Three years have gone by since Azealia Banks broke out with her excellent 1991 EP and its slick smash single "212", one that had her on the tip of everyone's tongue, showering the planet with her icy profanities and rapid fire rap skills.
From then until now she has gone through the meat grinder that is the music industry, and somehow landed on her feet, releasing Broke With Expensive Taste after ending her relationship with Interscope Records and walking away with the rights to the songs you will hear on Broke.
In a generous 16 tracks, she goes from Caribbean-distilled techno in opener "Idle Delilah" to big chorus R&B pop "Chasing Time" to her flawless Spanish rap in the latter half of "Gimme a Chance".
There are a few recycled hits on here, take the aforementioned "212" and "Luxury" from her 2012 mixtape Fantasea. Both are great songs, but feel a touch dated and out of place.
While Broke With Expensive Taste may not make her a household name, it is an inspired, creative, stand alone work coming from a clearly frustrated star.
★★★★
(Prospect Park)
