Azealia Banks – 1991 (12" Vinyl)

Released in 2012, 1991 is the breakthrough EP that introduced Azealia Banks as one of the most distinctive new voices in hip-hop and dance music. Across four tightly focused tracks, the Harlem rapper combines rapid-fire wordplay, charismatic singing and the kinetic energy of house and club music. The title nods to her birth year, but the sound feels less like nostalgia than a bold statement of arrival.

Banks' delivery is central to the EP's impact. She can switch between playful melodic phrases and densely packed, rhythmically precise verses in a moment, treating the beat as something to challenge rather than simply follow. The production draws on the bounce of classic house music, sharp electronic textures and dancefloor-ready basslines, giving the record a distinctly New York club atmosphere.

The opening title track 1991 rides a sleek, pulsing groove while Banks moves between confident singing and nimble rhymes. Liquorice is darker and more forceful, pairing a propulsive beat with an assertive performance. The breakout single 212, featuring Lazy Jay, remains the EP's most recognisable moment: its infectious house rhythm and dazzling changes of vocal pace make it immediately memorable.

The closing Van Vogue brings another burst of high-energy club production, with Banks sounding completely at home in the space between rap and dance music. Short as it is, 1991 established an unmistakable artistic personality and remains an exciting listen from start to finish. This 12-inch vinyl edition, barcode 602537064915, contains the four-track sequence listed below.

Supplied brand new and sealed.

Available from Heathen Records, your independent Australian online record store specialising in new and collectible vinyl.

Details

• Artist: Azealia Banks
• Title: 1991
• Format: 12-Inch Vinyl EP
• Genre: Hip-Hop / Hip-House / House / Electronic
• Original Release: 2012
• Edition: Black Vinyl Pressing
• Vinyl Colour: Black
• Record Size: 12 Inch
• Playback Speed: 33⅓ RPM
• Number of Records: 1
• Number of Tracks: 4
• Release Type: EP
• Producers: Machinedrum / Lone / Lazy Jay
• Packaging: Picture Sleeve
• Label: Interscope Records
• Catalogue Number: B0017002-01
• Barcode: 602537064915
• Condition: Brand new & sealed

Track List:

Side A
A1 1991
A2 Liquorice

Side B
B1 212 (feat. Lazy Jay)
B2 Van Vogue