Timeline Azealia Banks: the rocky road to release

It’s finally happened. Harlem’s gobby globetrotter Azealia Banks last night channeled her inner-Beyoncé, stealthily plonking her long-awaited full-length ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ on iTunes. You’d be forgiven for expecting it never to see the light of day.

Initially penciled in for release in September 2012, ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’’s release marks the end of a lengthy build-up that’s seen the debut painted by many as the ‘Chinese Democracy’ of the internet generation. Few have been through the music industry wringer in quite such spectacular fashion, with Banks’ three years in the spotlight having seen her flirt with indie ‘cool lists’, international number ones and internet dissection in equal measure.

While it remains to be seen whether Banks’ debut can be the answer to her quest for superstardom, DIY’s here to refresh your memory with the 411 on the ‘212’ star. Read our first listen review of ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ here.