Review: Azealia Banks – The Waterfront

Azealia Banks’ hotly anticipated Norwich debut, as part of her sold out Fantasea tour, was electrifying to say the least.

Zebra Katz and Njena Reddd Foxxx, Brooklyn’s most dynamic rap duo, opened the show, performing hit tracks such as ‘Ima Read’ and ‘Hey Ladies’, which had the crowd in a frenzy from the moment they walked on stage.

After much hyped audience participation and conversations amongst the crowd – “who are these guys?”, “I dunno, mate but they’re sick, innit?!” – it was time for a 10 minute interlude before the big show.

DJ Cosmo, Bank’s hype-man and personal DJ, helped build the suspense once more with a 10 minute mix-set of old-school jams and classic hip hop favourites that had the crowd going like bees in a hive.

Then came the moment we’d all been waiting for. Out she came, donned in military boots, fishnets, hot pants and a Swarovski crusted crop-top covered in blue lights, with Rapunzel sea green hair that would make the baldest of folk weep.

Not one to mess around, Azealia – known for her unapologetic use of every profanity in the English language – dove straight into her set, performing tracks from her free online mix tape, Fantasea, and chart topping favourites such as ‘Liquorice’ and ‘212’.

Half way through, and it was time for a costume change – though, if you ask me, she could have wore a bin bag and still rocked it.

Azealia Banks performs at The Waterfront (captured by Hafiz AY Olushekun)

Contrary to much of the songs’ content, Azealia managed to pull off the ‘naughty but nice’ attitude by having the crowd sing along and shimmy with her as she smiled and winked her way through every song.

As if having my sexuality questioned throughout her performance wasn’t enough, Azealia reprised her skimpy 40 minute set with an encore that left the crowd wanting more.

Though shorter than anticipated, this performance showcased a 21 year old who has stood in the centre of the media spotlight for a year and a half, without having released a debut album (now postponed until February 2013). Azealia Banks is already a star in her own right.