Azealia Banks @ Liverpool University, Liverpool, UK, September 21, 2024

Azealia Banks

Azealia Banks @ Liverpool University, Liverpool, UK, September 21, 2024,

Sep 22, 2024 By Andy Von Pip Photography by Andy Von Pip Web Exclusive

Azealia Banks’ return to the UK at Liverpool University Guild of Students, as part of her “Back to the Union Jack” tour, was a showcase of raw talent set against minimalist staging. Famous as much for her fiery online persona as for her genre-bending music, Banks—who perhaps needs to invest in a new watch—arrived on stage an hour late, which has been par for the course on this tour. But when she finally did, she delivered a set that traversed hip-hop, rave, and rock, placing her vocal and lyrical prowess firmly in the spotlight.

The performance crackled with energy and creativity, reminding everyone why her fans remain fiercely loyal despite her tendency to stir up unedifying controversies and Twitter feuds. Banks remains a massive talent, but one who seems to relish her role as arch-provocateur. Naturally, when you shoot from the hip so often, you run the risk of shooting yourself in the foot. Still, her undeniable charisma and musical brilliance kept the audience captivated throughout.

With the rising costs of touring, the bare stage and absence of live musicians emphasized her ability to command a large crowd with nothing more than sheer presence. Under The Radar’s photographer, Andy Von Pip, was there on an evening that reaffirmed Banks’ status as a formidable musical force—one who, if not for her infamous self-sabotaging spats, could easily claim the larger spotlight enjoyed by contemporaries like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and her “bestie” Nicki Minaj.