Azealia Banks Wants A Nicki Minaj Collabo
Who said female camaraderie in hip-hop is dead? In an extended snippet from our cover story featuring Nicki Minaj, newcomer Azealia Banks discussed Minaj's success and if she sees herself collaborating with the pop phenomenon anytime soon.
ON NICKI OPENING THE DOOR FOR OTHER FEMALE ARTISTS:
"I don't think the door was ever closed for urban female artists. There has always been a female killing it. Have we forgotten about Eve? Eve had hot records, movies, a TV show, fashion line, ad campaigns, etc. Right before Remy Ma went to jail, she was killing it, and was well on her way to the top. She had bars on bars on bars. Lil Mama also made a splash with "Lipgloss." Plus all the other alternative chicks like M.I.A. and [Santigold]. I don't think Nicki necessarily opened the door for anyone else but herself [Laughs]. I think she's doing a great job with what she's doing. But I don't think any of the current female rappers' success' are contingent upon anything Nicki Minaj did. It's contingent upon our talents and creativity."
ON HER EXPECTATIONS OF PINK FRIDAY:
"I wasn't EXPECTING anything from it. I was more so just happy to see a Laguardia Drama major getting paid. Sonically, I think Pink Friday is great. The vocals are clean. The beats are mixed well and the hooks are catchy. Nicki Minaj has really mastered the art of popular songwriting. I do like her mixtapes a lot, though. I think she's a brilliant lyricist, but I think a lot of the things she started doing with her look were distracting. I think she's talented enough to sustain a very fruitful career without the ugly wigs and ugly costumes."
ON POSSIBLE COLLABORATION:
"Hell yeah. Nicki Minaj is mad sexy."
—Keenan Higgins and Clover Hope
