Azealia Amanda Banks is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, she began releasing music through Myspace in 2008 before being signed to XL Recordings at age 18. Banks's song "212" was called one of the best songs of 2011 and one of the defining songs of the decade by music publications, including Rolling Stone and Billboard. In addition to her music, Banks' social media presence has received significant publicity.