While Beyoncé’s new album doesn’t have a release date, let alone a title, more and more details are starting to emerge. In addition to Miguel and Justin Timberlake, the pop superstar has called upon Azealia Banks for a potential record.
During an interview with Shar Reid for ASOS, the “212” rapper confirmed that she recently hit the studio to record for Bey’s upcoming album. “I actually did something for her record in Miami a couple weeks ago,” she revealed. “I really didn’t want to say it because I didn’t want to jinx it ’cause you know how that shit goes.”
She’s unsure if the song will make the cut, but either way, she was thrilled for the opportunity. “Oh my God. Even the fact that I was considered to rap on a Beyoncé track was just… I’m about to cry. It was amazing.”
Beyoncé has been working with Pharrell, Timbaland, and The-Dream on the follow-up to 4, which will be rooted in R&B. “We all started in the ’90s, when R&B was the most important genre, and we all kind of want that back: the feeling that music gave us,” she told GQ.
Banks has expressed her love for Bey in the past. “I definitely think career-wise and personally, I’m very, very inspired by Beyoncé,” she told Beats TV. “She’s so well-mannered and so classy and so well-poised. It’s important to have those kinds of skills.”
As far as her own music goes, she has been in the studio working on her Interscope Records debut Broke With Expensive Taste. “I love Crystal Waters. On my upcoming record, you’ll hear a lot of Crystal Waters’ influence,” said the Harlem native, whose video for “1991” was inspired by the ’90s dance star.
The first single will be “Miss Amor” and she expects to finish recording this month.
In addition, she has collaborated with Lady Gaga on a couple tracks (“Ratchet” and “Red Flame”), but she’s unsure where those will end up. “When you do songs for someone else’s record, it’s their record and it’s up to her to do whatever she wants with it.”