I’m not sure if it’s a good thing, but I think the best part of Azaelia Banks’ latest single “Jumanji” is the fact that she doesn’t seem to be trying very hard, or seem very concerned with, whether or not you’ll like it. Banks continues to be true to herself as a person (the confident rapper has been known to start tweet wars with other artists who have been making music since before she was born, i.e. Lil’ Kim) and to her own particular flow of hip-hop (an ode to one’s playground days of clapping songs and jump rope rhymes).
But she has the foresight to lace her tracks with enough controversial and contagious lyrics to keep everyone talking about them. There are just enough chantalong-worthy bits snuck in with the ridiculousness (“Reefer in cabanas / All my vehicles handsome,” “All of my bitches boogie / Designer vagina Gucci,” and the oft-repeated refrain “Real bitch all day / Uptown, Broadway”) that it’s never in doubt that Banks is in full control of what she’s doing. The young emcee’s bratty flow is featured over a tropical, M.I.A.-esque production from Hudson Mohawke and Nick Hook. Beginning with ethereal twinkles of a harp before dropping into calypso drums and timpani rolls, the style of beat is distinct and a perfect fit for Banks.
Reports of Banks’ upcoming release dates have been wrong in the past, but as of right now Azealia recently released her 1991 EP and dropped the Fantastic mixtape this week, with her debut album, Broke With Expensive Taste, coming in September. That is a lot of music to be produced in a short amount of time, but if Azealia’s lyrical pace matches her production, she should have no issue meeting her upcoming deadlines.