Rapper Azealia Banks is weighing in on a recent revelation from a number of major record companies. A number of companies revealed that new clauses are to be added to artists’ recording contracts, limiting them from re-recording their masters after 10-30 years after leaving the record company they recorded with. Billboard was first to report this development. These revised policies come amid the continued success of the roll out of Taylor Swift‘s re-recorded first six original masters.
Following the success of Taylor Swift’s re-recordings, major labels are reportedly overhauling contracts for new signees, with some demanding artists wait 10, 15, or even 30 years to re-record releases after departing their record companies.
🔗: https://t.co/J3oUuMrl3i pic.twitter.com/dWwHkoNKD1
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) October 30, 2023
Banks has long defended Swift amid media and internet criticism, and continues to defend her and the rights of artists in general.
Azealia Banks’ instagram account is like a Netflix to me 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/1HVHZaoUJK
— Nils Sjöberg (fan acc.) (@icantunseeit) November 2, 2023
Fans of both artists were not surprised to see the rapper come to Swift’s defense, as she has numerous times in the past. Many find it humorous that in spite of her own controversial past, Banks has never spoken negatively of Swift, one of the few major musicians she does not argue with.
and notice how she beefs with everyone except taybeloved
— ds | 1989 TV (@ellvissong1903) November 2, 2023
Azealia Banks’ Controversies
The New York native rapper, known for her several hit tracks including “212”, has made plenty of her own questionable moves throughout her music career. Notably, Banks once exhumed her deceased pet cat for “taxidermy purposes”, and later alleged that she practiced witchcraft.
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Additionally, Banks made xenophobic comments regarding Irish people. The Irish Times quoted her referring to Irish women as “oompa-loompa looking, spray-tanned, crazy-looking b****es tonight. The girls have scurvy, they’re vitamin deficient, need some calcium tablets.”
After this incident, Banks was banned from X after slinging several racist slurs towards singer-songwriter Zayn Malik, who is half Pakistani. Previously, the rapper spoke on Swift’s past alleged relationship with the controversial frontman of the 1975, Matty Healy. Healy has made a number of racially insensitive comments about a number of groups, and specifically towards rapper Ice Spice. Given this background, some warn newer pop culture connoisseurs to take her comments on the latest development with record companies with a grain of salt.
Well a broken clock is always right twice a day! 😭
— steven ❀ (@arianaunext) November 2, 2023
I did not have “azealia banks defending the hell out of Taylor Swift” on my weekly predictions but glad that’s happening
— almond taylor-joy (@jesterbestie) November 2, 2023
Regardless of her past, many X users agreed with Banks’ opinion in this particular situation.
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Azealia Banks is right, labels are greedy and exploitative. Artists deserve to own their work.
— imhodler (@iamhodler_) November 2, 2023
Many agreed that the revised deals could prove to be incredibly exploitative from an artist’s perspective.
I agree with Azealia Banks that labels should not interfere with artists' creative rights. Taylor Swift deserves to own her masters and re-record her songs as she wishes. Labels should respect the talent and hard work of artists, not exploit them for profit.
— Global Alert Desk (@globalalertdesk) November 2, 2023
Swift is yet to comment on the revised contracts at this time. The songstress is currently signed with Republic Records, which falls under Universal Music Group’s ownership. The label was among those named in the Billboard report regarding the revisions.
