Iggy Azalea, born Amethyst Amelia Kelly on June 7, 1990, is an Australian rapper, songwriter, model, and businesswoman. She first attracted international attention through music videos for "Pu$$y" and "Two Times," which circulated widely on YouTube in 2011. Her debut studio album, The New Classic (2014), reached number three on the US Billboard 200, while its single "Fancy," featuring Charli XCX, topped the Billboard Hot 100. During the same period, she appeared on Ariana Grande's hit "Problem" and collaborated with Rita Ora, Jennifer Lopez, and Britney Spears. Her subsequent albums included In My Defense (2019) and The End of an Era (2021). In 2024, she announced that she was no longer pursuing a music career and would concentrate on other creative and business projects.

Early Life and Family Background

Iggy Azalea, whose birth name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly, was born on June 7, 1990, in Sydney, Australia. She grew up in Mullumbimby, a town in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.

Her father, Brendan Kelly, worked as a painter and children's book artist. Her mother, Tanya Kelly, supported the family through domestic cleaning work, including cleaning houses and holiday accommodation.

Azalea developed an interest in hip-hop during childhood. She began listening to American rap music at approximately eleven years old and started writing and performing her own material during her early teenage years.

Among the artists she listened to were Tupac Shakur, Missy Elliott, and Busta Rhymes. She later identified Tupac's music as one of the reasons she wanted to pursue a career in hip-hop.

She left high school before graduation and worked alongside her mother cleaning houses and hotels to save money for travel. Her goal was to move to the United States and seek opportunities in the American music industry.

Moving to the United States

In 2006, when she was sixteen years old, Iggy Azalea left Australia for the United States. She initially told her family that she was traveling abroad for a holiday with friends. After arriving, she informed them that she intended to remain in America and pursue a music career.

She first lived in Miami, Florida, before spending time in Houston, Texas. She subsequently moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she became involved in the local hip-hop community.

During her years in Atlanta, she developed connections with Southern hip-hop artists, including Backbone, a member of the Dungeon Family collective.

Living in the United States provided Azalea with opportunities to attend recording sessions, meet producers, and study the regional rap styles that influenced her early music.

In 2010, she relocated to Los Angeles, California. There, she began using online platforms to distribute her recordings and music videos independently.

Origin of the Stage Name Iggy Azalea

Iggy Azalea adopted a stage name combining two elements from her childhood.

"Iggy" was the name of a dog she had owned while growing up in Australia. "Azalea" came from Azalea Street, the street where her family lived in Mullumbimby.

She combined the two names while developing her identity as a recording artist. The name subsequently appeared on her recordings, music videos, and professional modeling assignments.

Early Music Career and Viral Videos

After moving to Los Angeles, Iggy Azalea began publishing music videos online. Her early recordings included "Pu$$y" and "Two Times," which attracted attention through YouTube and social media.

The videos introduced her rap style, which incorporated influences from Southern American hip-hop, electronic production, and contemporary pop music.

In September 2011, she released her debut mixtape, Ignorant Art. The project included songs that she had developed during her early years in the United States.

Her growing online audience brought her into contact with American recording artists, producers, and music executives.

In 2012, Azalea appeared in the annual Freshman Class issue of XXL magazine, which featured emerging hip-hop performers. She became the first female rapper from outside the United States to appear on the magazine's Freshman Class list.

She subsequently began working with American rapper T.I., whose Grand Hustle Records label was associated with her early recording projects.

Glory and TrapGold

In July 2012, Iggy Azalea released Glory, her debut extended play (EP). The project included collaborations with artists associated with the Southern hip-hop scene, including T.I., B.o.B, and Pusha T.

Later that year, she released the mixtape TrapGold, which incorporated electronic and trap music production. The project was developed with producers including Diplo and FKi.

These recordings preceded her first full-length studio album and formed part of her transition from independent releases to a commercial recording career.

Modeling Career

Alongside her music activities, Iggy Azalea pursued modeling opportunities.

In 2012, she signed with Wilhelmina Models International, a modeling and talent agency based in the United States.

She subsequently appeared in an advertising campaign for Levi's jeans, participating in the brand's Go Forth promotional campaign.

She also appeared in the first eyewear advertising campaign for British fashion label House of Holland, founded by designer Henry Holland.

Her modeling work continued alongside music recordings, video productions, and live performances.

Debut Studio Album: The New Classic

On April 21, 2014, Iggy Azalea released her debut studio album, The New Classic. The album included twelve tracks in its standard edition and was released through Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, and associated labels.

The album combined hip-hop, electronic dance production, and pop-oriented songwriting. Its singles included "Work," "Bounce," "Change Your Life," "Fancy," and "Black Widow."

"Work," released in 2013, presented a partly autobiographical account of Azalea's decision to leave Australia and pursue a music career in the United States.

The New Classic debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 and topped the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Later in 2014, an expanded edition titled Reclassified was released. The reissue included additional recordings, including "Beg for It" and "Trouble."

Fancy and International Commercial Success

In 2014, Iggy Azalea released "Fancy," featuring British singer Charli XCX. The song became her first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The accompanying music video was inspired by the 1995 comedy film Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone as Cher Horowitz.

Azalea recreated several elements of the film's clothing, school environment, and visual style. The video helped introduce the single to a wider pop audience.

"Fancy" remained at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks.

At the same time, Azalea appeared as a featured artist on Ariana Grande's single "Problem," which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

With "Fancy" at number one and "Problem" at number two, she became the first artist since The Beatles in 1964 to occupy the top two positions on the chart simultaneously with her first two chart entries.

Another single from The New Classic, "Black Widow," featuring Rita Ora, reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Its music video included martial arts and action-film imagery.

Collaborations with Jennifer Lopez, Ariana Grande and Britney Spears

Following the release of The New Classic, Iggy Azalea collaborated with several pop and R&B performers.

She appeared on Jennifer Lopez's song "Booty," released as a remix and single in 2014. The recording reached number eighteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and was accompanied by a music video featuring both performers.

Her collaboration with Ariana Grande on "Problem" was released in April 2014 and became one of the year's commercially successful singles.

Azalea also recorded "Black Widow" with Rita Ora, whose vocals were featured on the chorus.

In May 2015, she collaborated with Britney Spears on "Pretty Girls." The song's music video drew upon imagery associated with 1980s popular culture and science fiction comedy.

These collaborations expanded her discography into pop music while she continued releasing recordings under her own name.

Grammy Nominations and Music Awards

At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015, Iggy Azalea received four nominations.

She was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rap Album for The New Classic. "Fancy" received nominations for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

She did not win a Grammy Award that year, but received recognition at other American music award ceremonies.

Her awards included two American Music Awards in 2014, for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album.

She also received Billboard Music Awards and an MTV Video Music Award during the period surrounding the success of "Fancy."

Furious 7 and Film Appearance

In 2015, Iggy Azalea made a brief appearance in Furious 7, an action film directed by James Wan.

She portrayed a female racer in a scene involving the character Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel.

The film's cast included Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Djimon Hounsou, Gal Gadot, Luke Evans, and Kurt Russell.

Her appearance in Furious 7 was a cameo rather than a major acting role.

Digital Distortion and Record Label Disputes

Following the commercial success of her debut album, Iggy Azalea began developing a planned second studio album titled Digital Distortion.

She released "Team" in 2016 and "Mo Bounce" in 2017 as part of the recording period associated with the project.

However, the planned album experienced repeated delays. Disagreements with recording labels, changes in promotional plans, and personal circumstances contributed to its eventual cancellation.

She subsequently continued her recording career through different distribution arrangements, releasing new material independently and through other music companies.

Survive the Summer (2018)

In August 2018, Iggy Azalea released Survive the Summer, an extended play containing six tracks.

The project included "Kream," featuring American rapper Tyga, and "Tokyo Snow Trip."

Its release followed a period during which Azalea had experienced difficulties bringing a planned full-length album to market.

Survive the Summer represented her return to commercially released hip-hop recordings after several years of postponed projects.

In My Defense and Wicked Lips (2019)

On July 19, 2019, Iggy Azalea released her second studio album, In My Defense.

The album included "Sally Walker," "Started," and "Fuck It Up," featuring Kash Doll.

Unlike The New Classic, the album was released through her own label, Bad Dreams Records, with distribution support from Empire Distribution.

Later in 2019, she released Wicked Lips, an extended play featuring songs including "Lola," a collaboration with British singer Alice Chater.

The End of an Era (2021)

On August 13, 2021, Iggy Azalea released her third studio album, The End of an Era.

The album included recordings such as "Sip It," featuring Tyga, "I Am the Stripclub," and "Brazil."

In 2020, she had also released "Dance Like Nobody's Watching," featuring Tinashe. The song was among her recordings during the period preceding the album.

After the release of The End of an Era, Azalea indicated that she intended to reduce her music activities and concentrate on other personal and professional projects.

Departure from Music and Business Activities

In January 2024, Iggy Azalea stated that she was no longer interested in completing a new album and would instead focus on design and other creative projects.

Her announcement marked a departure from the recording career that had begun with independent mixtapes and online music videos in the early 2010s.

She subsequently pursued activities outside traditional music publishing, including online business projects and digital content ventures.

In 2024, Azalea became associated with the cryptocurrency project Mother Iggy, which introduced a digital token known as MOTHER. The project drew attention in cryptocurrency markets and generated discussion concerning celebrity involvement in speculative digital assets.

She has also been involved in digital media projects and online subscription-based content. As of 2026, she has not announced a return to a regular studio album release schedule.

Relationship with Nick Young

Iggy Azalea was previously in a relationship with American professional basketball player Nick Young, who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The couple began dating in 2013 and announced their engagement in June 2015.

In June 2016, Azalea announced that they had separated. Their engagement ended before a marriage took place.

Relationship with Playboi Carti and Motherhood

In 2018, Iggy Azalea began a relationship with American rapper Playboi Carti, whose birth name is Jordan Terrell Carter.

The couple lived together for part of their relationship and welcomed a son, Onyx, in 2020.

The relationship ended in 2020. Azalea subsequently discussed raising their son and her responsibilities as a single mother in public interviews and social media statements.

She has stated that motherhood influenced her priorities and her decisions concerning work, travel, and personal commitments.

Discography

Studio Albums

2021 – The End of an Era
2019 – In My Defense
2014 – The New Classic

Mixtapes and Extended Plays

2019 – Wicked Lips (EP)
2018 – Survive the Summer (EP)
2014 – Reclassified (Reissue of The New Classic)
2013 – Change Your Life (EP)
2012 – TrapGold (Mixtape)
2012 – Glory (EP)
2011 – Ignorant Art (Mixtape)

Selected Singles and Collaborations

2023 – "Money Come"
2021 – "I Am the Stripclub"
2021 – "Sip It" (featuring Tyga)
2020 – "Dance Like Nobody's Watching" (featuring Tinashe)
2019 – "Lola" (with Alice Chater)
2019 – "Started"
2019 – "Sally Walker"
2018 – "Kream" (featuring Tyga)
2018 – "Savior" (featuring Quavo)
2017 – "Mo Bounce"
2016 – "Team"
2015 – "Pretty Girls" (with Britney Spears)
2014 – "Booty" (with Jennifer Lopez)
2014 – "Black Widow" (featuring Rita Ora)
2014 – "Problem" (with Ariana Grande)
2014 – "Fancy" (featuring Charli XCX)
2013 – "Change Your Life" (featuring T.I.)
2013 – "Bounce"
2013 – "Work"
2011 – "Pu$$y"
2011 – "Two Times"

Concert Tours

2015 – The Great Escape Tour (Planned tour; canceled)
2014 – The New Classic Tour

Filmography

2015 – Furious 7 (Female Racer; cameo appearance)

Selected Awards and Nominations

2015 – Grammy Award nomination, Best New Artist
2015 – Grammy Award nomination, Best Rap Album – The New Classic
2015 – Grammy Award nomination, Record of the Year – "Fancy"
2015 – Grammy Award nomination, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance – "Fancy" (with Charli XCX)
2014 – American Music Award, Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
2014 – American Music Award, Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album – The New Classic

Source: Biyografiler.com