Iggy Azalea was born Amethyst Amelia, Kelly. She has a lot of accomplishments in the music industry. Her first studio album, The New Classic(2014). Attained the highest slot in the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list.
She was featured on Ariana Grande’s single, “Problem,”She recorded her smash hit tune in 2014 “Fancy,”The public’s attention was almost completely lost before that.
Are professional or personal problems to blame? We took a deep dive into Azalea’s recent past and here’s what we found.
Fans were devastated when Azalea announced her hiatus from music in July 2021
Azalea announced on July 15, 2021 that she would be taking a break from music after dropping her album. The End of an Era To focus on other creative projects. Later, she tweeted that she had left the industry to avoid all the negative press. People who loved her music were shocked to hear the news.
Azalea’s albumThe End of an Era It was published on August 13, 2021. For her fans, it was probably an ironically fitting title.
Long-Standing Cultural Appropriation Accusations Played A Major Role in Her Decision to Step Away from Music
There were heated controversies that also seemed to figure into Azalea’s decision to at least temporarily walk away from her music career. First, she was criticized for engaging with race issues in relation to her 2012 song. “D.R.U.G.S.”
Some people found one line in the song to be inappropriate. “Tire marks, tire marks / Finish line with the fire marks / When the relay starts, I’m a runaway slave / Master.”
Azalea offered an apologyThat said, “In all fairness, it was a tacky and careless thing to say and if you are offended, I am sorry….I regret not thinking things through more.”
She denied that she was a racist. “I don’t hate any race of people, and it pains me to wake up to other young people being misled to believe I do. I am for unity and equality.”Azalea explained that her song’s line was a riff of a Kendrick Lamar song that was written similarly.
Still, Azalea’s contrite statement didn’t put the issue to rest. Azealia, a rapper from another country, took Azalea to task over her silence on Black issues and inclusion of Black culture in her music. Banks also critiqued Azalea over her lack of Black issues. “D.R.U.G.S.” lyric.
Azalea responded by tweeting, “Make sure you do something to let YOUR government know how you feel when something is unjust., not JUST your followers on twitter…”
Some think that Azalea’s musical style co-opts sonic Southern Blackness, especially through the way she changed her accent.
2014. SalonBrittney Cooper, Rutgers University professor declared, “I resent Iggy Azalea for her co-optation and appropriation of sonic Southern Blackness, particularly the sonic Blackness of Southern Black women.”
Jeff Guo is a former reporter The Washington Post, feltTo increase her popularity, and to boost her income, she studied Black culture and African-American English. He cites research by Kara Freeman (Maeve Eberhardt) who feel Azalea was keenly aware of both subjects.
Still, Eberhardt noted, “The way that she’s taken this language and this culture wholesale and used it to fuel her fame and fortune is disrespectful.”
Criticism ramped up further, particularly on Twitter, after the release of Azalea’s music video for “I Am The Stripclub,”Many accused her of trying blacken her appearance with darker hair and darker skin.
Another negative tweet: “Blackfish, That’s what she’s serving.”
Azalea was a sharp rebound for those who were criticizing her. She tweeted: “I can’t care about something that ridiculous and baseless. I’m wearing a shade 6 in armarni [sic] foundation, it’s the same shade I’ve worn for the last 3 years.”
Azalea believes that much of the criticism she receives stems from her sexuality
Azalea pointed out that white men who create traditionally black music such as Eminem and Macklemore don’t get slammed for it like she does. She blamed sexism behind the derogatory remarks she was receiving.
She said it as follows: Vanity Fair, “Well, they don’t say that stuff about Macklemore. I think it has 100,000 percent to do with the fact that I have a vagina.”
Others feel that the performers were more able to appreciate and understand black music and address racial concerns. They felt that she was lacking respect for Black culture, and her pushback was hollow.
“It’s the difference between appropriating and appreciating: She does the former; the artists she cites all worked to do the latter,” intoned Derrick Clifton in Mic.
She was called “She” “a rap poseur”And “the living embodiment of white privilege.”Her “blaccent”She was ridiculed. She was accused of mimicry.
Her argument was that women in rap are often too politicized and their talent is often dismissed. She also claimed that she is supported by Black artists, which she defends.
She stated that Good Morning America “I grew up loving Missy Elliot, loving Lil’ Kim or Trina and so I’m lucky I have those women I really idolized support me. So, I get a little bit confident in that, knowing the people I look up to appreciate what I’m doing.”
She also faced drama in her personal life
Eventually, even Azalea’s personal life began to go south. She began dating Playboi Cardi in late 2018 but they broke up in December 2019.
In June 2020, she had a son, Onyx with Carti. In October the same year, she was married to Carti. She was confirmedShe and Carti had separated and they were now co-parenting.
Azalea lashed out at Carti for not being present at their son’s birth and for refusing to sign Onyx’s birth certificate. “This man was in philly playing PS5 mid pandemic the day my son was born even tho it was a scheduled c section,” She swore.
“I had onyx alone completely cause he was my only visitor approved with Covid. We lived together at that time.”
Azalea Announces Her Plan To Return To Music in August 2022
Azalea is ready to resume her career, even though it has been a while since her many controversies. To celebrate her return, she wrote a funny tweet.
Azalea believed what she said and embarked on a 25-city tour that was called “Can’t Stop Us Now”Pitbull during the summer 2022. Sure looks like Azalea can’t be stopped!
Iggy Azalea has both passionate fans and staunch detractors. People have offered convincing arguments against her apparent appropriation and disrespect for African American English culture and Black culture.
On the other hand, she retorted with her own arguments, citing sexism and the support she received from Black artists.
One thing is certain. The people on either side of these multilayered, complex issues will have to decide how much this affects their feelings about Azalea, both as performers and as individuals.