Mix of the Week 19/9: Azealia Banks – YUNG RAPUNXEL PT II
The 212’s most infamous female rapper has returned with a radical departure from everything she is known for. Azealia Banks has developed a reputation for dance ready beats and memorable hip/hop lyrics, but none of that is present in this week’s mix. Instead, this week’s mix, YUNG RAPUNXEL PT II, is one of the strangest but most interesting releases of 2019. As a sequel to Banks’ 2015 track “Yung Rapunxel”, all the attitude and filthy electronic noise is amplified and extended across a half an hour mixtape.
The “mixtape” is essentially one long techno song. There are four ‘tracks’ listed but they aren’t particularly distinct or discernible. Instead, the mixtape comes across as a single musical concept. It isn’t easy to get into, with the first five minutes presenting some aggressive beats and harsh rapping. These first five minutes are jarring, but eventually she calms down as the listener adjusts to the fast techno sound. There is a gritty dirt to the production, which creates the aural space that’s reminiscent of an underground techno rave. Other aspects on top of this one, consistent and intense beat are her rapping, which include frustrated and angry lyrics, some experimental filters, that induce a mechanical ASMR effect, and screaming, which strikes a balance between sexual and demonic. There is a very industrial tone, which plays into a number of robotic musical motifs. With distortion, synths and the never changing beat, Azealia is highly experimental and for the most part, she pulls it off. The result is a fascinating 30 minute mix that is abrasive, but highly rewarding to listen to.
On Instagram, Banks explains the narrative of the mixtape:
“#YUNGRAPUNXELII is set in SHENZEN CN, year 3030. The year 3030 will see China officially reach global dominance through major advances in biotech setting the scene for a world where humans have accepted the various devices (mechanical lungs, artificial uteruses, neural implants) as normal and necessary parts of life. In designing this A.I. motorcycle for our favorite dick-ripping demon-whore it was important to create an Image that accurately represented my vision of the future.
A future where the man and the machine are symbiotic. I chose The Clear/transparent body to remove the motorcycles status as a masculine death machine , and give it a look of amphibian vulnerability (loook up glass frogs). It’s motor and hardware show through the transparent form as organs being protected/housed in an animal body.
This here to emphasize the importance of technology in the story (and future) and to spotlight the extremely close (sometimes delusional) relationships humans have with machines. We choose the machine and setting as an homage to our favorite art-o.g. Aaliyah’s “More Than A Woman,” Video.”
