Work
Iggy Azalea takes a break from declaring she's The Realest by actually getting real and talking about where she came from; working three jobs and saving for years so she could make her way to the States, alone, at 16 to chase a dream. The only thing she trusts is the struggle and the only thing she needs is her dream, because it's all she ever had. Well, that and her mom, who gets a shoutout.
Did you know?
- Upon release, "Work" was met with universal acclaim from music critics, who commended the song's lyrical content and Azalea's vocal delivery.
- Commercially, the song was a sleeper hit and became Azalea's breakthrough into mainstream success. It reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and attained top ten peaks on the UK R&B Chart and US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts.
- Inspired by several films, the video depicted Azalea's biographical journey from life on the streets to Hollywood, and featured Azalea engaging in twerking and lap dancing sequences. Critics praised the clip's storyline and fashion, along with Azalea's dancing abilities.
- The video was recognized with a MTV Video Music Award nomination and three UK Music Video Award nominations.
- Iggy Azaela was born Amethyst Amelia Kelly on June 7, 1990 in Sydney, Australia.
- Azalea became only the sixth artist to occupy the top two positions (Problem by Ariana Grande, featuring Azaela and Fancy) on the Hot 100 and the first to do so since Taylor Swift.
- Azalea is the third female artist to place her first two Hot 100 hits in the top five simultaneously, first two being Ashanti and Mariah Carey.
- Azalea is the first female rapper ever to have two songs concurrently in the top five of the Hot 100 chart.
- Azalea began rapping at the age of 14; she was infatuated with hip hop from age 11 when she first heard Tupac Shakur.
- She has been quoted as saying, "As far as people whose style interests me I'd say Grace Kelly, Gwen, Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham, and that nanny called Fran."