Iggy Azalea Talks Dancing Off Into the Sunset on Her Own Terms With ‘The End of an Era’ (2024)

Table of Contents
Related Related Related FAQs

Iggy Azalea is going out like she came in: dancing hard, like everyone is watching and having the best time, no matter what anyone thinks. The rapper dropped what she says is her final album project on Friday (August 13), the EDM-heavy TheEnd of an Era, and she tells Billboard that the collection is an homage to her favorite genre of music, as well as a sweaty journey through her whole career.

“For me TheEnd of an Era is a two-pronged thing,” says the 31-year-old Australian-born MC. “One, it obviously reverences the fact that it’s kind of like an adventure of the last decade, for me drawing inspiration from past projects and just referencing the ‘era’ as in the decade but also a nod to the fact that it’s a last hurrah… it’s probably the last project I’m going to put out musically, so it’s the end of a chapter of my life.”

Related

Iggy Azalea Plans to 'Take a Few Years' Away From Music After Next Album07/16/2021

And though Azalea has famously collaborated on hits with everyone from Charli XCX (“Fancy”), to Ariana Grande (“Problem”), Jennifer Lopez (“Booty”) and Britney Spears (“Pretty Girls”), her third official studio album — previewed with the singles “Brazil” and the thumping “I Am the Stripclub” — is mostly about Iggy. “Honestly, it’s never been something that’s important to me… how popular the other person is,” says Azalea — who apologizes over the phone for interruptions, as her style team works to position her for a photo shoot while she talks about the independently released album.

She describes writing the swinging summer anthem “Sex on the Beach” with singer Sophia Scott because they simply vibed during writing sessions. “I liked her voice and I wanted to stay true to the intent of the song,” she says of the tune’s acoustic dance groove. “For me this album is more about a passion project than wanting it to be some gigantic commercial success.”

From her 2014 debut, The New Classicto 2018’s Survive the Summer EP and 2019’s In My Defense album and that same year’s Wicked Lips EP, Azalea says she has always tried to stay true to the music that moves her. “I guess I would just like to be remembered as a trailblazer,” she tells Billboard, confidently proclaiming that Era is her fitting final studio effort.

Check out Billboard‘s chat with Azalea below:

You’ve said this is your last musical project 00 which, to be fair, is a thing rappers say that all the time. Do you really intend to not make music anymore after this?

I’ve been putting out projects for the last decade, which is a long time toprofessionally do anything. Most people move up in their career or job chain slightly, and mine’s been the same for 11 years. I’m getting to a space where I feel that there’s not much new perspective I can bring to what I’m doing… at least not that I’d be comfortable with the world hearing.

The album is split up into four parts, can you break them down?

I wanted to split it up into four chapters of my inspirations, because I’ve played around so much with musical styles. The 20s, the beginning quarter of the album, is a lot of electronic-influenced sounds, it’s a big more aggressive. The inspiration is from my early mixtapes, like [2012’s]Trap Gold.Then it focuses on 24, when I did big pop features and everything went super mainstream — big open hooks and more polished song construction. Then I move to 28, which is when I did the project In My Defense, and the year before that, Survive the Summer. It’s very heavy 808s and very rap heavy and aggressive and I tried to put more, darker-sounding drums on that.The final chapter brings me here and what I’m inspired by now that I’m 30 — I’m actually 31 now, I started the album a year and a half ago.

You recorded the whole album and gave birth during the pandemic lockdown — your son Onyx is almost one now — what was that like? Did those two major events have an impact on the sound?

It was the same process as before. I worked in person with everyone, starting when I was pregnant, and finished when I had a child. I had to re-record a lot of it — because I was so heavily pregnant that it was hard to rap the verses with the baby sitting on your lungs! I feel like people say a lot that having a kid is a life-changing thing, and it was cool to write an album that’s before I had a kid and then after, to see how my perspective shifted a bit.

It’s a purposeful reach back to the more EDM/dance-oriented vibe of your earlier work. Why did you pivot back to that sound on songs like “Shut the F–k Up” and “Woke Up (Diamonds)?” Is that your most natural lane?

100% for sure. I like steak and I like chicken, but chicken is my favorite. That [dance music] is the chicken to me. I like fast tempo electronic dance music with heavy 808 drums. That’s my s–t, and I can do anything on that with ease. I feel most inspired by that kind of beat… I like when I hear a beat and I’m like, ‘Holy s–t! How am I going to rap over this? ‘Shut the F–k Up’ made me feel that way.

Do you ever think about how Onyx might feel listening to songs like “I Am the Stripclub” or you singing lines like “I love drugs” in “Emo Club Anthem?”

It will be really good. It will be great. I don’t see what would be wrong with it. He’s a human in a human world and he should know what adults are doing in an adult world.

Related

Iggy Azalea Twerks Down the Highway, Takes a Rolling Bubble Bath in 'I Am the Strip Club' Video07/02/2021

You’ve said it’s a look back at your wild club kid days in Miami in your early 20s, especially “Sex on the Beach.” Does it close a circle for you in that way?

Definitely. I’d go in the studio over the years and look back on those things and it wasn’t that I wasn’t happy with what I was making, but I felt an urge to touch back on those things and then leave it at this. Ican put the brush down with this. I love the narrative and the crazy stories that paint a vivid picture of the person I was in my early 20s. “Emo Club Anthem” was so fun to write. It’s about going to the club all the time but not having a good time, but, like a forced good time. Like, “I refuse to be sad!”

With Kid LAROi and Astronaut Wolf coming up lately, do you feel like we’re having a moment with Aussie rap and do you think you played any part in helping pave the way?

There’s definitely something happening there, and I’m really happy to see it. Me breaking out and having such commercial success made people see that it’s possible to do that and have a career because when you’re living there [in Australia] it’s an impossible dream.When you see someone doing it for the first time it’s eye-opening and you realize there’s not the glass ceiling we thought there was. With more faces out there like Kid LAROI [and myself] people will see that it’s achievable, so I hope there are more faces to follow. There’s a lot of talent in Australia, especially talented songwriters, and I’m happy that it’s more streamlined for them. Somebody has to go first, it may as well be me. I always wanted it to be me.

It often seems like you feel misunderstood by the press and some hip-hop fans. Why do you think that is?

I think people have always had an idea about what I’m genuinely interested in or what I’m pretending to be interested in for the sake ofthis character they think I’m playing. “Hmm, this isn’t a character, this is me.” But I think that just comes from people maybe not being as familiar with Australia. I would get questions like, “How did you find out about hip-hop?” And I was like, “What? The internet! Watching television? I’m so confused about what the question even means!” But it comes down to maybe they weren’t familiar with my country or what it’s like living there and what we have exposure or access to.

I understand how a lot of those assumptions came about, but I do think it played a pivotal role in me being misunderstood because a lot of people had their own idea about who I really was. Or people would not understand that I’ve lived in America for years and years and years [Azalea moved to the U.S. at 16 to pursue a music career] and they’d be like, “Why does she use these slang words? How does she know about this style?” And it’s like, “Because I live here!” Everybody’s not a superfan and everyone doesn’t know your life in depth at that level and so it’s okay. It’s just their assumption to make but I do think it played a large role in a lot of misconceptions about me or what people assume I am as a person.

You seem to be winking at some of the persistent criticism from some about your flow on “Brazil” when you allude people hearing your accent thinking you’re “exotic.”

Azalea: Yeah, exactly. It’s definitely tongue-in-cheek a lot of the time.

Whats’ the biggest misconception people have about you?

Azalea: There are a lot of misconceptions people have about Australians in general and a lot of different things they’re interested in and rap music is one of them. I don’t see people saying that s–t to [Australian-born NBA player] Ben Simmons. Why are they saying it to me? It doesn’t bother me anymore, but it did bother me.

There’s been a big emphasis on mental health in the music biz over the past few years and the last time Billboard talked to you you said Kesha and Demi Lovato were among your biggest supporters. What have you learned from them about the importance of making mental health a priority in this business?

Azalea: Honestly my management are really the ones who made me hold focus on that and pushed me to have more of a focus on checking in and making sure that I am in a good place. But I do think it’s unfortunate that we always have this conversation about mental healthfor the last five years and I just don’t see anything implemented within the structureof the music industry that’s actually helpful. “Yeah, mental health is important, figure it out yourself kid!”

Is talking about it in an article really enough for a 20 year-old? I would like to see some actual structure within labels where they have some actual qualified do mental health checks. All of the professional athletes have mental health professionals on their team who they can talk to about basketball, or how they’re handling the mental pressure, but that doesn’t happen within labels and I don’t understand why. Because it’s just as high pressure, andand it’s just as public. So why isn’t there anyone built into the systemthey can utilize? It’s just leaving very young people in really extreme situations and telling them, “Go figure it out on your own and get some help.”

Related

Iggy Azalea: 'I'm Still Here, Cleaning Up The Mess Now'03/30/2018

I’m not doubting your sincerity, but a lot of rappers say they are retiring from the game only to return. If this is actually your last record, what do you think your legacy is?

Azalea:I guess I would just like to be remembered as a trail blazer. I experimented a lot with sounds, so remember me as someone not afraid to try new things and experiment. Someone who brought fun and ridiculousness and escapism to the world. When I would listen to music as a kid that was my escape — I like larger-than-life, crazy things and music and songs that made me feel happy. In my small town it would put me in a different world. All I wanted to do was create a universe for some kid sitting at home and help them imagine themselves in the world of my videos. That’s the legacy I want for myself.

Check out the “I Am the Stripclub” video below.

Iggy Azalea Talks Dancing Off Into the Sunset on Her Own Terms With ‘The End of an Era’ (2024)

FAQs

What happened to Iggy Azalea at 16? ›

Amethyst Amelia Kelly (born 7 June 1990), known professionally as Iggy Azalea (/əˈzeɪliə/), is an Australian rapper, songwriter, and model. Born in Sydney, Australia, Azalea moved to the United States at the age of 16 in order to pursue a career in music.

What is the end of an era? ›

a time after which things are different from before in an important way: The fall of the Berlin wall marked the end of an era. For me, my youngest child leaving elementary school was the end of an era.

Why did Ti drop Iggy? ›

In an interview earlier this week with Power 105.1′s “The Breakfast Club,” T.I. elaborated on his “blunder” comment, noting that Iggy had “potential” and “was meant to be great.” The issue, he said, was that “when she found out white people liked her and she didn't really need black people to like her anymore, she ...

Who is Iggy's baby daddy? ›

Azalea quietly welcomed her son Onyx with her ex Playboi Carti in 2020 and announced his arrival months after his birth. Despite calling motherhood “really hard” during an August 2021 interview with PEOPLE, Azalea ultimately defined her new role as “super fulfilling.”

Who is Iggy Azalea pregnant by? ›

The Grammy nominee welcomed Onyx with her ex Playboi Carti, and the former couple coparent the little one. “Onyx is so loved by his dad and has always had both parents in his life from day one,” Azalea wrote via Instagram in October 2020, days after saying she was “not in a relationship” and “raising [her] son alone.”

What does the end of his era mean? ›

When a period of time, which is marked by a significant event, comes to an end, we say it is the end of an era. For example: We're going to be leaving university next week – it will be the end of an era. The defending champion lost her title in the marathon, marking the end of an era for her athletics success.

What causes eras to end? ›

Transitions from one epoch or era to another have, historically, usually been linked with mass extinctions of plant or animal species, and until now have all been triggered by natural causes such as asteroids and volcanic eruptions.

What is the saying about the end of an era? ›

The end of an era but the beginning of a whole new journey.

Why did Iggy stop rapping? ›

It's been paused for a few months while I was giving direction for a different project & in truth I just haven't felt the urge to go back to it. I feel really happy & passionate in my day to day life when my [mind's] focused on that and so I want to stick to what's undeniably best for me.”

Why did Iggy Azalea change her name? ›

Born Amethyst Amelia Kelly, Iggy Azalea got her stage name from her childhood dog “Iggy” and “Azalea St.” which she grew up on. Azalea has been an active artist since 2011. As she so eloquently stated in her first song “Work” she started off with “no money, no family, 16 in the middle of Miami.”

Who did Iggy lose to? ›

With the last of his energy, Iggy uses The Fool to save Polnareff from Vanilla Ice, over-exerting himself and dying in the process, much to the surprise of Polnareff who thought Iggy had run away. After Ice's defeat, Iggy's soul, along with Avdol's, are seen transcending into heaven.

What is Iggy short for? ›

Iggy or Iggie is mostly a female name and it is often a short form of the Roman Latin names Ignatia (feminine) and Ignatius (masculine), or their derivatives in other European languages.

Why doesn t Iggy Pop wear a shirt? ›

I don't know why. I feel lost in a shirt. I just get lost.” The extensive, 90-minute long interview covers a host of topics including Iggy Pop's early avant-garde music, his time recording with the Stooges and later solo records.

How rich is Iggy Azalea? ›

What is Iggy Azalea's Net Worth in 2024? The Australian singer and rapper is worth $15 million as per Celebrity Net Worth. Her more than a decade-long musical career along with several endorsem*nts, acting gigs, and business ventures helped her amass a hefty fortune.

Was Iggy actually 16 in Miami? ›

Hailed by Azalea as her most personal song, "Work" was developed with motivational and inspirational intentions to portray her life story; specifically dealing with her struggle as an up-and-coming rapper, and her relocation from Mullumbimby, New South Wales, to Miami, Florida, at age 16.

What condition does Iggy Azalea have? ›

Last week, NSW's own pop star sensation Iggy Azalea announced that she has been diagnosed with TMJ.

What has happened to Iggy Azalea? ›

Iggy Azalea performs in San Jose in September 2022. Azalea then revealed that she would be moving away from music and into something else. "In truth what I've known for a long time is that I feel more passionately about design and creative direction than I do about song writing," she explained.

What year did Iggy Azalea come out? ›

The Australian rapper seemed like an unlikely star when she began generating buzz in 2014 after a high-profile modeling career, but her single "Fancy" became one of the decade's most ubiquitous hits and her debut album The New Classic was a top 10 success.

Top Articles
Logistics And Warehouse Jobs Near Me | Prologistix
Logistics And Warehouse Jobs Near Me | Prologistix
6502922410
Have Cullop And Kowalczyk Maxed Out?
10-Day Weather Forecast for Cleveland, OH - The Weather Channel | weather.com
Here's a how-to guide for attending a game at Dodger Stadium
Recensie | Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Noortje van Bentum) - Entertainmenthoek.nl
Skip The Games Orlando Fl
Wzranked.com
Shell Shockers Online Unblocked
Lrh Mychart
2010 Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited for sale - Spokane, WA - craigslist
Delta Air Lines Baggage Fees Explained - NerdWallet
Sams Gas Price Brownsville Tx
Craigslist Boats Dallas
Page 848 – Christianity Today
20 dog-friendly Phoenix restaurants with patios for dogs
Recensie Videoland-serie 'Sleepers'
Who called you from 8776887664 (+18776887664) ?
Marshalls And Homegoods North Brunswick Township Photos
Labymod 4
i - Imaginary unit - MATLAB
Helene's brutal toll: More than 100 dead; Biden to survey damage: Monday updates
3 fraternities suspended after 21 arrests tied to alleged drug ring in North Carolina
Daf Yomi Links and Apps - Shas - Talmud & Daf Yomi
Fish Tanks On Craigslist
Craigslist+cars+for+sale+by+owner+denver | Pets and Pet Supplies for Sale | NL Classifieds
Point Loma Workday Login
AlliedTravelCareers hiring Travel Echo Tech in Hartford, CT - Excellent Benefits 2024-10-01 in Hartford, CT | LinkedIn
Crazy 8S Cool Math
Levinia - Vorname für Mädchen | Bedeutung, Verbreitung, Sozialprestige
Proto Ultima Exoplating
Simmdawg5
The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Happy Endings in Spa: Uncover the Shocking Truth Behind the Practice
Weather Spooner Wi Radar
Chesapeake Wv Topix
UPS Access Point near me in The Hague
Oakleyrae Of
The Web of The Spider-Man Quest
More Apt To Complain Crossword
Eric Nylund - Halo 04 - Ghosts of Onyx - PDF Free Download
Edicts Of The Prime Designate
Loss Payee And Lienholder Addresses And Contact Information Updated Daily Free List Kitsap Credit Un
Olx San Miguel Pick Up
What Is Walmart Pharmacy Hours Today
Southwest Medical Decatur Healthcare Center Las Vegas Photos
Red Garage 5
Arcanis Secret Santa
Jak vytvořit osla v Minecraftu. Průvodce vyvoláváním a množením oslů – Tech-lib
Serta Motion Essentials V - Twin XL Adjustable Base
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 6352

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.