BBD (song)

"BBD" (Bad Bitches Doit)[1] is a song recorded by American rapper Azealia Banks for her debut studio album Broke with Expensive Taste (2014). It was released as the first promotional single from the album on January 1, 2013. Production of the song was handled by Apple Juice Kid, with Sup Doodle providing co-production for the track. Banks, Jonathan Harris and Kevin James all contributed to the song's writing. Critical reception of the song was generally positive, with critics claiming the song to be the one of the first party anthems of the new year. Banks clarified on her Twitter account that "BBD" was not the first official single from Broke with Expensive Taste, writing "Y'all know i love dropping songs tho! Lol".[2]

"BBD"
Promotional single by Azealia Banks
from the album Broke with Expensive Taste
ReleasedJanuary 1, 2013 (2013-01-01)
Recorded2012
Genre
Length3:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Banks
  • Jonathan Harris
  • Kevin James
Producer(s)
Azealia Banks promotional singles chronology
BBD
(2013)		 ATM Jam
(2013)

Background
I got my start winning beat battles in NYC, and several people contacted me about producing for Azealia from her previous label years ago. Nothing ever happened, but when I saw Azealia on Twitter about two years ago I tweeted her asking if I could collaborate directly with her. She DM'd me her email, told me she remembered me from winning the beat battles, and for two years I have been emailing her beats every few months.

—Apple Juice Kid on collaborating with Banks.[3]

In 2011, it was reported that Banks was working on her debut studio album with British producer Paul Epworth, despite not being signed to a record label at the time.[4] In January 2012, Banks signed a deal with Interscope and Polydor Records to work on new music, and a month later, she announced the title of the album to be Broke with Expensive Taste.[5] Banks released "BBD" on New Year's Day, premiering the song on her SoundCloud account,[1] with it later being sent to radio the same month.[6] The track was confirmed to be a part of Broke with Expensive Taste, when Banks posted the track listing of the album to her Instagram account.[7] Approximately a year later, she handed a complete version of the album in to the labels, which included "BBD". Banks initially thought it would receive favorable reception from the labels; however, the representatives told Banks that she had not recorded a "hit" single for the album. Ultimately, Banks ended the record deal with Interscope and Polydor in July 2014.[8] She later approached Jeff Kwatinetz and signed a contract with his company, Prospect Park,[9] which ultimately led to the long-awaited release of Broke with Expensive Taste on November 7, 2014.[10]

Throughout December 2014, Banks released a series of videos in which she gave a track-by-track commentary for all of the songs from Broke with Expensive Taste, and revealed how each song came to be, dubbed the '16 Days of Azealia'.[11] During the commentary video for "BBD", Banks described the song as "another one of those records", going on to compare it to her earlier "rowdy" songs such as Fantasea's "Fuck up the Fun" and "L8R". She described the creation of the song as a process, summing it up in as "I was like, ok, I'm gonna make a trap record".[12]

Composition
Banks performed "BBD" at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival.

"BBD" is a hip-hop song with heavy trap influences, that runs for a total duration of three minutes and eighteen seconds. Manny Faces from BirthPlace described the track as "a musically frantic, bass heavy stuttery-snare Apple Juice Kid/Sup Doodle-co-production",[13] while one The Huffington Post writer described the song as "Chicago rave meets southern rap".[14] HipHopWired writer Kazeem Famuyide thought that the track was "EDM-inspired", which allowed Banks to "show off of her rapid-fire flow",[15] whereas MTV writer Phillip Mlynar described the tracks instrumental as a "slinky bopping beat".[16] Genevieve Oliver from Pretty Much Amazing thought that the track "effortlessly amalgamates hip-hop and dance trends (a little trap-y, a little rave-y, Azealia said on Twitter; not to mention the song's title appears to reference Bell Biv Devoe) with her own already-classic rapid-fire, sassy wordplay".[17] Maura Johnston from Pop Dust described the track as witch-hop, calling the song "minimalist and dark".[18]

Critical reception

The song received general acclaim from critics. Manny Faces from BirthPlace cited the song as an improvement from her previous material, writing "It’s a little harder, a little less sloppy and a little more promising than some of her previous efforts, many of which have drowned in sonic experimentation that, in some opinions (mine), haven’t done her any favors".[13] A writer for PAPER hailed the track as "[The] first 2013 party jam", adding that the song "will jolt you awake this Wednesday morning more quickly than that venti coffee you've been nursing since 9 am".[19] Rolling Stone writer Jody Rosen gave "BBD" three-and-a-half stars out of five, describing the song as "a typically fleet, flashy collection of disses and boasts that glory in estrogen power, Sapphic delights, and the fun of cuckolding stupid dudes".[20] Spin writer Marc Hogan thought that the track reflected well on Banks' sense of style, writing "With the squiggly high-end and wobbly sub-bass of what we’re really calling trap-rave now, huh, plus some masterfully timed quiet-loud dynamic shifts, the track displays the virtuosically foul-mouthed rapper’s usual immaculately stylish beat selection".[21]

Live performances

Banks first performed "BBD" at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival, on June 29, 2013.[22] She later performed the track during her set at the 2013 Reading Festival, on August 25, 2013.[23] One writer for NME deemed "BBD" to be a highlight of Banks' set, citing its "explicit, bumping rhyme".[24] Banks also included "BBD" on the set list to her Broke with Expensive Taste World Tour (2014–15). According to Dianca Potts, during Banks' gig at the Irving Plaza, "'BBD' and 'Wallace' were similarly received, the audience's enthusiasm building as each second passed".[25] The track was also well received when performed in Europe, with The Independent writer David Pollock highlighting it as one of the best received numbers of the night, along with "No Problems" and "212".[26]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Broke with Expensive Taste liner notes.[27]

Credits
  • "BBD" contains excerpts from "Swoop", as originally performed by ETX!ETC! and Brillz.
  • "BBD" contains excerpts from "Trap Shit V9", as originally performed by UZ.

Locations

Personnel
  • Vocals – Azealia Banks
  • Songwriting – Azealia Banks, Jonathan Harris, Kevin James
  • Production – Apple Juice Kid
  • Co-production – Sup Doodle
  • Engineering – Rick McRae
  • Recording – Rick McRae
  • Mixing – Rick McRae

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide January 1, 2013
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References
  1. Copsey, Robert (January 2, 2013). "Azealia Banks unveils new song 'BBD' – listen". Digital Spy. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  2. Dionne, Zach (January 1, 2013). "Azealia Banks Has a New Jam for Your New Year". New York. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  3. Cragg, Michael (January 2, 2013). "New music: Azealia Banks – BBD". The Guardian. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  4. Cragg, Michael (December 19, 2011). "New music: Azealia Banks – Liquorice". The Guardian. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  5. Ahmed, Insanul (February 13, 2012). "Who Is Azealia Banks?". Complex. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  6. Stern, Lauren (January 22, 2013). "New Songs On The Radio – 2013". PopCrush. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  7. Hogan, Marc (September 10, 2013). "Azealia Banks' 2014 Debut Album Track List Includes Her 2011 Hit Song". Spin. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  8. Vozick-Levinson, Simon (November 25, 2014). "Azealia Banks' Long, Twisted Road to 'Broke With Expensive Taste'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  9. Guiducci, Mark (November 19, 2014). "An Interview with Azealia Banks". Vogue. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  10. "iTunes – Music – Broke with Expensive Taste – Album by Azealia Banks". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  11. Banks, Azealia (December 11, 2014). "Azealia Banks on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  12. Banks, Azealia (December 12, 2014). "BWET Track by Track: 'BBD'". YouTube. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  13. Faces, Manny (January 1, 2013). "Azealia Banks – BBD (New Music)". BirthPlace. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  14. "'BBD': Azealia Banks Drops Trap-Inflected Song On New Year's Day (Audio)". The Huffington Post. January 2, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  15. Famuyide, Kazeem (January 2, 2013). "Azealia Banks – 'BBD' [Listen]". HipHopWired. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  16. Mlynar, Phillip (January 2, 2013). "Azealia Banks Stunts in Stilettos on 'BBD'". MTV. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  17. Oliver, Genevieve (January 2, 2013). "New: Azealia Banks – 'BBD'". Pretty Much Amazing. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  18. Johnston, Maura (January 2, 2013). "Azealia Banks' 'BBD': Kicking Off The New Year With "Witch-Hop"". Pop Dust. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  19. "Here's Your First 2013 Party Jam: Azealia Banks' New Track, 'BBD'". PAPER. January 2, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  20. Rosen, Jody (January 3, 2013). "Azealia Banks 'BBD' Song Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  21. Hogan, Marc (January 2, 2013). "Azealia Banks Does It Well on Future-Rap Showcase 'BBD'". Spin. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  22. "BBC – Glastonbury – 2013 – Acts – Azealia Banks". BBC. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  23. "Reading + Leeds – 2013 – Acts – Azealia Banks". BBC. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  24. "Reading Festival: All The Action From Across The Stages On Saturday". NME. August 30, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  25. Potts, Dianca (May 12, 2015). "Azealia Banks Proves 'Yung Rapunxel' Is Fierce Beyond '212'". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  26. Pollock, David (September 16, 2014). "Azealia Banks, ABC, gig review: Harlem rap diva proves thrilling". The Independent. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  27. Broke with Expensive Taste (Liner notes). Azealia Banks. United States: Prospect Park. 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)

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