View source for Slay-Z

{{Infobox album
| name       = Slay-Z
| type       = mixtape
| artist     = [[Azealia Banks]]
| cover      = Slay-Z cover.jpeg
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|2016|3|24}}
| recorded   = 2014–2016
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = {{flatlist|
* [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]
* [[electronic dance music|EDM]]
}}
| length     = {{duration|m=30|s=05}}
| label      = [[Self-publishing|Self-released]]
| producer   = {{flatlist|
* David Maurice
* An Expresso
* [[Benga (musician)|Benga]]
* [[Digital Mystikz|Coki]]
* Fame School (Slim & Telli)
* Guvnor Telli Kray
* Jamie Iovine
* [[Kaytranada]]
* [[Lunice]]
* Tony Igy
* Vyle
* DJ Yamez
}}
| prev_title = [[Broke with Expensive Taste]]
| prev_year  = 2014
| next_title = [[Icy Colors Change]]
| next_year  = 2018
| misc       = {{Singles
| name        = Slay-Z
| type        = mixtape
| single1     = [[The Big Big Beat]]
| single1date = February 19, 2016
}}
}}
'''''Slay-Z''''' is the second [[mixtape]] by American rapper [[Azealia Banks]]. It was independently released as a free download on March 24, 2016. The eight-song project features collaborations with [[Rick Ross]] and [[Nina Sky]]; its production was handled by various musicians, including [[Benga (musician)|Benga]], [[Digital Mystikz|Coki]], An Expresso, and [[Kaytranada]]. On July 12, 2017, it was re-released under Banks' record label, Chaos & Glory Recordings, to the [[iTunes Store]] and other online music stores.
==Background==
Following multiple conflicts with record label [[Interscope Records]], Banks released her debut album ''[[Broke with Expensive Taste]]'' in November 2014 through [[Prospect Park (production company)|Prospect Park]]. The genre-spanning longplayer garnered positive reviews from [[music journalism|music critics]],<ref name="billboardinterview">{{cite journal|last=Vozick-Levinson|first=Simon|title=Azealia Banks' Long, Twisted Road to 'Broke With Expensive Taste'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/azealia-banks-long-twisted-road-to-broke-with-expensive-taste-20141125|journal=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=March 24, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2016}}</ref> and peaked at number 30 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Balfour|first=Jay|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: T.I., Azealia Banks, Joe Budden|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.31387/title.hip-hop-album-sales-t-i-azealia-banks-joe-budden|work=[[HipHopDX]]|date=November 12, 2014|access-date=March 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114013707/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.31387/title.hip-hop-album-sales-t-i-azealia-banks-joe-budden|archive-date=November 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2015, the rapper announced her departure from the aforementioned company;<ref name="billboardpark">{{cite journal|last=J. Horowitz|first=Steven|title=Azealia Banks Announces Split From Prospect Park Management – UPDATE|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7272546/solange-dev-hynes-trombone-shorty-new-orleans-contemporary-arts-center|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=July 21, 2015|accessdate=March 25, 2016}}</ref> nonetheless, she revealed the following month that her contract with Prospect Park forbade her from releasing new music until March 2016.<ref name="nmelabel">{{cite journal|last=Van Nguyen|first=Dean|title=Azealia Banks claims she is unable to release new music until March due to label dispute|url=https://www.nme.com/news/azealia-banks/87475|work=[[NME (magazine)|NME]]|date=August 10, 2015|accessdate=March 25, 2016}}</ref>
Banks originally devised ''Slay-Z'' as a tribute to American rapper [[Jay-Z]].<ref name="dazed">{{cite journal|last=Gamble|first=Lone|title=Azealia Banks drops new track 'The Big Big Beat'|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/29957/1/azealia-banks-drops-new-track-the-big-big-beat|work=[[Dazed]]|date=February 24, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2016}}</ref> "Can't Do It like Me" was initially composed with American singer [[Rihanna]] in mind but was instead released solo.<ref name="fuse">{{cite news|last=Sherman|first=Maria|title=Azealia Banks Drops 'Slay-Z' Mixtape Feat. Rick Ross: Download It Now|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2016/03/azealia-banks-slay-z-download-mixtape|work=[[Fuse (TV channel)|Fuse]]|date=March 24, 2016|accessdate=March 25, 2016}}</ref> Rick Ross's verse on "Big Talk" was originally intended for a remix of Banks' song [[Ice Princess (song)|"Ice Princess,"]] however it was repurposed for ''Slay-Z'' due to label complications.<ref>{{cite web|title=Azealia Banks & Charli XCX Interview on The Candy Shop on Be@ts 1 04/22/16|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TBIRkPbhP0|website=Youtube|publisher=Beats 1|accessdate=11 May 2011}}</ref>
On March 2, 2016, Banks released "Used to Being Alone" for [[Streaming media|streaming]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2016/03/02/azealia-banks-shares-new-track-used-to-being-alone|title=AZEALIA BANKS SHARES NEW TRACK ‘USED TO BEING ALONE’|last=Richards|first=Will|date=March 2, 2016|website=[[DIY (magazine)|DIY]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/63892-azealia-banks-releases-used-to-being-alone-appears-to-take-more-shots-at-iggy-azalea/|title=Azealia Banks Releases "Used to Being Alone," Appears to Take More Shots at Iggy Azalea|last=Minsker|first=Evan|date=March 2, 2016|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>
==Release and reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = ''[[Exclaim!]]''
| rev1Score = 6/10<ref>{{cite web|last=Harmony|first=A.|date=March 29, 2016|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/azealia_banks-slay-z|title=Azealia Banks Slay-Z|work=[[Exclaim!]]|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[HipHopDX]]''
| rev2Score = 3.7/5<ref name="HipHopDX">{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2693/title.azealia-banks-slay-z|title=Azealia Banks – 'Slay-Z'|publisher=[[HipHopDX]]|first=Trent|last=Clark|accessdate=April 11, 2016}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="NME">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/azealia-banks/16442|title=Azealia Banks – 'Slay-Z' Review|publisher=NME|first=Nick|last=Levine|accessdate=April 16, 2016}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev4Score = 7.4/10<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21790-slay-z/|first=Britt|last=Julious|title=Azealia Banks: Slay-Z|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=March 30, 2016|accessdate=March 31, 2016}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev5Score = 7/10<ref>{{cite web|last=Weiss|first=Dan|date=April 6, 2016|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/04/review-azealia-banks-slay-z/|title=Review: The Azealia Banks-Industrial Complex Is Laid Out in Full on ‘Slay-Z’|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm2}}<ref name="Christgau"/>
}}
Prior to the release of the mixtape, Banks deactivated her [[Twitter]] handle for sixteen days. The rapper activated it on March 24 in order to announce the release of ''Slay-Z'', which was made available for [[music download|free download]] through [[WeTransfer]] on that day.<ref name="pitchforkrelease">{{cite news|last=Monroe|first=Jazz|title=Azealia Banks Releases Slay-Z Mixtape|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/63925-azealia-banks-releases-slay-z-mixtape/|work=[[Pitchfork Media]]|date=March 24, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2016}}</ref> She further explained that the release had been motivated by the project's engineer leaking its songs.<ref name="Spin">{{cite journal|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=March 24, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2016|title=Download Azealia Banks' New Mixtape, 'Slay-Z,'  For Free Right Now|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/03/download-azealia-banks-new-mixtape-slay-z-for-free-right-now/|last=Grebey|first=James}}</ref><ref name="billboard">{{cite journal|last=Platon|first=Adelle|title=Azealia Banks Returns to Twitter, Delivers Download Link to Her 'Slay-Z' Mixtape|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7272558/azealia-banks-slay-z-mixtape|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=March 24, 2016|accessdate=March 24, 2016}}</ref>
''Slay-Z'' received generally positive reviews from critics. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, it received an average score of 75, based on seven reviews.<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/slay-z-mixtape/azealia-banks|title=Slay-Z Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More |publisher=Metacritic |date=March 24, 2016 |accessdate=April 26, 2016}}</ref> Britt Julious from ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' said the mixtape was not as good as ''[[Broke with Expensive Taste]]'', but it still "shimmered with Banks' skill and personality", with tracks that were not always consistent but nevertheless engrossing.<ref name="Pitchfork"/> ''[[NME]]'' magazine's Joe Levine called it a "blast" and praised Banks' ability to "bounce effortlessly between genres".<ref name="NME"/> ''[[New York Times]]'' critic Nate Chinen said "where no one can really surpass her is in the convergence of raw hip-hop and electronic dance music", as on the songs "Used to Being Alone", "The Big Big Beat", and "Queen of Clubs".<ref>{{cite web|last=Chinen|first=Nate|date=March 30, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/03/arts/music/new-albums-from-azealia-banks-and-anoushka-shankar.html?_r=0|title=New Albums From Azealia Banks and Anoushka Shankar|work=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
In a less enthusiastic review, ''[[HipHopDX]]'' writer Trent Clark said while Banks' talent was apparent on ''Slay Z'', [[filler (media)|filler]] such as "Along the Coast" and "Used to Be Alone" suffered from poor musical choices; he described the latter track's beat as "an epileptic seizure of techno disharmony".<ref name="HipHopDX"/> [[Robert Christgau]] gave the mixtape a two-star honorable mention in his blog for ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'',<ref name="Christgau"/> indicating a "likable effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well enjoy".<ref>{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|year=2000|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the 90s|publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]]|isbn=0312245602|page=xvi|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/christgausconsum00chri_0}}</ref> He cited "Along the Coast" and "The Big Big Beat" as highlights while calling Banks the "seriously fluent, seriously flaky rapper as the dancefloor diva you love more than her beats—or, obviously, her tweets".<ref name="Christgau">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=May 20, 2016|url=http://noisey.vice.com/blog/expert-witness-with-robert-christgau-beyonce-kevin-gates-azealia-banks|title=Baton Rouge, Big Beats, and Beyoncé Expert Witness with Robert Christgau|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|accessdate=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
On July 12, 2017, the mixtape was re-released commercially through Banks' label, Chaos & Glory Recordings.<ref name="iTunes">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/slay-z/id1258783032|title=Slay-Z by Azealia Banks on Apple Music|work=Apple Music|accessdate=July 20, 2017}}</ref>
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline  = ''Slay-Z''&nbsp;– {{nobold|Standard version}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Riot
| note1  = featuring [[Nina Sky]]
| writer1 = {{flat list|
*[[Azealia Banks]]
*[[Nina Sky]]
*Leah Hayes
*Slim}}
| length1 = 3:38
| extra1 = Fame School (Slim & Telli)
| title2 = Skylar Diggins
| writer2 = {{flat list|
*Banks
*Slim
*Telli}}
| length2 = 3:17
| extra2 = Fame School
| title3 = Big Talk
| note3 = featuring [[Rick Ross]]
| writer3 = {{flat list|
*Banks
*[[Rick Ross]]
*Vyle
*DJ Yamez}}
| length3 = 2:44
| extra3 = {{flat list|
*Vyle
*DJ Yamez}}
| title4 = Can't Do It like Me
| length4 = 2:44
| writer4 = {{flat list|
*Banks
*Jonathan Harris
*[[Benga (musician)|Benga]]
*[[Digital Mystikz|Coki]]}}
| extra4 = {{flat list|
*[[Benga (musician)|Benga]]
*[[Digital Mystikz|Coki]]}}
| title5 = [[The Big Big Beat]]
| writer5 = {{flat list|
*Banks
*Harris
*Jack Fuller
*An Expresso}}
| length5 = 3:36
| extra5 = An Expresso
| title6 = Used to Being Alone
| writer6 = {{flat list|
*Banks
*Fuller
*[[Tony Igy]]}}
| length6 = 2:39
| extra6 = Tony Igy
| title7 = Queen of Clubs
| writer7 = {{flat list|
*Banks
*Jamie Iovine
*Slim}}
| length7 = 4:29
| extra7 = {{flat list|
*Jamie Iovine
*Slim}}
| title8 = Along the Coast
| writer8 = {{flat list|
*Banks
*Fuller
*[[Kaytranada]]}}
| length8 = 3:12
| extra8 = [[Kaytranada]]
}}
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| headline  = ''Slay-Z''&nbsp;– {{nobold|(Re-release bonus tracks)}}<ref name="iTunes"/>
| extra_column  = Producer(s)
| title1 =
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| title9 = [[Crown (Azealia Banks song)|Crown]]
| length9 = 3:44
| writer9 = {{flat list|
*Banks
*[[Lunice]]}}
| extra9 = [[Lunice]]
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}}
=== Sample credits ===
* "Can't Do It Like Me" contains elements of "Night", performed by Benga and Coki.
* "Used to Being Alone" contains elements of "Astronomia", performed by Tony Igy.
== Release history ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! scope="col"| Country
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format
! scope="col"| Label
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
!scope="row" rowspan="2"| Worldwide
| March 24, 2016
| [[Streaming media|Streaming]]
|[[Self-released]]
|<ref name="pitchforkrelease"/>
|-
| July 12, 2017
| [[Music download|Digital download]]
| Chaos & Glory Recordings
|<ref>{{Cite web|first=Max|last=Weinstein|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/07/azealia-banks-interview-music-industry/|title=Azealia Banks Keeps It Real About Being Shut Out of the Music Industry|work=XXL Magazine|date=July 13, 2017|accessdate=July 20, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|}
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Azealia Banks}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2016 mixtape albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Kaytranada]]
[[Category:Azealia Banks compilation albums]]