1991 (Azealia Banks EP)

May 2025 1991 EP Azealia Banks Azealia Banks - 1991 (EP).png yes 2012 5 28 2011–2012 *Hip hop hip house 16 06 * Interscope Polydor * Machinedrum Jef Martens Lone Fantasea 2012 1991 EP 212 December 6, 2011 Liquorice June 14, 2012 1991 is the debut EP by American rapper Azealia Banks. It was first released on May 28, 2012, in the United Kingdom through Polydor Records and a day later in the United States by Interscope Records. Its lead single, "212", preceded its release on December 6, 2011. Its second single, "Liquorice", was released on December 4, 2012. Banks also released music videos for every song, including the non-singles "1991" and "Van Vogue". The EP was not eligible for the UK Albums Chart, but the title track charted at number seventy-nine on the UK Singles Chart. It also reached 133 on the US Billboard 200 on the issue dated June 16, 2012, and number twelve on the Rap Albums chart, number seventeen on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and number one on the Heatseekers Albums chart. On release, 1991 received positive reviews from music critics. Background Under the name Miss Bank$, she released her first recording "Gimme a Chance" on the Internet in February 2009.http://www.thefader.com/2009/02/06/freeload-miss-banks-seventeen-gimme-a-chance/ Freeload: Miss Banks, "Seventeen" + "Gimme A Chance" The Fader February 6, 2009 February 4, 2013 April 8, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120408113542/http://www.thefader.com/2009/02/06/freeload-miss-banks-seventeen-gimme-a-chance/ live The recording was accompanied by "Seventeen", a track produced by the American DJ Diplo which sampled the Ladytron song "Seventeen". Later that year, Banks signed to the XL Records label and began working with the producer Richard Russell. She left the label later that year due to conflicting ideas.https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2012/artists/azealiabanks/ BBC Sound of 2012 - Artist Profile > Azealia Banks BBC January 4, 2012 February 12, 2018 November 26, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171126092706/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2012/artists/azealiabanks/ livehttp://thequietus.com/articles/07671-azealia-banks-xl Azealia Banks has pop at XL Recordings The Quietus January 5, 2012 January 10, 2013 July 18, 2012 https://archive.today/20120718103120/http://thequietus.com/articles/07671-azealia-banks-xl live After leaving XL Recordings, Banks dropped the Miss Bank$ name and became Azealia Banks, which preceded a move to Montreal. Using YouTube as a portal, Banks uploaded several demo tracks, including "L8R" and a cover of "Slow Hands" by Interpol. In September 2011, Banks released her first single "212" as a free digital download from her website; it was released officially on December 6, 2011, as the lead single from one of Banks' future releases.https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/212-feat.-lazy-jay-single/id522653580 212 (feat. Lazy Jay) – Single by Azealia Banks iTunes Store UK Apple Inc June 14, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120520001003/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/212-feat.-lazy-jay-single/id522653580 May 20, 2012 Release and promotion Originally scheduled for release on April 17, 2012, 1991 was delayed following the musician's change of management on April 13.Ramirez Erika https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/azealia-banks-delays-1991-ep-494114/ Azealia Banks delays '1991' EP Billboard Prometheus Global Media April 17, 2012 The EP's artwork and track listing was published online on May 15, with confirmation that 1991 would be released first on May 28 in the United Kingdom.http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a381722/azealia-banks-confirms-1991-ep-tracklist-artwork.html Azealia Banks confirms '1991' EP tracklist Digital Spy May 15, 2012 May 15, 2012 June 5, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130605010333/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a381722/azealia-banks-confirms-1991-ep-tracklist-artwork.html dead The project was to be released digitally on May 29 and physically on June 12 in the United States, she announced on Twitter.http://www.rap-up.com/2012/05/14/azealia-banks-reveals-cover-art-release-date-for-1991-ep/#more-123756 Azealia Banks reveals release date for '1991' EP Rap-Up May 15, 2012 May 15, 2012 June 18, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120618085507/http://www.rap-up.com/2012/05/14/azealia-banks-reveals-cover-art-release-date-for-1991-ep/#more-123756 dead In 2013, 1991 was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), having shipped 35,000 units in Australia.http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2013.htm ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Singles aria.com.au Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) May 20, 2013 September 14, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200914054316/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesaria-charts-accreditations-singles-2013.htm live The original track listing had three tracks: the single "212", "1991" and "Grand Prix".http://pitchfork.com/news/45951-azealia-banks-to-release-1991-ep/ Azealia Banks to release '1991' EP Pitchfork March 28, 2012 May 15, 2012 January 28, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130128120645/http://pitchfork.com/news/45951-azealia-banks-to-release-1991-ep/ live Following the delay, it was extended to a four-track EP, with the tracks "Liquorice" and "Van Vogue" in place of "Grand Prix". Banks confirmed on Twitter that she had re-written "Grand Prix", produced by Lone, and it would feature on her debut studio album Broke with Expensive Taste under the new title of "Miss Camaraderie".April 2015 The EP's lead single, "212", was first released in the United Kingdom on December 6, 2011. The track, which samples and credits "Float My Boat" by Lazy Jay, had some chart success in Europe, reaching number seven on the Irish Singles Chart and number twelve on the UK Singles Chart.April 2015 "Liquorice" was released as the second single on June 14, 2012, also using "Pineapple Crunch" by LONE as the beat.https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/liquorice-single/id585627833 Liquorice – Single by Azealia Banks iTunes Store UK Apple Inc January 30, 2013 October 25, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131025020539/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/liquorice-single/id585627833 dead To promote the 1991 EP, she performed at Hackney Weekend 2012 and did the Mermaid Ball Tour. At Glastonbury 2013, she performed songs from the EP, her mixtape Fantasea and closed out the festival by performing the lead single "Yung Rapunxel" from her then upcoming album Broke with Expensive Taste. Critical reception AllMusic 4 5 The Boston Phoenix 4 4Weiss Dan July 10, 2012 http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/141102-azealia-banks-1991/ 1991 – CD Reviews The Phoenix Boston July 11, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130218100717/http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/141102-azealia-banks-1991/ February 18, 2013 Fact 3.5/5 HipHopDX 3.5/5Fairfax Jesse June 15, 2012 http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1907/title.azealia-banks-1991-ep Azealia Banks - 1991 EP HipHopDX September 11, 2016 October 9, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161009225121/http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1907/title.azealia-banks-1991-ep live MSN Music (Expert Witness) A Pitchfork 7.7/10 Rolling Stone 3.5 5 84/100http://www.metacritic.com/music/1991 1991 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More Metacritic June 11, 2012 December 28, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121228211601/http://www.metacritic.com/music/1991-ep/azealia-banks live 1991 received widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, it received an average score of 84, based on nine reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". AllMusic editor David Jeffries was amazed by Banks' lyricism and called the EP a "short house-rap blast".Jeffries David http://www.allmusic.com/album/1991-mw0002379145 1991 – Azealia Banks AllMusic June 11, 2012 September 3, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150903122314/http://www.allmusic.com/album/1991-mw0002379145 live He said Banks "acts as if she had been raised at a classic N.Y.C. loft party, one where you kept dancing and dissing", and found the production "nostalgic ... as if this EP fell through the cracks of the Paradise Garage's sweaty disco floorboards and then evolved in some alternative and fierce universe". Chris Dart of Exclaim! was also impressed by her quick rapping and argued that she "manages a feat that takes most rappers the better part of a career to master: the perfect marriage of bangin', club-friendly beats and smart, crisply delivered lyrics."Dart Chris June 13, 2012 http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/azealia_banks-1991 Azealia Banks – 1991 Exclaim! June 22, 2012 June 17, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120617031710/http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/azealia_banks-1991 live In his consumer guide for MSN Music, Robert Christgau called "212" the highlight of an EP whose music is minimalist yet skillfully crafted: "quick-tongued, lascivious, catchy, and delighted with itself ... there hasn't been a more pleasurable record all year and probably won't be—not even by her."Christgau Robert Robert Christgau June 22, 2012 http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=038996d3-8082-4e6a-a19d-271909021943 Azealia Banks/Rye Rye MSN Music Microsoft https://web.archive.org/web/20120630143754/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=038996d3-8082-4e6a-a19d-271909021943 June 30, 2012 In a less enthusiastic review for Rolling Stone, Will Hermes said the four tracks on 1991 "spin hip-hop backwards and forwards", although he felt it was too short.Hermes Will Will Hermes May 29, 2012 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/1991-ep-20120529 1991 EP Rolling Stone June 10, 2012 June 19, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180619214037/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/1991-ep-20120529 live Alex Macpherson of Fact felt the EP is somewhat inconsistent, but he compared Banks favorably to Missy Elliott and stated, "while the quality of the music remains disproportionate to the hype, it does make her bratty rejection of the rap establishment feel that much more thrilling."Macpherson Alex June 20, 2012 http://www.factmag.com/2012/06/20/azealia-banks-1991/ Azealia Banks: 1991 Fact June 22, 2012 June 23, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120623025557/http://www.factmag.com/2012/06/20/azealia-banks-1991/ live Pitchfork journalist Lindsay Zoladz called it "another example of Banks' versatile skills", but lamented how "the half-statement of 1991 reminds us that Banks is still an artist in her development stage."Zoladz Lindsay June 8, 2012 http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16775-1991-ep/ Azealia Bankz: 1991 EP Pitchfork June 11, 2012 June 11, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120611011107/http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16775-1991-ep/ live 1991 was ranked by Rolling Stone at number 30 in the magazine's list of 2012's 50 best albums,https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/azealia-banks-1991-19691231 50 Best Albums of 2012: Azealia Banks, '1991' Rolling Stone April 27, 2014 March 1, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140301000234/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/azealia-banks-1991-19691231 live while Time named it the 9th best album of 2012.Wolk Douglas https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/04/top-10-albums/slide/azealia-banks-1991-ep/ Azealia Banks, 1991 EP Time December 4, 2012 April 27, 2014 March 1, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140301054846/http://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/04/top-10-albums/slide/azealia-banks-1991-ep/ live In a year-end list for The Barnes & Noble Review, Christgau ranked 1991 as the 11th best album of 2012 and the title track as the year's 13th best single.Christgau Robert January 14, 2013 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/the-deans-list-2012 The Dean's List 2012 The Barnes & Noble Review April 10, 2015 April 15, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150415175644/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/the-deans-list-2012 live Track listing Producer(s) 1991 Azealia Banks Kevin James Travis Stewart Machinedrum 3:30 Van Vogue Banks Stewart Machinedrum 5:57 212 featuring Lazy Jay Banks Jef Martens Lazy Jay 3:24 Liquorice Banks Matthew Cutler Lone 3:18 1991 – Vinyl editionAzealia Banks – 1991 (Vinyl) http://www.discogs.com/Azealia-Banks-1991/release/3673164 April 2, 2015 March 28, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150328075144/http://www.discogs.com/Azealia-Banks-1991/release/3673164 live Producer(s) 1991 A1 Banks James Stewart Machinedrum 3:30 Liquorice A2 Banks Cutler Lone 3:18 212 featuring Lazy Jay) (B1 Banks Martens Lazy Jay 3:24 Van Vogue B2 Banks Stewart Machinedrum 5:57 Charts Chart (2012–13) PeakpositionAustraliapandora 63 Azealia Banks 1991 EP September 23, 2014 https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120924042300/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20120924-1423/Issue1171.pdf truemedicAustralia Urban (ARIA)http://www.aria.com.au/Issue1205.pdf https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20130407210400/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20130408-0704/Issue1205.pdf dead 2013-04-07 The ARIA Report - Issue #1205 webarchive.nla.gov.au ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia September 23, 2014medic10Ireland (IRMA)http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp Top 100 Singles irma.ie Irish Recorded Music Association May 31, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120614070438/http://www.irma.ie/aucharts.asp June 14, 2012 July 1, 2014 dead 97UK Singles (Official Charts Company)http://www.officialcharts.com/singles-chart/ Official UK Singles Top 100 Official Charts Company June 9, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120627071941/http://www.officialcharts.com/singles-chart/ June 27, 2012 February 3, 2013 live 79Billboard200 133 Azealia Banks September 23, 2014 trueUS Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)https://www.billboard.com/artist/azealia-banks/chart-history/tln/ https://web.archive.org/web/20211118010631/https://www.billboard.com/artist/azealia-banks/chart-history/tln/ Azealia Banks Chart History (Heatseekers Albums) Billboard November 18, 2021 December 28, 20251BillboardRap 12 Azealia Banks September 23, 2014 trueBillboardRandBHipHop 17 Azealia Banks September 23, 2014 true Certifications single Australia Azealia Banks 1991 Gold 2013 November 22, 2014 "aria_gold" true Release history RegionDateFormatLabelRef. ReferenceAustraliaMay 28, 2012Digital downloadPolydorhttps://itunes.apple.com/au/album/1991-ep/id529080589 1991 – EP by Azealia Banks iTunes Store Australia October 17, 2014 December 9, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141209184510/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/1991-ep/id529080589 deadBelgiumhttps://itunes.apple.com/be/album/1991-ep/id529080589 1991 – EP by Azealia Banks iTunes Store Belgium October 17, 2014 December 9, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141209184520/https://itunes.apple.com/be/album/1991-ep/id529080589 deadUnited Stateshttps://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1991-ep/id528698856 1991 – EP by Azealia Banks iTunes Store United States October 17, 2014 November 12, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141112032032/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1991-ep/id528698856 deadJune 12, 2012VinylInterscopehttps://www.amazon.ca/1991-EP-Vinyl-Azealia-Banks/dp/B0083IQFEG 1991 [EP] (Vinyl) Amazon.ca February 5, 2015 December 19, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141219093115/http://www.amazon.ca/1991-EP-Vinyl-Azealia-Banks/dp/B0083IQFEG liveAustraliaPolydorhttp://www.sanity.com.au/products/2270402/1991 Buy 1991 Azealia Banks, Urban, Vinyl Sanity October 17, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141023225655/http://www.sanity.com.au/products/2270402/1991 October 23, 2014 deadEuropeCDInterscope Universal Music GermanyAzealia Banks - 1991 2012 https://www.discogs.com/release/4549785-Azealia-Banks-1991 2026-04-14 enUnited StatesInterscopehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083IQFD2 1991: Azealia Banks Amazon.com June 14, 2012 References 30em External links album 446081 1991 Category:2012 debut EPs Category:Azealia Banks EPs Category:Interscope Records EPs Category:Polydor Records EPs