Unsolved:Zenzealia
Zenzealia is the second studio album by American rapper Azealia Banks, self-released on April 21, 2026, under the limited liability company Pleasure Place. It is technically her first full-length release since her mixtape Yung Rapunxel Pt. II (2019),[1] and her second album following Broke with Expensive Taste (2014).[2] Co-produced with Swedish DJ Kornél Kovács, the album marks a significant stylistic departure from Banks' previous work, consisting of an hour-long spoken guided meditation that was described as highly unexpected by critics.[1][3]
Background
Banks had recently drawn widespread criticism for comments related to the Jeffrey Epstein case,[1] and for her staunch support for Israel and zionism during the Gaza war.[4][5] One month before the release of Zenzealia, Banks tweeted that she was unable to make new music because "unfortunately nobody will work with me now. The only people who will are all in Tel Aviv."[6]
Composition
Spanning ten tracks, Zenzealia guides the listener through a meditative experience incorporating body relaxation, deep breathing and energy work, with references to chakras and color visualization, and themes of mental serenity, self-esteem and emotional renewal.[7]
Critical reception
Spanish publication Jenesaispop declared that, despite being unexpected, Zenzealia had "quite beautiful soundscapes" and that Banks "turns out to have a good voice for the role",[3] while the American critic Anthony Fantano described it as the "worst album of 2026 so far".[2]
Track listing
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Green, Walden (22 April 2026). "Azealia Banks' New Album Is an… Hour-Long Guided Meditation Suite?". Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/news/azealia-banks-new-album-is-anhour-long-guided-meditation-suite/. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Anthony Fantano (28 April 2026). Worst Album of 2026 So Far (Video). Retrieved 28 April 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bardají, Jordi (22 April 2026). "De los beefs al mindfulness: Azealia Banks lanza su disco más inesperado" (in es). Jenesaispop. https://jenesaispop.com/2026/04/22/521706/azealia-meditacion-disco/. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ Pilley, Max (25 June 2025). "Azealia Banks drops out of Boomtown and Maiden Voyage, claiming promoters were 'trying to force me to say 'Free Palestine''". NME. https://www.nme.com/news/music/azealia-banks-drops-out-of-boomtown-and-maiden-voyage-claiming-promoters-were-trying-to-force-me-to-say-free-palestine-3872502. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ Fuld, Shanna (3 October 2025). "American pro-Zionist rapper Azealia Banks finds refuge in Tel Aviv - interview". Jpost.com. https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-869203.
- ↑ "I wish i could but unfortunately nobody will work with me now. The only people who will are all in Tel Aviv. Weird times.". Azealia Banks on Twitter. 27 March 2026. https://x.com/iiwasinthee212/status/2037448094644592659. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ "Azealia Banks conduz uma meditação guiada em Zenzealia" (in pt). Brazil: Tecoapple. 22 April 2026. https://tecoapple.com/2026/04/22/azealia-banks-zenzealia/. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
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