Review: The New Classic by Iggy Azalea

It didn’t have to be like this. After ongoing delays and feature spots with the likes of Charli XCX, Katy B, Pusha T, and T.I, it would be reasonable to expect more from The New Classic – the debut LP from Australian-turned-US rapper and model Amethyst Amelia Kelly, aka Iggy Azalea.

Perhaps the biggest problem is her rapping. Despite conversing during interviews in a thick Australian tone, Azalea continues to rap in a Southern American accent. Furthermore, while it’s one thing to take her lyrics for ‘what they are’, it’s hard to ignore how repetitive they can be, while also lacking depth and bordering on ‘cringe’. This is evidenced by the inane hooks on ‘Change Your Life’ (“Imma change your life, Imma change it“) and ‘Impossible Is Nothing’ (“Keep on living, keep on breathing, even when you don’t believe it, keep on climbing, keep on reaching, even when this world can’t see it“).

To be fair, the album does have its moments. ‘Fancy’, featuring Charli XCX, is a nice earworm and ‘Walk The Line’ could be a decent cut off a Justin Timberlake record. Elsewhere, ‘New Bitch’ contains the type of impressive trance production that would be perfect for an AraabMuzik DJ set. Disappointingly though, Azalea builds all this up to a chorus that has her gleefully proclaiming she’s someone’s ‘New Bitch’; feminism be damned.

The record has an annoyingly spit-shined façade, full of banal lyrics that make it not at all relatable. It might have worked better as a parody of the American hip-hop clichés it revels in. It would’ve certainly been more interesting if she referenced her formative years in rural Australia, or even just possessed a jokier, friendlier, or more approachable mood.

Suffice to say, the electronic production is usually on-point – but as it stands, The New Classic is a needlessly serious album from someone who is unwilling to acknowledge her past and struggling to develop an engaging persona.

Listen to ‘Fancy’ from The New Classic here: