Iggy Azalea
A self-portrait taken by Iggy Azalea in 2012
A self-portrait taken by Iggy Azalea in 2012
Background information
Birth nameAmethyst Amelia Kelly
Born (1990-06-07) 7 June 1990 (age 34)
Sydney, Australia[1]
OriginNew South Wales, Australia
GenresHip hop, electronic
Occupation(s)Rapper, songwriter, artist, model
Years active2007–present
LabelsMercury, Grand Hustle
Websitewww.iggyazalea.com

Amethyst Amelia Kelly (born 7 June 1990), better known by her stage name Iggy Azalea, is an Australian hip hop recording artist signed to Mercury Records and a model represented by Wilhelmina Models. She first gained recognition after the respective music videos for her promotional songs "Pu$$y" and "My World," went viral on YouTube. On 27 September 2011, Azalea released her first full-length project, a mixtape titled Ignorant Art, saying she made it "with the intent to make people question and redefine old ideals".[2]

In 2012, Azalea became the first female and first non-American rapper to be featured on XXL Magazine's annual Top 10 Freshman cover issue. She released a free EP, titled Glory on 30 July 2012. She also appeared in a cypher at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards alongside T.I. and other Grand Hustle artists. She released her second mixtape TrapGold, produced entirely by Diplo and FKi, on 11 October 2012. Her debut studio album The New Classic is set to be released in 2013.

Biography

1990–2011: Early life and career beginnings

Iggy Azalea was born Amethyst Amelia Kelly in Sydney, Australia and later relocated with her family to Mullumbimby, New South Wales when she was still a baby, into a house on 12 acres that her father built by hand from mudbricks.[1][3][4] Her father was a comic artist and painter while her mother cleaned holiday houses and hotels. Azalea says her father "made her look at [art] as a teenager" which has always influenced her life and work.[4] Azalea began rapping at age 14.[3] Before embarking on a solo career, Azalea formed a group with two other girls from her neighborhood: "I was like, I could be the rapper. This could be like TLC. I’ll be Left Eye."[5] Azalea eventually decided to leave the group because the other girls weren’t taking it seriously: "I take everything I do serious. I’m too competitive."[5]

Iggy Azalea moved to America in 2006, right before she turned 16, to pursue her music career. Azalea didn’t graduate from high school because she'd rather earn and save money by cleaning with her mother to pursue her desire of moving to America. She told her parents she was going "on a holiday" with a friend but eventually decided to stay and told them she was not coming back home shortly after: "I was drawn to America because I felt like an outsider in my own country, I was in love with hip-hop, and America is the birthplace of that, so I figured the closer I was to the music, the happier I'd be. I was right."[6][7] Soon after moving to America she adopted her moniker, which came from her family dog while growing up.[8][7][6]

When she first came to the United States, she stayed in Miami and after a brief stint in Houston, Texas, Azalea settled for a few years in Atlanta Georgia, and eventually in Los Angeles, California, where she currently resides since 2010.[6][7] In 2011, Iggy Azalea began uploading a number of freestyle videos on YouTube that subsequently went viral. Azalea's career began to flourish when her first official music video, for a song titled "Pu$$y", was uploaded on her channel.

2011–present: Mixtapes, Glory and The New Classic

On 27 September 2011, Azalea released her first project, a mixtape titled Ignorant Art, saying she made it "with the intent to make people question and redefine old ideals".[2] In November 2011, she released a music video for promotional song "My World", directed by Alex/2tone, featuring a cameo appearance from character actor and former wrestler Tiny Lister, which earned her more attention due to its rising popularity online.[9] "It’s supposed to have like, all the ridiculousness of a big-budget ’90s video, but then chopped and screwed," Azalea explains.[10] Azalea revealed in December 2011, that she would be releasing her debut studio album, entitled The New Classic, as soon as she signed a major record label deal: "once that's sorted out and I establish an over all sound and direction for the album I will be able to know what artists would make for a dynamic collaboration".[11] On 11 January 2012, Azalea released the music video for "The Last Song", her third from Ignorant Art.

An a interview with Billboard released on 27 January, Azalea hinted at a Interscope Records signing, while also revealing hopes of releasing The New Classic in June, and her debut single to precede it in March.[12] Iggy Azalea reached out to Southern rapper T.I., for the direction of her debut album. The Atlanta rapper was set to executive produce The New Classic, soon after a phone call the two had: "I’m working with a different production company for my album than what I did for my mixtape [Ignorant Art], and I don’t know who yet," Iggy told MTV News. "I’m still looking. T.I.’s gonna be helping me with it, kinda like A&Ring, kinda like executive-producing." Azalea then explained how she and the rapper linked up: "He called me up and as like, ‘Yo.’ And I was like, ‘Definitely. You’re Tip. I love you, of course.’ So he’s gonna be kinda helping me out, like just kinda reaching out to people and helping me find production and pointing me in the direction of things that I might like. We’re gonna start on that next week together. I’ll probably fly out to Atlanta and we’ll do it in between there because he’s weird with traveling and stuff. I understand. We’re in touch with each other. I have legal issues, he has legal issues. I get it. So hopefully that will be really dynamic and it’ll help speed things along." At the time, Azalea was eyeing a summer release for her debut The New Classic: "Hopefully if all goes to plan, my album will be out in June and I’ll have it recorded by the end of the month."[13] However, after Interscope did not allow T.I. to be an on-going part of her deal, Azalea opted not to sign with the major label and stay independently signed to Grand Hustle Records until the release of her first album which had then been postponed.[14]

In 2012, Azalea was featured on the cover of XXL as part of its annual "Top 10 Freshmen List" along with fellow up-and-coming rappers French Montana, MGK, Danny Brown, Hopsin, and Roscoe Dash.[15] On 1 March 2012, T.I. announced he signed Azalea to Grand Hustle Records along with rappers Chip and Trae Tha Truth.[16][17] On 26 March 2012, Azalea posted "Murda Bizness", the intended lead single for The New Classic, on her YouTube account. The song was produced by Bei Maejor and features her Grand Hustle label boss T.I.. In April, Azalea, via her Twitter feed, announced plans to release an EP entitled Glory later in May: "May = glory. The EP. #GLORY," tweeted Azalea. "I’m just onto something right now, the last two weeks and it’s glory. Azaleans need something new."[18]

In April 2012, Azalea starred alongside Grammy-nominated producer Diplo and FKi in the world's first fully interactive 'shoppable' music video for Canadian fashion retailer SSENSE.[19] In May 2012, it was confirmed by T.I. on MTV HipHopPov that Azalea had not secured distribution for her deal with Grand Hustle Records, and was described by T.I. as a "free agent". It was later revealed in the interview that she is in negotiations with labels other than Interscope and possibly Def Jam (wherein Bu Thiam, whom of which originally placed a bid to sign her is VP of A&R).[20] Azalea was also featured on Steve Aoki and Angger Dimas' collaborative electronic track "Beat Down," which was released on iTunes on 31 May 2012.[21] In June 2012, it was announced Azalea signed with Wilhelmina Models International Inc., a prominent model and celebrity agency in the fashion industry, boasting notable entertainers Fergie, Estelle, and Natasha Bedingfield.[22]

Azalea released "Million Dollar Misfits", the second offering from her EP Glory, on 24 June 2012. On 21 July, the official music video for single "Murda Buziness" was released online.[23] Glory, Azalea's debut EP, although not released in May, its original scheduled release, was released 30 July 2012. In September 2012, Levi's announced Iggy Azalea as the face of their new "Go Forth" campaign.[24] Azalea was one of the acts on 2012 MTV's Closer To My Dreams Tour alongside Tyga and Kirko Bangz.[25] Azalea also appeared in House of Holland's first eyewear collection campaign.[26] On 28 September 2012, Azalea announced she would be releasing her second mixtape TrapGold, produced entirely by Diplo and FKi, on 11 October 2012. She later premiered teaser visuals for the track "Bac 2 Tha Future (My Time)".[27] On 9 October 2012, Azalea was featured on the annual BET Hip Hop Awards cypher alongside fellow Grand Hustle label mates T.I., B.o.B, Chipmunk and Trae. Later that month, she embarked on yet another North-American mini-tour with Roc Nation singer-songwriter Rita Ora, on the MTV Presents The ORA Tour.[28] Azalea then headlined a tour in Europe to support "TrapGold".[29]

On 16 December 2012, Azalea performed live alongside Natasha Bedingfield and Bootsy Collins covering Deee-Lite's 1990 hit disco song "Groove Is in the Heart", on the annual television show VH1 Divas. In January and February 2013, Azalea was the opening act for Rita Ora's Radioactive Tour in the United Kingdom, while working on her upcoming singles and debut album, The New Classic, which was announced to be released in the Summer.[30] Azalea performed a new song titled "Work", the first single from her debut album, as part of her set at Rita Ora's Radioactive Tour. The single premiered on BBC Radio 1Xtra on February 11, 2013.[31] On 13 February 2013, it was announced Azalea had signed a record deal with Mercury Records.[32] The music video for her commercial debut single "Work", was directed by Jonas & François and released 13 March 2013.[33]

Artistry

Influences

Although Azalea began rapping at the age of 14, she was infatuated with hip hop from age 11 when she heard "Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)": "It was the song that made me fall in love with music and also what sparked my Tupac fascination. That would later make me pick up my own pen and write songs".[34] She regularly mentioned her influence by Tupac Shakur in her early interviews, "I was sickly obsessed. I had every picture of Tupac ever printed on my wall".[3] She has also mentioned Missy Elliott as the female rapper who she is influenced by and admires the most.[34]

Azalea raps with a Southern tone, but her Australian accent is quite strong when she speaks. When she first moved to America she was in Miami and later in Atlanta, heavily around the Southern hip hop scene, which made it easy for her to cultivate the Southern influence in her music: "I lived in the South for five years; you pick up things from your surroundings and teachers. The people who taught me to rap are all from the South and so was the music I had listened to as a teen."[34] Outside of music, her fashion sense is influenced by various people as well: "As far as people whose style interests me I'd say Grace Kelly, Gwen, Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham, and that nanny called Fran".[34]

Discography

Studio albums
Extended plays
Mixtapes

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^ a b Iggy Goes Pop. Dazed Digital. Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  2. ^ a b Iggy Azalea Paints a New Face on Hip-Hop with ‘Ignorant Art’. Rap-Up.com (2011-10-13). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  3. ^ a b c Iggy Azalea: "I Get Compared To Kreayshawn...It's Annoying". Global Grind (2011-09-26). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  4. ^ a b Who Is Iggy Azalea?. Complex. Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  5. ^ a b "IGGY AZALEA SHARES GIRL GROUP BEGINNINGS, LOVE FOR TUPAC". Rap-Up. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Iggy Azalea Biography". Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  7. ^ a b c "So ... who the hell is Iggy Azalea?". Wow Magazine. 16 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  8. ^ Iggy Azalea: "I Get Compared To Kreayshawn...It's Annoying". Global Grind (2011-09-26). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  9. ^ Video: Iggy Azalea – ‘My World’. Rap-Up.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  10. ^ [1][dead link]
  11. ^ Exclusive Iggy Azalea Interview | We Are Your Friends. Yourfriendshouse.com (2011-12-09). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  12. ^ Exclusive: Iggy Azalea Talks Interscope Deal, Jimmy Iovine & More – The Juice. Billboard (2012-01-27). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  13. ^ T.I. to Executive Produce Iggy Azalea’s Debut Album. Rap-Up.com (2012-02-02). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  14. ^ Iggy Azalea at The Breakfast Club – Power 105.1. YouTube (2012-06-23). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  15. ^ "And XXL's 2012 Freshmen are…". 2DopeBoyz. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  16. ^ "T.I. SIGNS IGGY AZALEA, CHIPMUNK, AND TRAE THA TRUTH TO GRAND HUSTLE". Rap-Up. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  17. ^ Lawrence O'Connor (27 February 2012). "STUDIO LIFE: T.I. & GRAND HUSTLE INVADE 3 LITTLE DIGS HEADQUARTERS". 3LittleDigs. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  18. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2012/07/30/new-music-iggy-azalea-glory-ep/
  19. ^ VIDEO // The World's First Interactive Shoppable Video. SSENSE. Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  20. ^ XXcLusive: Iggy Azalea Dropped From Interscope?. Xxlmag.com (2012-05-18). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  21. ^ Becky Bain (3 May 2012). "Iggy Azalea Teams Up With Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas For "Beat Down"". Idolator. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  22. ^ Steven J. Horowitz (14 June 2012). "Iggy Azalea Signs With Wilhelmina Models International Inc". HipHopDX. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  23. ^ 'Video Premiere: Murda Buziness. Josepvinaixa.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  24. ^ Idolator And Levi’s Present Iggy Azalea: Go Forth | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on. Idolator.com (2012-09-13). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  25. ^ MTV Jams Presents ‘Closer To My Dreams’ Tour With Tyga. Rapfix.mtv.com (2012-07-23). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  26. ^ "Iggy Azalea's House Of Holland Campaign Is Here! | MTV Style". Style.mtv.com. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  27. ^ IGGY AZALEA – Bac 2 Tha Future (My Time). YouTube. Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  28. ^ Rita Ora’s Hitting The Road On The MTV Presents: The ORA Tour. Buzzworthy.mtv.com (2012-10-08). Retrieved on 2012-11-22.
  29. ^ Podpis (21 November 2012). "Iggy Azalea Trapgold European Tour « European Hip Hop "Veni Vidi Vici"". Europeanhiphop.wordpress.com. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  30. ^ "Rita Ora Announces New 'Radioactive' Tour Dates As First Four Shows Sell Out | Mtv Uk". Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  31. ^ www.rap-up.com/2013/02/11/new-music-iggy-azalea-work/
  32. ^ http://pappzd.com/2013/02/iggy-azalea-signing-mercury-records/
  33. ^ "VIDEO: IGGY AZALEA – 'WORK'". Rap-Up. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  34. ^ a b c d Shepherd, Julianne (10 April 2012). "Iggy Azalea Discusses Her Musical Influences, Identifying with Australian Culture and More with The Pop Manifesto". Retrieved 16 January 2012.
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