5 Reasons Why Iggy Azalea Has A Place In Hip Hop

“She’s doing her thing. Let her. People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing, continue to rock it, because obviously God wants you here,” said Kendrick Lamar last year in a controversial Billboard cover story when he was asked his thoughts on one polarizing Australian Iggy Azalea. Now, could it be because his cousin is boo-ed up with her? Possibly, but, that’s not the matter at hand. Many were shocked and outraged when Iggy managed to take home two Billboard Music Awards for “Top Rap Artist” and “Fancy” featuring Charli XCX earned her “Top Rap Song.” However, candidates and eventual winners were determined by sales and trending data within their calendar year. Therefore, voting and subjective questioning of quality, talent or skill mattered none. Doesn’t matter, some were angry enough to start a petition questioning her accolades.

This leads to the million dollar question. Why does Hip Hop hate Iggy Azalea? Is it because she’s a white woman, allegedly has a ghostwriter or is overwhelmingly embraced by mainstream pop culture. Maybe she just plain sucks. Regardless, Azalea is winning and if her latest single with even more vexed pop icon Britney Spears “Pretty Girls” means anything, she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. With that in mind, King Kendrick(someone she’s found inspiration from herself) may have a point. Here’s looking into why she serves as an important footnote within the culture.

Proves Mainstream Has Wholesomely Embraced Hip Hop… To An Extent

Just the other day, this writer witnessed something pretty phenomenal. Walking toward a restaurant, it was difficult not to notice a white soccer mom and her children rolling through Beverly Hills in a Toyota Sienna blasting these Iggy lyrics from The New Classic track “Just Askin’.”

“Hey, boy hush that, I remembered joyriding on your mustache.

You was hanging so hard, you nearly lost that.

Little trick you like to do, yeah I taught that”

This small, yet important moment in time was further proof that maybe Hip Hop has been the most influential music than any genre. Maybe, the culture does means more to music than The Beatles themselves. There isn’t any social political or conscious themes in her music and the delivery is lacking but, the root of her delivery in based in Hip Hop. For most, Iggy is the safest bet for those who sit far below casual rap fans. Yes, she’s is the grape drink of rap. It’s a popular imitation of the real thing and sometimes, that’s acceptable. Just remember, too much can be a little harmful. Those into core values and traditions of Hip Hop know exactly where to go.

Iggy Azalea Is The Rap Game Britney Spears & That’s OK

In essence, Iggy Azalea is the rap game Britney Spears. One whose entertainment value is based on everything that’s wrong with music today. She’s the guilty pleasure that’s popular. Just as Spears vocal merits were questioned in relation to her usage of Auto-Tune, Iggy’s skill as an emcee always manages to center around ghostwriters. The hell with vocal dynamics or hyper lyrical wordplay, what matters is simplistic experiences for people not vested in any artistic motives. Regardless of Spears’ artistic merit, a dedicated and fan base pushed her to the top. Looks like Iggy is experiencing the same thing while becoming an entertaining joke. Therefore, it’s fun to make jokes at her expense or take the music at face value. The pairing of Britney Spears and Iggy for “Pretty Girls” was damn near genius. Here, the world gets to see two of the most manufactured artists of the modern era join forces for something even more generic. Then there’s that faux DJ Mustard production The Invisible Men do so well. Between the alien on earth inspired by 80s comedy Earth Girls Are Easy and not-so-clever Samsung product placement, the visuals for “Pretty Girls” pretty much caters to everything white America holds dear. On the flip side, the single essentially has Spears passing the “artificial pop diva” torch to Iggy.

Opens The Door For White Women With Skills More In Line With Hip Hop Purists

It must be difficult to be a woman in Hip Hop. It must be extremely difficult to be a white woman in Hip Hop. There’s the feeling of a bizarro episode of The Twilight Zone on race. All the most interesting considering the first chart topping rap song in Hip Hop’s early history was Blondie’s “Rapture.” That didn’t exactly make Debbie Harry an emcee as that was an artistic curiosity managing to have a certain level of respect for the culture’s early beginnings. The problem many have with Iggy is her particular lack of respect for those within the culture. However, blacks could be accused of doing the same. Between Blondie’s success and Iggy’s emergence, there have been white women with even more talent and respect for Hip Hop that have failed. American audiences pretty much got their first taste of UK Grime through Jay-Z’s signage of Lady Sovereign during his time as president at Def Jam. That produced the low selling but pretty solid Public Warning. Not only did she manage to keep her English accent but, managed to not sound like a parody. One of the most underrated albums of the current decade (2010 – present for our slow commenters) has to be Eternia & Moss’ At Last album which was given a 3.5 out-of 5 by current DX Editor-In-Chief Justin Hunte. With that in mind, there’s the possibility Iggy could inspire Hip Hop’s first white woman who earns both critical respect and commercial appeal.

Iggy Azalea Is Making T.I. A Boatload Of Money

Hip Hop has always been about the hustle; the struggle. Many didn’t understand why exactly T.I. decided to invite Iggy Azalea into his Hustle Gang imprint but now it makes all the sense in the world. After executively producing The New Classic, there’s a big chance T.I.P. managed to take home a nice check. To see T.I. cash-in on his investment the way he has should be considered one in a long line of rappers who have hustled the game with finesse. Em may be considered the best rapper alive but Dre reaped a nice majority of the rewards. Even on the creative side, Tip’s last big single, “No Mediocre,” featured a guest verse from Iggy and earned him a platinum plaque. Interestingly enough, the production was from DJ Mustard. So next time one has an issue with Iggy’s wins, don’t look at it as a win for her but, a win for The Kang. 

Led Many To Notice Azealia Banks & Appreciate Nicki Minaj More

When Azealia Banks surprisingly dropped her long delayed debut Broke With Expensive Taste in 2014, the critical acclaim couldn’t propel it past the negative attention she’d earned herself throughout the years. One of the targets of the Harlem female’s eyes was Iggy herself. Majority of the drama between them two had Banks looking jealous and bitter while Iggy’s career flew to new heights. Then that infamous Hot 97 interview with Ebro and Peter Rosenberg happened. For a moment, Banks sounded less envious of Iggy’s success and more honest about racial politics within Hip Hop. By the time Solange, Tyler The Creator and Q-Tip himself got involved, she started to look weak. Interest in Banks grew a little and once people got around to Broke With Expensive taste, they found an album that delivered an take on House inspired Hip Hop. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj began to look a whole lot better. Also helped that one particular award speech last year solidified the Queens emcee as the official Queen of Hip Hop.