BBD (song)

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| quote = 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.

| source = —Apple Juice Kid on collaborating with Banks.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2013/jan/02/new-music-azealia-banks-bbd|title=New music: Azealia Banks – BBD|work=The Guardian|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 26, 2015|first=Michael|last=Cragg}}

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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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/dec/19/azealia-banks-liquorice|title=New music: Azealia Banks – Liquorice|work=The Guardian|date=December 19, 2011|access-date=October 5, 2015|first=Michael|last=Cragg}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/02/who-is-azealia-banks/15|title=Who Is Azealia Banks?|work=Complex|date=February 13, 2012|access-date=October 5, 2015|first=Insanul|last=Ahmed}} Banks released "BBD" on New Year's Day, premiering the song on her SoundCloud account, with it later being sent to radio the same month.{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/new-songs-on-the-radio-january-2013/|title=New Songs On The Radio – 2013|work=PopCrush|date=January 22, 2013|access-date=October 22, 2015|first=Lauren|last=Stern|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022151851/http://popcrush.com/new-songs-on-the-radio-january-2013/|archive-date=October 22, 2015}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2013/09/azealia-banks-broke-with-expensive-taste-track-list-2014/|title=Azealia Banks' 2014 Debut Album Track List Includes Her 2011 Hit Song|work=Spin|date=September 10, 2013|access-date=October 5, 2015|first=Marc|last=Hogan}} 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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/azealia-banks-long-twisted-road-to-broke-with-expensive-taste-20141125|title=Azealia Banks' Long, Twisted Road to 'Broke With Expensive Taste'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 25, 2014|access-date=March 17, 2016|first=Simon|last=Vozick-Levinson}} She later approached Jeff Kwatinetz and signed a contract with his company, Prospect Park,{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.com/4529433/azealia-banks-broke-with-expensive-taste-interview/|title=An Interview with Azealia Banks|work=Vogue|date=November 19, 2014|access-date=October 5, 2015|first=Mark|last=Guiducci|archive-date=December 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214074352/http://www.vogue.com/4529433/azealia-banks-broke-with-expensive-taste-interview|url-status=dead}} which ultimately led to the long-awaited release of Broke with Expensive Taste on November 7, 2014.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/broke-with-expensive-taste/id935819478|title=iTunes – Music – Broke with Expensive Taste – Album by Azealia Banks|work=iTunes Store (US)|access-date=October 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112031838/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/broke-with-expensive-taste/id935819478|archive-date=November 12, 2014}}

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'.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/azealiabanks/status/543149466237558784|title=Azealia Banks on Twitter|work=Twitter|date=December 11, 2014|access-date=August 14, 2015|first=Azealia|last=Banks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814135501/https://twitter.com/azealiabanks/status/543149466237558784|archive-date=August 14, 2015}} 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".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUcWCUsHLNA| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211115/LUcWCUsHLNA| archive-date=2021-11-15 | url-status=live|title=BWET Track by Track: 'BBD'|work=YouTube|date=December 12, 2014|access-date=October 5, 2015|first=Azealia|last=Banks}}{{cbignore}}

File:Azealia Banks at 2013 Glastonbury Festival.jpg.|alt=Azealia Banks]]

"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",{{cite web|url=http://www.birthplacemag.com/2013/01/azealia-banks-bbd-new-music/|title=Azealia Banks – BBD (New Music)|work=BirthPlace|date=January 1, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2015|first=Manny|last=Faces}} while one The Huffington Post writer described the song as "Chicago rave meets southern rap".{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/bbd-azealia-banks-song_n_2395599.html|title='BBD': Azealia Banks Drops Trap-Inflected Song On New Year's Day (Audio)|work=The Huffington Post|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2015}} HipHopWired writer Kazeem Famuyide thought that the track was "EDM-inspired", which allowed Banks to "show off of her rapid-fire flow",{{cite web|url=http://hiphopwired.com/2013/01/02/azealia-banks-bbd-listen/|title=Azealia Banks – 'BBD' [Listen]|work=HipHopWired|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2015|first=Kazeem|last=Famuyide}} whereas MTV writer Phillip Mlynar described the tracks instrumental as a "slinky bopping beat".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtvhive.com/2013/01/02/azealia-banks-bbd/|title=Azealia Banks Stunts in Stilettos on 'BBD'|work=MTV|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2015|first=Phillip|last=Mlynar}} 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".{{cite web|url=http://prettymuchamazing.com/stream/new-azealia-banks-bbd|title=New: Azealia Banks – 'BBD'|work=Pretty Much Amazing|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 26, 2015|first=Genevieve|last=Oliver}} Maura Johnston from Pop Dust described the track as witch-hop, calling the song "minimalist and dark".{{cite web|url=http://popdust.com/2013/01/02/azealia-bankss-bbd-kicking-off-the-new-year-with-witch-hop/|title=Azealia Banks' 'BBD': Kicking Off The New Year With "Witch-Hop"|work=Pop Dust|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 26, 2015|first=Maura|last=Johnston|authorlink=Maura Johnston }}

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". 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".{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/2013/01/azealia_banks_bbd.php|title=Here's Your First 2013 Party Jam: Azealia Banks' New Track, 'BBD'|work=PAPER|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 10, 2015}} 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".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/bbd-20130103|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110025436/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/bbd-20130103|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2013|title=Azealia Banks 'BBD' Song Review|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 3, 2013|access-date=October 22, 2015|first=Jody|last=Rosen}} 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".{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2013/01/azealia-banks-bbd-broke-with-expensive-taste-future-rap/|title=Azealia Banks Does It Well on Future-Rap Showcase 'BBD'|work=Spin|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 26, 2015|first=Marc|last=Hogan}}

Banks first performed "BBD" at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival, on June 29, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ej58q9/acts/agpg9r#p01dhc1w|title=BBC – Glastonbury – 2013 – Acts – Azealia Banks|work=BBC|access-date=October 11, 2015}} She later performed the track during her set at the 2013 Reading Festival, on August 25, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ezc5d4/acts/afcg9r#p01h0l8z|title=Reading + Leeds – 2013 – Acts – Azealia Banks|work=BBC|access-date=October 22, 2015}} One writer for NME deemed "BBD" to be a highlight of Banks' set, citing its "explicit, bumping rhyme".{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/various-artists/87934|title=Reading Festival: All The Action From Across The Stages On Saturday|work=NME|date=August 30, 2015|access-date=October 26, 2015}} 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".{{cite web|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/music/azealia-banks-proves-yung-rapunxel-is-fierce-beyond-212-6638921|title=Azealia Banks Proves 'Yung Rapunxel' Is Fierce Beyond '212'|work=The Village Voice|date=May 12, 2015|access-date=October 26, 2015|first=Dianca|last=Potts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026005709/http://www.villagevoice.com/music/azealia-banks-proves-yung-rapunxel-is-fierce-beyond-212-6638921|archive-date=October 26, 2015}} 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".{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/azealia-banks-abc-gig-review-harlem-rap-diva-proves-thrilling-9735403.html|title=Azealia Banks, ABC, gig review: Harlem rap diva proves thrilling|work=The Independent|date=September 16, 2014|access-date=October 26, 2015|first=David|last=Pollock}}

Credits adapted from Broke with Expensive Taste liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Broke with Expensive Taste|others=Azealia Banks|location=United States|type=Liner notes|year=2014|publisher=Prospect Park}}

• "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.

• Recorded at Glenwood Place Studios (Burbank, California)
• Mixed at Germano Studios (New York City, New York)

• 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

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