Leeds & Reading Festival - Azealia Banks Cancels UK Summer Appearances

The controversial rapper AZEALIA BANKS has cancelled most of her UK appearances this summer. A statement from her representatives read "Azealia Banks will be performing at the Radio 1 Hackney Weekender and Leeds & Reading Festival s this Summer, but has unfortunately had to cancel her remaining UK festival appearances due to recording commitments. Her October UK headline tour will still go ahead as scheduled."

This announcement means that any Azealia fans in the UK that were hoping to see her perform at Lovebox, Rockness, Rough Beats, Wakestock and Parklife are going to be left disappointed. She has also cancelled her scheduled appearances in Europe, at Rock am Ring and Rock Werchter, according to a report from NME today. Banks recently changed management; she's now sharing the same team as Lady Gaga and has reportedly promised that she would be not be releasing any more "ghetto mixes."

Azealia's debut album, which is expected to be entitled 'Broke With Expensive Taste' has been scheduled for release in September 2012 and it is thought that the cancellation of the live shows was done in order that she can focus on finishing the album. Banks signed a recording deal with Universal Music in January 2012, after leaving the British label XL (home to Adele and formerly The White Stripes), citing "conflicting creative visions." Originally from New York, the '212' singer started attracting attention late last year, with the release of '212' and she promptly topped Nme's 'Cool List' of 2011.