Iggy Azalea had a break out year in 2014. The 23-year old Sydney, Australia native released her debut album, The New Classic, in May. The project spawned the hits "Fancy" and "Work."
During that time she's received criticism from Lord Jamar, Azealia Banks and others for not being a real part of hip hop culture.
She also battled with ex-boyfriend Jefe Wine over a sex tape the two reportedly shot and music he allegedly stole from her computer when they were together, then later attempted to sell via an EP before Iggy's lawyer got it pulled from all retail outlets. A court case is pending.
During a new interview with Lisa Robinson of Vanity Fair, Iggy addresses those issues and more.
Lisa Robinson: Do you think it's weird for a white Australian girl to be a rapper?
Iggy Azalea: Well, I never thought it was strange. If you go back to the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley and Eminem—they've all basically done black music. I felt this wasn't that far from what we've seen in music history over and over again.
Do you think the criticism aimed at you is misogynistic?
Well, they don't say that stuff about Macklemore. So, yes, I think it has 100,000 percent to do with the fact that I have a vagina.
How did the success of “Fancy” change your life?
In every possible way. Some bad, some good. I can't walk down the street anymore, and I have to be very selective when I grocery shop. I went from having nothing to having everything I could possibly want. It's weird. It's almost scarily easy to quickly forget that you had nothing.
You said you had one pair of shoes for two years.
I did, and the leather would wear off and I would color them in with a marker to keep them looking black. I'm doing a shoe collaboration with Steve Madden now—when I first came to America I thought the Steve Madden brand was the pinnacle of high fashion, because the shoes were $200. And I thought, Who the fuck has $200 to buy shoes?
You live in L.A. with your boyfriend, the Los Angeles Lakers' Nick Young. Did you give him the nickname Swaggy P?
No. He named himself.
Can't you get him to change it?
I'm trying.
Twerking used to be part of your on-stage performances—how do you feel about that move now?
Sometimes things become part of pop culture, but they run their course. I think it's time for it to be over.
You said there's a side of you that's not cool. What did you mean?
I'm a homebody. I already did all my wild shit. And that will wear you out. I'm glad I did all that early, because now I have so much to talk about in my music, and I don't have to worry that I'm going to spiral out of control.
Wasn't there something on the Internet about you and a sex tape?
Every week I have some sort of crisis that involves the Internet. I do not have a sex tape; I would remember if I had a sex tape. But if I did have a sex tape it would be completely fucking fine and my own business.
So rumors like this would be the downside of “Fancy.”
Yes. Having my mother ask me or having people I love wonder if it's true. That would be the downside to “Fancy.”
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