Azalea was just another aspiring rap artist looking for her chance to shine. Growing up in Australia didn’t give her the opportunity to grow as a credible hip-hop artist, so she took a chance and packed her bags for the United States. Azalea was only 16 years of age at the time, but her decision would prove to be the most critical one of her life.
It took years for Azalea to make her American venture worthwhile. She spent time in Miami, Texas and Georgia, just looking for her shot at stardom.
The first real publicity came from a string of controversial YouTube videos featuring some less than adult-friendly lyrics. Soon after she released her first mix-tape titled, Ignorant Art.
July 2012 marked a pivotal point in Azalea’s career. She signed a record deal to rapper T.I.’s record label, Grand Hustle. Under the label she released an EP titled, Glory. In addition, Azalea was also featured in numerous modeling campaigns, even earning the role of “The New Face of Levis Jeans”
When XXL Magazine released its annual 2012 Top 10-Freshman issue, Azalea became the first female and first non-American rapper to be featured. She was well on her way to becoming a rap queen, and the anticipation for her debut album was sky high throughout the hip hop world.
After many delays and setbacks, Azalea finally released her first studio album in 2014 titled, The New Classic. It was received positively, and was featured on several music sales charts.
The New Classic would go on to produce five singles, Work, Bounce, Change Your Life, Black Widow, and Fancy–with Charli XCX. The latter went on to top the Billboard Top 100 chart, making Azalea the fourth solo female rapper to achieve such an honor.
In addition to her chart-topping singles, Azalea has scored four Grammy nominations, an accomplishment that came with heavy scrutiny because of her success in a predominantly African-American led genre. However, Azalea fails to see skin color as a factor.
“I think backlash comes no matter what skin color you are,” she told reporters after her nominations.
While Azalea’s music has been enough to earn her national attention, it’s her relationship with Los Angeles Lakers guard, Nick Young, that has garnered the most fan fare. It was Young that made the first move, as he took to Twitter to declare he had a crush on the young Australian rapper.
Their relationship has grown over time, one that Young didn’t see playing out the way he imagined, as he told DuJour.
“From her songs, I thought she’d be all about going to the clubs and partying, but it’s the opposite of that. She wakes up early to take care of her dogs, and she cooks for me.”
However, that’s what we all should expect from Iggy Azalea, a down-to-earth and good-hearted woman that cares for those who mean the most to her. You know nothing fancy.