A timeline of Iggy Azalea's world domination in 2014
2014 will always be remembered as the year that everyone hate-rapped along to Iggy Azalea’s now-infamous lyrics: “First things first, I’m the realest.” Iggy’s single “Fancy” stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart longer than any other song by a female rapper in history. The song was streamed more than any other on Spotify, making it the most-listened to song in the U.S. And if you were to add up all the think-pieces, hot takes and Iggy analyses produced by the Internet in 2014, you’d have enough material for an entire book.
So how exactly did Iggy Azalea go from a buzzworthy Australian rapper best known for dating A$AP Rocky to complete world domination in just one year? Here’s a timeline of The Year in Iggy.
January
Iggy started off the year by laying down a “freestyle” (more on that later) called “Animal Noises.” Demonstrating the lyrical virtuosity that is now her trademark, Iggy drops lines such as “Bitch you look like Miss Piggy/We like ‘Where the hell is Kermit?'” and “I can’t stand next to a basic/Cause ain’t nothin about me basic.”
She also announced the release date for her debut album, The New Classic, which took dead last on Complex’s list of the 50 Most Anticipated Albums of 2014.
February
Having made public her relationship with NBA player Nick Young, the duo landed the coveted GQ title of “The NBA’s Coolest, Freakiest Young Couple.”
- Photo by Anders Overgaard
Iggy also released the audio of her instant smash single, “Fancy,” featuring Charli XCX.
March
This was the month that Iggy dropped video for Fancy, which became the most-viewed video of 2014. For all the hate Iggy got throughout the year, the Clueless-inspired video was widely praised as a masterpiece of nostalgic imitation:
April
After months of anticipation, The New Classic was finally released in April to tepid reviews. Iggy did the media run and revealed (disturbingly) to New York’s Hot97 that she can’t crowdsurf at her own shows anymore, due to the fact that men in the audience try to finger her.
May
This was a big month for Iggy. She rapped a verse on Ariana Grande’s massive hit “Problem,” and combined with the buzz from the viral success of “Fancy” she quickly became the most inescapable artist of the summer.