I’ll admit, I wasn’t sold after NEWMUSICMACHINE‘s A. Karuna excitedly showed Azealia Banks’ video for “212.” No nailing down what didn’t work despite how hard I tried to figure it out, it simply didn’t. The four on the floor beat? Nah. The so totally edgy repeated use of the word “cunt”? Nah. The undeniable girl-next-door appeal of Ms. Banks? Nah. Just didn’t click. Still doesn’t, to be honest.
But then “Nathan” comes out and, despite a chorus that goes on just a bit too long for its own good, the track hits every single beat and note that “212″ must have for Mr. Karuna. This has been on repeat at the FPM HQ for days. Banks’ first verse is great, but at the 2:00 mark, she’s effortless, if not outright jaw-dropping. The backing track, squiggly synths and all, is miles beyond the beats and synth-work of “212.”
Azealia Banks on the web.
