Iggy Azalea Biography

Iggy Azalea is a female artist from Australia which had rapid break-through in the hip hop industry. She was the fourth female rapper to reach number one on Billboard Hot 100 with the single, Fancy. Furthermore, the single lasted there for 7 weeks, thus marking the longest-leading reign.

Music Career

Iggy was born as Amethyst Amelia Kelly. She inherited her artistic aspiration from her father, a painter and comic artist, and started rapping at a young age. She dropped out of high-school and earned money from cleaning houses. After that, she practically ran away to America. Her first few years there were not easy. She had a hard time because people were mocking her rapping skills. However, in the summer of 2010, she managed to be signed to Interscope Records. In 2011 she released a mixtape Ignorant Art and also announced her first studio album – The New Classic.  She wanted notorious rapper T.I. to produce said album, but her record label did not allow it.

Consequently, in 2012, she moved to Grand Hustle Records. The New Classic was the highest-charting female rap album since Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. She participated in MTV’s Closer To Your Dreams tour and in the annual television series VH1 Divas. In 2013 she gained massive recognition for her 3rd single Change your Life. 2014 was a huge year for her, as she appeared in singles by Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande. It was also the year of the acclaimed single Fancy and another international hit, Black Widow, featuring Rita Ora – both reaching Billboard Hot 100. Her second album, Digital Distortion, is scheduled for release in the near future.

Personal Life

Iggy Azalea picked up modeling in 2012, joining Wilhelmina Models International Inc. She was the face of Levi’s and Forever 21 campaigns. Recently she was on the cover of Maxim Magazine – Hot 100 Edition. In 2015, the rapper collaborated with designer Steve Madden for a footwear collection. Iggy admitted to Vogue and Seventeen magazines to having gone through a couple of plastic surgeries. She dated fellow rapper ASAP Rocky and was engaged to basketball player Nick Young.

Photo credit: Discogs