Iggy Azalea Swears She's 'Not Trying To Sound Black' When She Raps

Just as her career was taking off, rapper Iggy Azalea became less known for her music and more known for mimicking people from the black American South. 

In the April issue of Elle Canada, the “Fancy” rapper discusses plastic surgery, her struggles with hip-hop and why she uses a fake American accent.

“Do you not like me because I rap with an American accent and I’m not American? Well, that’s valid on some level because that’s your opinion and I can’t change that,” Azalea tells Elle. “But I’m not trying to sound black — I just grew up in a country where on TV and in music and film, everyone was American or any Australian person in them put on an American accent. So I never saw it as strange at all.” 

Azalea cited Keith Urban as someone who does the same thing she does, though she admits singing in an American accent in a predominately “white” genre (country) is less problematic than it is in hip-hop. But Azalea’s “blaccent” is only one of the problems the hip-hop world has with her. 

“So many people think that I don’t care about rap music and the community, but I absolutely care about it, to the core of my being,” Azalea said, referring to a Twitter spat she had with veteran MC/musician Q-Tip.

Azalea added, “Why do you think I need a history lesson? Because surely if I did know anything about hip-hop, I wouldn’t mix pop and rap together? Or I wouldn’t rap in an American accent if I truly understood? I just have a different perspective about rap music. I love learning about hip-hop, I love reading about it and I actually love having debates with other people about it.” 

While most are busy debating Azalea’s place in the hip-hop genre, she’s simply trying to erase her terrible 2015. The “Black Widow” rapper canceled her Great Escape Tour, swore off social media and got dissed by Erykah Badu, among other things. Azalea also admitted to having plastic surgery, a choice she’s since been forced to defend. 

“I think, in 2016, people should be more accepting of the fact that both famous and non-famous women are having cosmetic procedures,” Azalea said. “That’s just the reality. And I think more people need to admit that shit so it doesn’t have to be so taboo — because we’re all doing it anyway.”

To read more of Azalea’s interview with Elle Canada, head here.