When Azealia Banks dropped a track named after the most powerful woman in fashion, the internet collectively held its breath. People expected a diss. They expected the kind of scorched-earth vitriol that has defined much of Banks’ social media presence over the last decade. But what they got was something entirely different.
Azealia Banks Anna Wintour isn’t a takedown. It’s a love letter to personal power. Released in April 2018, the song served as the lead single for the long-delayed Fantasea II: The Second Wave. It quickly became more than just a song; it became a cultural moment that bridged the gap between Harlem rap, 90s house music, and the high-fashion world of Vogue.
Why name a song after the Editor-in-Chief?
The connection between Banks and Wintour isn’t just about the title. Banks has long been a fixture—albeit a polarizing one—in the fashion world. She’s performed at Alexander Wang’s after-parties and has been a front-row staple when she isn’t being banned from platforms.
Honestly, the choice of name was a strategic masterstroke. Banks explained on Instagram at the time that she identifies with Wintour’s "larger than life soul in a petite, tidy and feminine body." She doesn't see the intimidation factor that everyone else talks about. Instead, she sees a woman who knows exactly where she belongs in the world.
That certainty is what the song is actually about. It’s not about the Met Gala or wearing Prada; it’s about "finding God" and connecting with the universe. Banks mentioned that the track was heavily inspired by early 2000s Christian pop singer Stacie Orrico. It sounds wild, but when you hear the soulful high notes in the pre-chorus, you can totally hear that gospel-pop influence peeking through the house beats.
🔗 Read more: How Tall is Tim Curry? What Fans Often Get Wrong About the Legend's Height
The Junior Sanchez Connection
The track wasn't always meant to be its own thing. Producer Junior Sanchez was originally commissioned by Interscope Records to do a remix of Banks’ song "Ice Princess." The working title for that remix? Anna Wintour.
Eventually, the idea evolved. The "Ice Princess" vibes were there—that cold, frigid persona—but Banks wanted to inject "love" into the frozen kingdom. She even considered putting Mel B or Nicki Minaj on the track at various points. Scheduling conflicts killed the Mel B feature, and the Nicki collab remained a "what if" in the annals of hip-hop history.
Decoding the Lyrics and the "Bob Chic" Aesthetic
If you listen to the bars, Banks is at her most technical and fluid. She raps about being "first page, the main stage" and "stuntin’ in front row." It’s high-fashion peacocking at its finest.
The music video, released in May 2018, took the obsession further. Directed by Matthew Pasterisa, it featured Banks in an abandoned warehouse, rocking a look that was part Teyana Taylor (though Banks later claimed the choreography was "borrowed" from her team first) and part high-fashion editorial. She leaned into the Anna Wintour aesthetic—the signature bob, the dark shades, the absolute poise.
💡 You might also like: Brandi Love Explained: Why the Businesswoman and Adult Icon Still Matters in 2026
- Self-Reflection: "I relate to Anna Wintour so much as a strong, powerful and larger than life soul."
- The Vibe: It's a "vogue" track designed for the ballroom scene.
- The Goal: Banks explicitly stated she wanted it to be the "gay wedding anthem" of the summer.
She nailed it. Even people who had written her off after her various controversies had to admit the song was a banger. It proved that despite the noise, her talent remained top-tier.
The Cultural Impact and the "Met Gala" Effect
While Wintour herself never officially commented on the song—she’s a bit busy running the world, after all—the fashion community embraced it. The song has become a staple for runway walks and fashion montages. It’s the kind of track that makes you feel like you’re walking a catwalk even if you’re just going to the grocery store.
There’s a nuance here that most people miss. Banks wasn’t just using Wintour’s name for clout. She was using it as a metaphor for self-definition. In her own words, she admitted that her personal power had sometimes led to "self-indulgences" and chaos. This song was her trying to use that power to define herself rather than just react to the world.
What most people get wrong
People think this was a comeback attempt that failed because the album Fantasea II never fully materialized in the way fans hoped. But if you look at the streaming numbers and the way the song still pops up in DJ sets in 2026, it didn’t fail. It solidified her as the queen of "house-rap."
📖 Related: Melania Trump Wedding Photos: What Most People Get Wrong
The song captures a specific era of NYC energy. It’s gritty but polished. It’s arrogant but spiritual. It’s basically Azealia Banks in a nutshell.
To really understand the impact of Azealia Banks Anna Wintour, you have to look at it through the lens of artistic redemption. It remains one of the few times a "problematic" artist managed to let the art speak louder than the headlines.
If you're looking to dive deeper into this era of music, start by listening to the instrumental version of the track. It reveals the intricate layers Junior Sanchez built—layers that often get lost under Azealia’s rapid-fire delivery. From there, check out her earlier track "Ice Princess" to see the "frozen" origin story that eventually thawed out into the empowerment of "Anna Wintour."
The best way to experience the track is exactly how Azealia intended: loudly, with a bit of "kunty stunt" energy, and preferably while wearing a pair of very dark sunglasses.
To continue exploring this intersection of music and high fashion, look into the production credits of her Broke with Expensive Taste album, which laid the groundwork for this specific house-rap fusion.