Hip-hop artist Iggy Azalea seemed to come out of nowhere, quickly becoming one of the best-selling female rappers in the music industry. The young rapper gained notoriety by collaborating with legendary artists as her music skyrocketed to the top of the charts.
Last year, Azalea unexpectedly announced that she was taking a break from music to focus on her family as she pursued new creative endeavors.
Now, with the return of live music and the summer touring season approaching, many fans are wondering what the “Goddess” singer is up to and if she’s ready to make a comeback.
Iggy Azalea has become a household name
Azalea was born Amethyst Amelia Kelly in Sydney, Australia. When the budding singer turned 16, she moved to the United States in search of a career in the American music industry.
In 2011, the “Trouble” singer went viral on YouTube when she uploaded a music video for her original song “Pu$$y.” The video caught the attention of TI, who signed the young rapper to his Grand Hustle Records label.
Azalea’s first album, The new classic, dropped in 2014, making her a household name. Fans couldn’t get enough of the chart-topping hits including “Work,” “Fancy” and the single “Black Widow” featuring Rita Ora. That same year, Azalea appeared on the single “Problem” with Ariana Grande.
In 2018, Azalea changed labels and released the EP survive the summer, followed by his second studio album, In my defense, released in 2019. The “Sally Walker” singer released another EP, evil lips, then turn off The end of an era his third and final studio album, before announcing his musical break in the summer of 2021.
Over the past decade, Azalea has received four Grammy nominations and won various prestigious awards including American Music, MTV and Billboard Music. The hit single, “Go Hard or Go Home”, was featured on the soundtrack of the Fast & Furious 7 film. The award-winning artist has collaborated with Jennifer Hudson, Wiz Khalifa, Bebe Rexha, Tyga, Britney Spears, Charli XCX, and more.
The rapper’s YouTube channel has over 3.4 billion views and to date has sold 48 million records worldwide. In 2021, Azalea’s estimated net worth was $15 million.
Taking a break from the music industry
Despite a highly successful career, USA Today reported that Azalea has been controversial since her early days in the American spotlight.
The racist comments seemed to plague the white rapper, who is often accused of cultural appropriation and blackfishing. High profile celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez and Kylie Jenner have also been called out for changing their appearance to look like a person of black/African descent. Along with using makeup and hairstyles to alter her appearance, Azalea uses an exaggerated Southern drawl while rapping that many refer to as a “black accent”.
According to The Daily Beast, Azalea has not apologized for her behavior, saying in a 2019 Cosmopolitan interview, “I’m still going to make the same kind of music and keep it ridiculous and larger than life.” She continued, “So I can’t be so f**king sorry about that.”
The 31-year-old entertainer has also had his share of stardom with fellow rappers Snoop Dogg, Azealia Banks, Lizzo, Macklemore and Eminem. She notoriously threw shade at Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion in a Tweet that went viral and was embroiled in a high-profile feud with former mentor TI after he called her a ‘problematic rapper’ . According to The Root, the recording mogul said, “I’m still actively looking for another female rapper who can undo Iggy Azalea’s blunder.”
Tired of the drama and looking for a change, Azalea announced via Twitter in July 2021 that she was “going to take a few years off to focus on other creative endeavors and things that excite and inspire me, beyond- beyond music.
Is the break over?
In May 2020, Azalea gave birth to a son, Onyx, whom she shares with rapper Playboi Carti. Many fans thought her decision to put her music career on hold centered on being a mother.
After making the announcement, Azalea told Entertainment Tonight that she had no intention of signing any new deals and was not contractually obligated to do so. She admitted that she didn’t want to do “an aggressive tour where you’re away all the time”. Azalea said, “I don’t want my son to be this way, always on a tour bus…it’s not my vision for my future.”
The rapper’s Instagram feed offers a look at what she’s been up to lately. She promotes her Totally Plastic makeup line at Ulta stores, reminisces about past tours, eats ice cream in a hot tub, and enjoys riding her bike. Azalea’s latest Instagram post shows her with a horse, with the caption “First day back riding in 3 years!”
Now, less than a year later, it seems Azalea has changed her mind. The pop culture phenomenon recently performed in Las Vegas and will headline the European EXIT festival in Serbia in July 2022. She is also embarking on a 25-concert US summer tour with Pitbull. The “Can’t Stop Us Now” tour begins in Raleigh, North Carolina on July 28, 2022.
RELATED: What Do Iggy Azalea and The Beatles Have in Common?
