Raised in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, she began releasing music through Myspace in 2008 before being signed to XL Recordings at age 18.

She has since released three mixtapes (Fantasea in 2012, Slay-Z in 2016, and Yung Rapunxel Pt.II in 2019), a studio album (Broke with Expensive Taste in 2014), and two extended plays (1991 in 2012 and Icy Colors Change in 2018).

Banks's works have garnered acclaim from critics, drawing on various sounds including house, rap, pop, electronic music, and avant-garde.

Throughout her career, Banks's social media presence and outspoken views, especially on U.S. politics and race, as well as disputes with other artists, have attracted significant controversy.

At 16, she starred in a production of the comedy-noir musical City of Angels, where she was found by an agent who sent her to auditions for TBS, Nickelodeon, and Law & Order, all without success.

[9] At this point Banks decided to end her pursuit of an acting career, citing the stiff competition and overall sense of nonfulfillment.

[20] It was announced in December 2011 that she would feature on "Shady Love", a track on American band Scissor Sisters' fourth studio album, Magic Hour, although the appearance was uncredited.

[23] A week later saw the emergence of a second track, "Bambi", produced by Paul Epworth and selected as the soundtrack for a Thierry Mugler fashion show in Paris.

[28] Fantasea was released via Banks's Twitter account on July 11,[29] and described as "thrilling document of a phenomenally gifted performer in a state of flux".

[47] On June 29, she debuted the song at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival,[48] with New York City radio station Hot 97 premiering a clean, shortened version of the studio recording three days later.

[50] Banks confirmed in November 2013 that "ATM Jam" would not appear on Broke with Expensive Taste due to negative fan feedback and personal disinterest regarding the song.

[55] In 2015, Banks performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and posed nude for the April issue of Playboy, shot by Ellen von Unwerth.

It was announced in 2015 that Banks would make her acting debut as the main character in the RZA-directed musical drama film Coco (now known as Love Beats Rhymes).

[78] A music video for "Count Contessa", directed by Rony Alwin and shot in Bali, Indonesia, was previously released on December 8, 2015.

[79] Throughout the first quarter of 2020, Banks debuted her podcast Cheapy's Two Cents and released multiple promotional singles, including "Slow Hands", an Interpol cover previously uploaded in 2012,[80] as well as "Salchichón" being produced by frequent collaborator Onyx.

[84] On June 9, 2020, Banks released the lead single[64] from her as-yet-unreleased album Business & Pleasure[85] titled "Black Madonna" featuring producer Lex Luger.

[95] However, the following May, Banks said she had not authorized the release and criticized Torren Foot's rework of the song, which she called "a piss poor remix of [her] master track".

found Banks's rapping speed "remarkable", commenting that she "manages a feat that takes most rappers the better part of a career to master: the perfect marriage of bangin', club-friendly beats and smart, crisply delivered lyrics".

This alter ego was adapted from Banks calling herself Rapunzel due to a long weave she wore while working at Starbucks as a teenager.

[111] In November 2023, Banks posted an Instagram story in which she accused American record producer Diplo of sexually coercing her during the time they worked together when she was 17 years old.

[123] Banks is known for publicly speaking out on African-American civil rights issues, with a commentator at Splice Today describing her as having "that hot New York temper where she will pop off if you cross her the wrong way".

[127][128] On Twitter, she urged young African Americans to take an interest in such issues, adding, "We are the children of the people who perished in the name of modern capitalism and we deserve a piece of that fucking pie".

She claimed, without evidence, that Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy prevented African exchange students from leaving the country, in reference to Ukrainians authorities who barred Black immigrants from fleeing at the onset of the war.

[133] In a previous Instagram story from April 1, she had praised Russia's president Vladimir Putin, saying that she "really fucking love[s]" him and calling him her "favorite super villain ever".

[147][148] In May 2016, Banks posted what several media outlets described as a racist and homophobic rant[149][150] against Zayn Malik on Twitter, later targeting young actress Skai Jackson.

[153][154][155] In October 2016, Banks filed a police report against actor Russell Crowe, claiming that he choked and spat at her before proceeding to call her the n word during a party in his hotel suite.

RZA supported Banks’ claims the following year during an interview with The Breakfast Club, but also condemned her alleged "obnoxious and erratic" behavior.

[158] In December 2016, Banks posted a series of videos on Instagram detailing her cleanup of a closet in her apartment where she claimed to have been practicing witchcraft.

[160][161][162] In January 2019, Banks posted xenophobic remarks about Irish people after performing in Ireland, in which she used ethnic slurs and mocked the Great Famine.

[163][164][165] That August, she posted xenophobic remarks about Swedish people after performing in Sweden, adding that she "would really love to see someone bomb the shit out of this place".