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SINGAPORE — A quick Google search on rising music sensation Azealia Banks will give anyone the general idea that this 21-year-old rapper isn’t one to be trifled with. She’s opinionated and isn’t afraid of expressing her opinions.

When we met the musician at the W Hotel Singapore-Sentosa Cove for the Audi Fashion Festival (AFF) last Friday, handlers declared a ban on questions pertaining to Twitter or Banks’s new album, and hence I was preparing myself for a tricky ride.

So, when she came over and warmly shook my hand with a “How are you? I like your top!” I was a little thrown off. As the interview progressed, I was struck with how thoughtful and refreshing this young woman was. In an industry of peers who often give guarded answers and politically-correct statements, it was a good change — even if Twitter and her new album were off limits.

While it’s no surprise to have Banks invited to the biggest fashion events in the world — she doesn’t like being called a fashionista.

“I don’t have time to be a fashionista, play fashionista or even pretend to be a fashionista,” she said.

Even if people still see her as one? “I know right? Like dude, I got this at a thrift shop for $10. It’s not even that serious.”

And no, she doesn’t follow the current fashion trends. “There are 50 other people with this Versace necklace on that everyone is wearing right now and I’m like, ‘Ugh’. So I’m gonna get a vintage Versace suit and do that instead,” she said.

So doesn’t she, Billboard’s New Style Icon, like fashion? “Fashion at the surface is cool and interesting but in depth, it’s really not that interesting,” she said. “You throw your money in the air to buy a bunch of stuff to impress a bunch of people who don’t like you because the people who like you don’t care what you have on, you get what I’m saying? Like, who cares?”

She continued: “I always get into trouble for saying things like that about fashion because the fashion industry loves me so much but I’m really, really, really like a musician. I nerd out to music and could talk about it forever. The fashion conversation with me is really short.” FARAH DALEY

Check out Azealia Banks’ Unexpurgated interview on Poparazzi (http://tdy.sg/poparazziblog).