Iggy Azalea is an Australian rapper, songwriter, and model born in 1990. Having left for the United States at 16, she made her mark on American rap with her hit “Fancy” in 2014, becoming one of the few non-American female artists to break through in the genre.
Iggy Azalea(1990 — ?)
Iggy Azalea
Australie
5 min read
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Born on June 7, 1990, in Sydney, Australia
- Emigrated alone to the United States around 2006 to pursue a music career
- Released her first album “The New Classic” in 2014
- Her single “Fancy” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2014
- Collaborated with Ariana Grande on the track “Problem” from the album “My Everything” (2014)
Works & Achievements
The video that brought her online recognition and put her on the industry's radar.
An autobiographical song about leaving Australia and her difficult beginnings in the United States.
Her biggest hit, no. 1 in the United States and the signature track of summer 2014.
Her second major success which, together with “Fancy,” earned her the top two spots on the Hot 100.
Her first album, which placed her among the major female artists of global rap.
Her second album, marking her return after a break and her artistic independence.
Anecdotes
Iggy Azalea is just a stage name: her real name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly. She invented her pseudonym by combining the name of her childhood dog, Iggy, with the name of the street where she grew up, Azalea Street, in a small rural town in Australia.
At just 16 years old, she left her village of Mullumbimby to set off alone for the United States, telling her parents she was only going on vacation. In reality, she wanted to try her luck in American rap, a world where almost no one came from Australia.
In 2014, with her songs “Fancy” and “Black Widow,” she achieved a feat that no one had pulled off since the Beatles in 1964: simultaneously holding the top two spots on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart with her very first hits.
The music video for “Fancy” pays tribute to the cult 1990s film “Clueless”: Iggy re-enacts entire scenes from the movie, costumes and sets included, which greatly delighted American audiences who had grown up with the film.
Her breakthrough illustrates the era of streaming and social media: it was by posting her music videos on YouTube, like “Pu$$y” in 2011, that she first got noticed, even before signing with a major label.
Primary Sources
First things first, I'm the realest. (First of all, I'm the most genuine.) — the iconic hook that defined the summer of 2014.
The album's title, "The New Classic," reflects the young artist's ambition to establish herself as a lasting presence in rap.
Iggy recounts leaving Australia at 16 and the difficulty of being seen as a white, foreign rapper in a deeply American genre.
Iggy Azalea is named in four categories, including "Record of the Year" for "Fancy" and "Best New Artist."
Key Places
Large Australian coastal city where Amethyst Amelia Kelly is born in 1990.
Small rural town in northeastern Australia where she grows up, far from the world of American rap.
Capital of Southern hip-hop in the United States, where she signs with T.I.'s Grand Hustle label.
City where she lives after arriving in the United States and where she develops her first musical projects.
Center of the music and entertainment industry where she settles at the peak of her career.
Typical Objects
The rapper's central tool for recording her verses in the studio. The sound is often reworked digitally afterward.
Voice correction and modification software, widely used in the rap and pop of the 2010s to create a distinctive effect.
Essential for posting on social media and communicating with her fans. At the heart of fame in the digital age.
A short film accompanying a song, released online. It was through this medium that Iggy Azalea first became known.
Fashion and runway clothing worn during her modeling contracts, notably for jeans and footwear brands.
An online service (such as Spotify or iTunes) for listening to music on demand. It now measures an artist's success.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Daily Life
Morning
At the peak of her career, her mornings are filled with interviews, photo shoots, and flights between cities. Like many artists, she often starts late after nights spent performing in concert.
Afternoon
Afternoons are devoted to the recording studio, writing verses, and rehearsing choreography. She also manages her social media presence, which has become essential to her career.
Evening
Evenings are often taken up by concerts, television appearances, or awards ceremonies. When she is not performing, she returns to a more private life at home.
Food
Her diet is that of a contemporary star, ranging from restaurants to meals on tour and regimens overseen by trainers. The pressure of a public image weighs heavily on pop artists.
Clothing
Iggy Azalea cultivates a highly polished look, blending luxury fashion, spectacular stage outfits, and streetwear style. Her past as a model strongly influences her appearance.
Housing
She lives in large houses in Los Angeles and other American cities, far from the modest rural Australian home of her childhood.
