Despite a rocky career and her fair share of public meltdowns, Azealia Banks sure has a high opinion of herself. The "212" rapper says she's the "most influential female rapper" since Nicki Minaj, as well as the inspiration behind the title of Rihanna's critically acclaimed 2016 album Anti.
"I may not be the most popular .. but definitely the most influential," Banks said in response to comments from @emailsb. "My words are powerful, when I speak the people ALWAYS react. I have a way of putting pressure on people to create the art world I want to live in."
Banks added that she can "100 percent" see her impact on today's music. "That to me is the truest success," she said. "When I see new girls come up wearing the looks I wore and adopting my themes I feel validated."
In another comment, Banks explained how she believes she influenced Rihanna's Anti. "I made it okay for these pop stars to be political in this recent era," she said. "I paid the price to initiate all of these conversations your faves lollipopped off of." Back in 2016, Banks teased a track she said was originally intended to be included on Anti. Months later, she and Rihanna traded words on Instagram:
Banks' "Movin' on Up" debuted earlier this month. The track, taken from her upcoming Fantasea 2: The Second Wave project, features production from An Expresso and Newbody.
