Iggy Azalea – The New Classic

Debuting at number three on the US Billboard 200 Chart, hip hop artist Iggy Azalea, who grew up in Mullumbimby, Australia, presents The New Classic.

Already popular track Work – “no money, no family, sixteen in the middle of Miami” – is surrounded by edgy, rhythmic, lyrically strong tunes. Recently released Fancy echoes Will.I.Am and Miley Cyrus’ collaborative Feeling Myself, with some Gwen Stefani-esque vocals. 100 (feat. Watch the Duck) brings a summer garden, background vibe into play.

From Goddess onwards some aggravated arrogance is revealed, with some “bow down” commands in that particular track. It all gets a little sterotypical (“I’m so in love with myself, f**k love, give me diamonds” – F**k Love). Black Widow does, however, include a noticably pleasing vocal from our British belle Rita Ora.

They do say to write about what you know, but continuous jibes of “they thought I wouldn’t make it” and the like all gets a little repetitive – haven’t we heard this attitude from Kanye West et al?

Azalea at 23 now has the world at her feet and she’s made a statement with her bold debut. Her development will hopefully come with her maturity as a woman and a human, as well as a music maker. The album starts so strong, but its progressive angst disappoints. However, she is clearly a strong, passionate young woman who has the chance to be a dynamic artist and role model in her own right, hosting so much potential. Let’s hope her following work isn’t pressured, materialised and is allowed to brew at her own pace.

Azalea’s attitude is captured in her work on The New Classic, and with the right taming she is going to smash the hip hop scene.

Sarah Milton

The New Classic was released on 21^st April 2014, for further information or to order the album visit here.

Watch the official album sampler here: