Iggy Azalea
An Australian rapper who broke through with a viral Southern-style hit, becoming a controversial and flashy pop culture phenomenon.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Australian former rapper and songwriter·Birthday: June 7·Millennials
Biography
Iggy Azalea's story is one of relentless self-invention and internet-age hustle. Born Amethyst Kelly in Sydney, she was captivated by American hip-hop and, at 16, moved to the United States alone to chase a rap career. She built an early following through provocative, self-released music videos on YouTube, catching the attention of rapper T.I., who signed her to his label. Her 2014 debut album 'The New Classic' and its inescapable single 'Fancy' catapulted her to the top of the charts, making her the first non-American female rapper to have a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Her success was meteoric but met with intense scrutiny over her adopted Southern American accent and cultural appropriation. Despite subsequent commercial shifts and public feuds, her initial impact marked a distinct, divisive moment in 2010s pop music, fueled by sheer ambition and savvy use of digital platforms.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Iggy was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Iggy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Iggy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first non-American female rapper to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the single 'Fancy'.
- Her debut studio album 'The New Classic' reached the top five on the US Billboard 200 chart.
- Won awards at the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards in 2014.
- Achieved a rare chart feat by simultaneously holding the number one and two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 with 'Fancy' and 'Problem'.
- Signed a major recording contract with Grand Hustle Records after being discovered through her viral YouTube videos.
Did You Know?
She chose her stage name from the street she grew up on in Mullumbimby, Australia: Azalea Street.
Before her music career took off, she worked as a house cleaner in the United States.
She has expressed admiration for and has been compared to 1990s female rap group TLC.
She announced a hiatus from music in 2023 to focus on other ventures and her family.
She voiced a character in the animated film 'The Smurfs 2'.
“I'm not trying to be the queen of rap. I'm just trying to make good music.”
