Photo by Jim Spellman/Getty Images
Today, Iggy Azalea released her much-delayed second studio album, In My Defense. The J. White Did It-produced track, “Clap Back,” features the Australian rapper responding to the cultural appropriation criticism which has dogged her entire career.
On the chorus, Iggy says:
‘Cause I talk like this and my ass fat
They be saying Iggy tryna act black
Hatin’ broke hoes get laughed at
All they do is cap like snapbacks
At the beginning of Azalea’s career, she drew criticism for sounding like an Atlanta trap rapper despite being raised in Australia. Azalea responded in a 2013 Complex interview, when she said:
If you’re mad about it and you’re a black person then start a rap career and give it a go, too. I’m not taking anyone’s spot, so make yourself a mixtape. Or maybe if you’re black, start singing like a country singer and be a white person. I don’t know. Why is it such a big deal? This is the entertainment industry. It’s not politics. You should be more concerned about the message, not the voices saying it.
In 2014, Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Rah Digga called attention to their perceived inauthenticity of Azalea’s image. In response to the latter rapper, Azalea said, “I honestly don’t really mind if I’m described as rap or pop. My passion is purely making music and entertaining.”
Later that year, Q-Tip attempted to educate Azalea about the sociopolitical history of hip-hop. Azalea’s mentor at the time, T.I., attempted to bridge the gap. Again, she brushed off the criticism.
“I find it patronizing to assume I have no knowledge of something I’m influenced by, but I’ve also grown up with strangers assuming that,” Azalea tweeted at the time. “How you feel about me blending musical genres together doesn’t bother me, no one is making you support or buy pop rap albums.”
Later on the song, Azalea denies being racist:
They call me racist
Only thing I like is green and blue faces
Accusations of racism began early on in Azalea’s career as well. On her 2011 track titled “D.R.U.G.S.,” she raps:
Tire marks, tire marks, finish line with the fire marks
When the relay starts I’m a runaway slave-master
Azalea later apologized for the line in a 2012 open letter, admitting that it was a “tacky and careless thing to say.” She explained it was a metaphoric take on Kendrick Lamar’s “Look Out for Detox,” when he raps:
When the relay starts I’m a runaway slave
“I don’t hate any race of people, and it pains me to wake up to other young people being misled to believe I do. I am for unity and equality,” Azalea added. “People should get a fair shot at whatever they want to do no matter what color they are; rap and hip hop as a culture is not exempt from this.”
As Azalea continued to rise in fame, people surfaced controversial tweets from 2010 through 2012. Azalea called the resulting controversy “unfair,” saying she was once able to “joke” on Twitter.
Years later, Azalea seemed to approach the white privilege conversation with more nuance. In a 2018 GQ interview, Azalea said, “The whole privilege thing is a rough conversation. I understand that in America there is institutionalized racism and there is privilege that comes with the color of your skin. That’s real.”
Listen to the song above, and read all the lyrics to Iggy Azalea’s “Clap Back” on Genius now.
