1991 is the debut EP by American rapper, singer and songwriter Azealia Banks.
The Hip-House EP was released on May 28, 2012 under license of Polydor Records (UK) and Interscope Records (US).
Inspired by Ballroom culture her trans sister Latwan was immersed in, the record serves as sort of an introduction to Azealia Banks, hence the title 1991, Banks' birth year.
The record encompasses a variety of genres related to Ballroom culture and House such as UK Garage, UK Funky and Hip House.
Its lead single 212 was a world smashing hit that peaked on the top charts all across the planet and went viral on the Internet. 212 was lauded by critics and its shelf life applauded, with Billboard citing it as one of the songs that “defined the decade”.
And of course its accompanying music video is also considered to be an historical moment in Internet Pop culture, so much so that Rolling Stone placed it on their list of the ‘100 Greatest Music Videos’, and the song on their revised list of the 500 Greatest Songs.
Azealia describes 212 as the song that launched her to the stratosphere.
1991 was positively received by critics not just in the USA but all across the world:
1) Metacritic gave the EP a rating of 84/100.
2) Chris Dart from the show Exclaim! called 1991 “the perfect marriage of bangin', club-friendly beats and smart, crisply delivered lyrics”.
3) MSN Music “called 212 the highlight of an EP whose music is minimalist yet skillfully crafted: quick-tongued, lascivious, catchy, and delighted with itself… There hasn’t been a more pleasurable record all year.”
1991 is widely considered to be the most culturally impactful Hip House record of this century.
