"212" (two-one-two) is the debut single by American rapper Azealia Banks. The musical base of the track is the song "Float My Boat" by Belgian DJ Jef Martens and his brother Toon (under the alias "Lazy Jay"), who also produced Banks' version. The song was first released on December 6, 2011 in the United Kingdom as the lead single from her 2012 EP 1991, and is also included on her debut studio album Broke with Expensive Taste (2014).[2] The song is named after the area code 212 which covers Manhattan, New York where Banks grew up. In September 2011, the song was chosen as the Record of the Week by Nick Grimshaw on BBC Radio 1.[3] The song was included in many publications' end-of-year lists for 2011, being ranked at number 9 by Pitchfork Media[4] and number 2 by The Guardian.[5]
Critical reception
|
|
A 20-second sample of "212", described as "a potty-mouthed sex song". [6]
|
| Problems playing this file? See media help. |
The song received universal acclaim, with critics complimenting Banks' versatile rapping style as well as her songwriting ability. The Guardian gave the song a positive review and placed it at number 2 on their The Best Songs of 2011 list.[5][7] In the review, Michael Cragg praised the song, calling it "a startling three and a half minutes of attitude" as well as "incredible."[7] Carrie Battan of Pitchfork Media named the song "best new track", lauding Banks' "unpredictable vocal range" and wrote, "She clicks between characters and styles casually, effortlessly. No seams. A jaw-slackening demo reel."[8] Thomas H. Green from The Independent called it "a potty-mouthed sex song that encapsulates the way the current US explosion in EDM has adapted and adopted European rave, mixing the style with hip-hop and R&B stylistic tics."[6] NME dubbed the song #18 on their 50 Best Tracks Of 2011, calling it "mischievous, quick-witted and full of filthy cunnilanguage: it’s made Azealia Banks the coolest girl on the planet, and it delivered on 2011’s forward-thinking promise."[9] NPR Music gave the song a positive review and listed it as one of their 100 Favorite Songs Of 2011, calling the song "the raunchiest shut-down of 2011."[10] The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop ranked "212" at number 6 to find the best music of 2011. Pitchfork Media also ranked it number 9 on their Top 100 Tracks of 2011 list, writing:
So she's an internet novelty? Hardly. "212" works because its popcraft and its shock tactics are each other's Trojan horses-- concentrate on one and the other sneaks up on you. One reason "ruin you, cunt" feels like such a payoff is that Banks spends an entire verse of quick, unshowy rapping setting up its run of vowels. Banks uses the peaks, breakdowns, and drop-outs of Lazy Jay's bouncy "Float My Boat" to give her Minaj-style vocal-shifts some context: from sassy and chatty during the build ups to cartoon rage as the synths rear up around her at the song's end. If it were judged only on its visceral thrill, "212" would still be one of 2011's best, an unashamed banger in a mostly mid-tempo year. But the more you dig into the song, the more you can hear details and decisions that suggest a scary degree of pop talent.[11]
Music video
A music video to accompany the release of "212" was first released onto YouTube on September 12, 2011 at a total length of three minutes and twenty-five seconds. Directed by Vincent Tsang, the video is shot in black-and-white, and features Banks dancing in front of a brick wall and close-ups of her rapping to camera.[12] In addition to Lazy Jay, the video also includes appearances by Québécois record producers Lunice & Jacques Greene.
In the media
Since its release, "212" has been featured in the season one finale of the HBO show Girls and the E4 drama Skins. It has also featured in several films, such as The Heat, The Bling Ring, A Long Way Down and Pitch Perfect. The song was most recently used on an episode of Cuckoo.[13][14][15]
Track listing
- Digital download[16]
- "212" – 3:25
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
|
Release history
References
External links
|
|
|
|
| Studio albums |
|
| Extended plays |
|
| Mixtapes |
|
| Singles |
|
| Promotional singles |
|
| Other songs |
|
|
|
