Azealia Banks Coachella - H 2012
Karl Walter/Getty ImagesNewcomer Azealia Banks, who signed to Universal Music in January, is being represented by Lady Gaga‘s manager Troy Carter.
The rapper’s debut album for Interscope, Broke With Expensive Taste, is slated for release in September. The 20-year-old Harlem native was previously signed to XL Recordings, home to Adele, and famously parted ways with the label citing conflicting creative visions.
After the split, Banks self-released the highly hyped track “212” in December and momentum has only built since then.
PHOTOS: The Scene at Coachella 2012
To wit: Her first proper U.S. gig was at the massive Coachella Music and Arts Festival last Saturday, where she performed a 20-minute set that included several covers, among them Prodigy‘s “Firestarter” and The Zutons‘ “Valerie,” made famous by Amy Winehouse, which she sang a capella.
The L.A. Times described Banks’ style as “unapologetically street” and warned fellow female pop-rapper Nicki Minaj to “be on the lookout.”
Carter is CEO of Atom Factory, which counts Mindless Behavior and Greyson Chance as clients. He is also an active investor in tech startups including digital billboard creation service Bread Labs and the much buzzed about Turntable.fm.
Watch a video of Banks performing at Coachella below:
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