Format Digital download Genre Hip hop Label Interscope
Polydor | Recorded 2013 Length 3:53 | |
Released August 30, 2013 (2013-08-30) | ||
"ATM Jam" is a song by American rapper Azealia Banks, featuring vocals from the track's producer Pharrell. The track was released in 2013, serving as the second single from Banks' debut studio album, Broke with Expensive Taste (2014). The track debuted on June 29, 2013 as part of the rapper's set at Glastonbury Festival 2013, with New York radio station Hot 97 premiering the clean, shortened version of the studio recording three days later on July 2. On July 11, 2013, the full studio version of "ATM Jam" was officially released for radio airplay on BBC Radio 1. On November 9, 2013, Azealia tweeted that she would be taking "ATM Jam" off the album and that the song was meant to be a "passing chapter" and not a single.
Contents
Background
During an interview with BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe—which was broadcast on July 16, 2013—Banks revealed that "ATM Jam" was originally meant for singer Beyoncé Knowles. Explaining how the track then came to be recorded by herself, Banks commented, "She wanted to rap or something and wanted me to write a song, and I could't come up with anything that I thought would be appropriate for her just because I'm so raunchy, but I wrote the song. I wrote like some verses on it and he Pharrell was just like 'you should just keep it'".
Critical reception
"ATM Jam" received mixed reviews from critics. In a positive review of the single, Josiah Hughes of Exclaim! complimented Banks' collaboration with Pharrell Williams, stating that the two sounded "remarkably good together." Chris Martins of Spin favorably compared Banks' performance to that of fellow rappers Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott, noting her "crisp delivery and occasional foray into the English accent." In addition, Jordan Sargent of the same publication called "ATM Jam" Banks' "best shot at pop relevancy in the States." In a negative review of the single, Fact criticized Pharrell's performance, calling the hook "flaccid" and stating that, "overall, no one sounds that excited to be on the track."
Music video
Banks originally announced that the video for "ATM Jam" was shot in New York City on July 29, 2013 with director Clarence Fuller. However, the video with Fuller was later scrapped for unknown reasons and re-shot with director Rony Alwin, premiering on October 21, 2013.