Records before becoming independent again in 2023.

Sections (5)

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

December 2014: Call for Reparations

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. She cited U.S. reparations to Native American communities and German reparations to Jewish survivors of the Holocaust as precedents.

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: Police Report Against Russell Crowe

In October 2016, Azealia Banks filed a police report against actor Russell Crowe, claiming that he choked and spat at her before proceeding to call her the n word during a party in his hotel suite.

October 2016: Retraction of Trump Endorsement

In October 2016, Azealia Banks retracted her previous endorsement of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, stating that "Women's rights are important and we must protect them."

December 2016: Witchcraft Closet Videos

In December 2016, Azealia Banks posted videos on Instagram detailing her cleanup of a closet where she claimed to have been practicing witchcraft. The video appeared to show dried blood, feathers, and the carrion of dead chickens.

2016: Support for Transgender Sibling

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

August 8, 2020: Announcement of Euthanasia Intention

On August 8, 2020, Azealia Banks announced her intention to end her life by euthanasia and document the process on film.

2020: Ordered to Seek Mental Health Treatment

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

February 2021: Engagement to Ryder Ripps

In February 2021, Azealia Banks publicly announced her engagement to American artist Ryder Ripps. The relationship ended the following month, with the couple having made and sold an audio sex tape as an NFT.

January 2023: Praised Florida Governor

In January 2023, Azealia Banks stated she moved to Miami because she had become disillusioned with the politics of Los Angeles and praised Florida's governor Ron DeSantis.

July 2024: Attended 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 that she had moved to Stockholm, Sweden, despite having previously labeled the country as racist and called for it to be bombed.

April 2025: Expressed regret for voting for Trump

In April 2025 Azealia Banks wrote that she regrets voting for Trump, calling his presidency a "disaster".

2025: Expressing support for trans people

In 2025, Azealia Banks expressed support for trans people and criticized J. K. Rowling for her "paranoid" views on trans women. When asked about her own past comments, she denied being transphobic.

2025: PMDD, PTSD and ADHD diagnosis

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