A History Of Beef: Azealia Banks’ Beefs Broken Down…From Kreayshawn To Jim Jones!

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How do you know you’ve made it?  When people give a flyin’ f–k you exist…when they examine what you do…and more importantly, when they write about it ON A BLOG!  (GUILTY!  Sue me!)

Azealia Banks has the attention of the masses and the media as well.  People care that Azealia exists.  People are analyzing her moves and writing about it.  If that is any sign of success (and it is), Azealia Banks is on her way to superstardom.

AND HOW THE HARLEM RAPPER IS DOING ALL OF THIS–CAPTURING OUR ATTENTION–GETTING US WRAPPED UP IN THE DAILY LIFE AND ACTIVITIES OF “AZEALIA” IS MOST INTERESTING…

Azealia is using “beef” to create a buzz and generate traction in her career.  She seemingly is gaining a foot hold on rap music…one beef at a time.  She is fast-becoming “The One to Watch” and could usurp Iggy Azalea’s well-hyped entre to the mainstream under mentor T.I using a vintage Hip Hop marketing tool.

BEEF is Azealia’s publicity tool of choice.  Pick on and pick at anyone who says anything about you, who does anything to you or, who even thinks about looking your way…

SURPRISINGLY, the method is working!  People are listening to the Harlem rapper…and NOT because she makes decent music.  People are listening to Azealia’s music because they want to know what such a loud, potty-mouthed chick can do with a rap beat.  That’s what got me to tune in.

Beef, most rap fans know, has historically put rappers on the map.  While it hasn’t worked for every newcomer (cue raptress Keys who skillfully blazed Nicki Minaj in a freestyle that went viral), it has been a successful ploy for many.  Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, Eminem anyone?  Beef worked for all of them.  Time will tell if Azealia’s BEEF WITH EVERYBODY TACTIC will have her blow-up or bust!  While we wait for the outcome of Azealia’s career, let’s take a minute to review the 7 (count them) 7 beefs Azealia has had in her brief…CAREER!

Check it:

WHO: Kreayshawn

WHEN: January 2012

WHAT/WHY: When Kreayshawn tweeted, “Have you guys heard @AzealiaBanks’ ’212′?” and lyrics to the song along alongside a link to a porn wesbite, Azealia wasted no time firing back at the Oakland emcee. She replied, “@KREAYSHAWN you think you’re funny?” and “You’re a dumb bitch. And you can’t rap.” Kreay was just as confused as everyone else, replying after several of Azealia’s tweets, “Did I just get smashed on twitter because I was supporting a fellow female? I sure did… *confused*”

STATUS: QUASHED! Earlier this month, Banks reached out to the “Gucci Gucci” rapper apologizing for her outburst earlier in the year: “I apologize for coming down on you so hard earlier this year… I can be really defensive sometimes. I’m just naturally rude. LMFAOO it’s a NY thing… I can’t help it.”

WHO: Iggy Azalea

WHEN: February 2012

WHAT/WHY: When Australian rapper Iggy Azalea made XXL‘s “Freshman Class” list of 2012 (the first female, by the way), the other Azealia didn’t like that so much. She tweeted, “How can [XXL] endorse a white woman who called herself a ‘runaway slave master’?” referring to the lyrics in Iggy’s track “D.R.U.G.S.” Iggy has since apologized for the line, saying it was taken out of context.

STATUS: KINDA QUASHED? Months after the beef started, Iggy went on record explaining the real beef started last year when Banks claimed she was more talented than Iggy. She doesn’t seem too bothered by the whole thing, though: “I couldn’t give a f–k about any of that crap,” Iggy said.

WHO: T.I.

WHEN: April 2012

WHAT/WHY: Rapper T.I. stepped up to defend Iggy Azalea, his protegé and leading lady of his record label, Grand Hustle. After the battle of the Az(e)aleas went down earlier in the year, T.I. told Chicago radio show “Tony Sculfield and the Morning Riot,” ”That’s bitch s–t, I’m a man. You ain’t got no business addressing me. Get your man to address me, if you got a man, get him to address me and he and I can speak on it.” Banks didn’t like that response (rightfully so, IMHO) and sent Tip a few choice tweets including, “LMFAOO every time I delete a t.i. song from my iPad I imagine him dying in some bloody horror film like being eaten by a zombie.”

STATUS: Things have been quiet on the T.I./Azealia front since April. KINDA QUASHED?

WHO: Lil’ Kim

WHEN: May 2012

WHAT/WHY: Banks used to label herself a fan of Queen Bee, tweeting earlier this year, “Most female Rappers are Lil Kim stans but just don’t know it.” Azealia fans were even looking forward to a rumored Harlem/Brooklyn rap collabo between to the two women. But when Azealia tweeted that she wrote a verse for Kim for an upcoming project for the two rappers, Azealia claims Kim’s management told her that Kim doesn’t “need anyone’s help writing her verses.” Kim’s camp issued a statement claiming “[Lil Kim] and azealia have NEVER spoke to one another or met AT ALL.”

STATUS: Your guess is as good as ours.

WHO: Nicki Minaj

WHEN: August 2012

WHAT/WHY: This isn’t the first time Azealia has shared her opinions on Nicki. In a January interview with The Hundreds, she slammed the fellow LaGuardia High School alum, stating, “The butt, the hair, the this, the that, all the other shit, like… As much respect that I have for her, we’ve seen you do this already, what else can you do?” Despite the diss, Minaj still apparently invited Banks out on tour with her. After Banks tweeted that she turned down the offer, Minaj wrote (to no one in particular), “#ManTheseB*tchesDelirious.” Banks went off, sending a series of tweets calling out Minaj’s grammar.

STATUS: Minaj’s tweet wasn’t directed toward anyone particularly, so… A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING?

Jim Jones (right)

WHO: Jim Jones

WHEN: August 2012

WHAT/WHY: It all started over the word “Vamp.” Banks tweeted earlier this year, “VAMP: a very sexually/financially powerful woman who is usually characterized by a penchant for dark things; nighttime, witchcraft.” Rapper Jones then tried to tell Banks that she was taking inspiration from his “hard work mentality” that he’s dubbed “Vampire Life.” After yet another Twitter war, Azealia released her track “Succubi,” taking direct shots at Jones.

STATUS: KINDA QUASHED? After the track was released, another Twitter squabble took place, ending (?) after Jones called Banks a “slore.”

WHO: Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex

WHEN: August 2012

WHAT/WHY: Flex wasn’t too pleased when Banks called Jim Jones out on “Succubi,” and he shared his opinions on air on “The Funk Flex Show.” Banks, per usual, took to Twitter, referring to Flex as an “old dusty fat f–k”and “a butch queen” before denying  his attempts to have her call into the station to talk it out.

STATUS: COOLED OFF? Hot 97′s website is still promoting Banks’ new music, so there’s that.

(Azealia’s Rap Beef Count Down was written by Nicole James for FUSE)

THERE YOU HAVE IT!  Azealia’s 7 Beefs.  Isn’t it funny how Azealia slammed Nicki Minaj back in January, but is holding her nutz now?  CRAZY RIGHT?  Anyway…Who do you think Azealia shouldn’t have taken aim at?  Anybody?