Guts: Azealia Banks' "Neptune" / Ikonika

("Guts" will be a series where I talk about what lies below the surface; things you might not know about a track but that are worth knowing.) Harlem rapper/singer/mermaid Azealia Banks is on my radar for a few reasons; besides being hilariously lewd and awesomely talented, she works with UK dance producers, and awesome ones at that. A few months ago she released "NEEDSUMLUV", a song she did over Machinedrum's track "SXLND", and "Neptune" continues the streak, with the instrumental coming from Ikonika.

Those not familiar with Ikonika should take a moment to educate and appreciate. Born Sara Abdel-Hamid, she's one of the few women out there running with the big boys of bass and dance music. She's been released on Warp and Hyperdub, neither of which labels is a small feat. If you listen to "Please" (below) you can hear that "Neptune" is definitely an Ikonika track, the dead giveaways being the simple square-wave synths and dark-empty-room feel. She's said in a Guardian interview that she "would like to make really good pop music"; maybe's she's on her way?