Written Task 1 Rough Draft

October 18^th: 

Rationale

Iggy Azalea is an Australian female rapper who has constantly been questioned about her authenticity because” of her identity link with her genre of music, rap. She traveled to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a career in the music industry. Her background consists of different economic and social difficulties.

For written task 1 the chosen medium is an interview in which the interviewer will attempt to help Azalea prove her authenticity. This interview will relate with their lifestyle and upbringing.

An interview helps the audience experience first-hand Iggy Azalea’s view on the topic, therefore making it a primary source. Also interviews have strict structures and will help me stay on topic and follow the guidelines for the task. Also the questions I must ask will be straightforward therefore making the answers on target to the requirements.

This interview will be featured as a celebrity column for the magazine Rolling Stones. This interview will be written in a cultural context therefore the author will be writing the article from a respected objective and cultural point of view.  I choose this magazine because Iggy Azalea’s style of music and lifestyle attract the younger audience that this magazine attracts.  Specifically I am writing on behalf of an interviewer who looks to interview celebrities who are authentic and upcoming. This is so the piece can hold relevance as a first-hand account without being completely subjective.

The intended audience is broad since it is to anyone who is interested in her style of music but is hesitant and questions her authenticity. From her role in community the article will receive most views from youths and teenagers.

Specifically this written task connects with the literacy unit of authenticity in reference to language and social relations.

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The music industry is constantly growing and changing the boundaries for the roles of men and women in a positive manner. Rap music, closely linked with the African American community is slowly but surely breaking out of the norm and branching out into different lifestyles and cultures. Iggy Azalea, an icon and contributor for this new boundary break has come out fresh faced and ready to meet if not excel in the demands of the music industry. Azalea is an Australian female rap artist who aims to break the constraints of the rap culture with her identity.  Her authenticity has always been a question to a variety of different people specifically the African American community but Azalea claims and proves that this is nothing but another challenge which can be overcome.

The first thing we would like to talk about is your upbringing, how do you describe it and did it build a part of your international and personal identity?

Iggy Azalea:

Most people, when they see a white girl they just automatically assume that life is not difficult in any way or form which just another stupid stereotype that is built by society. I was born in a small town called Mullumbimby . I was born there therefore I have certain ties there but life was tough, my dad actually built our house with mud.  We were never in the best economic state growing up we never were. Well when I was around 9 my parents split up like a lot of kids parents do and my mom took me to town. I feel like this aspect of my lifestyle helped build up my sort of relational identity. I have always had little to no hope in relationships after what my parents went through.  So not as much of interactional but more relational at this stage. Although I personally feel that that my upbringing didn’t build my character as much as my move to the United States.

What triggered your move to America?

Iggy Azalea:

As I said before my mom and I moved and I would kind of just go around the town, cause problems and mischief for everyone. I think at this point I got really bored of that and I just wanted to escape to America. I've always had this passion for music and I had this crazy notion that I wanted to make a profession out of it, I was around 14 at the time. I thought that it would take a year or so to get a recording deal but only in the States. When I was 16 I knew for a fact that I wanted to go the States and hopped on a plane to Miami. At first I was really nervous and roughing it for the first 8-10 months but I sent out a sample track and luckily I was signed. America just seemed so magical at the time to me, and I never felt connected with my lifestyle or the community in Australia even though it is my home.

You moved at very young age, how did these difficulties shape you?

Yeah so age 16, most girls get cars on those birthdays.  If I could say it as a time period it would be like the great depression. Life had always been tough for me but this time I was on my own.  At first I in a way so it as an adventure but I think here is where I lost my delusions. Being on my own, it forced me to grow up which was premature. I remember having   3 jobs at once just to make ends meet. The struggle was so incredibly unreal to me, I would come home exhausted pay the bills, cook and sleep. I fell into a sort of cycle which scared me. At one time I remember calling home just wanting to go back. I felt like there was more to life than just this, that life like this wasn’t living it was surviving.  I love my family but I did not want to end up in that rat hole because it is a 1 way ticket to hell, but I think this “shape” was for the best because I became serious on what I wanted to do and how I was going to do it.

You have picked a very interesting and popular genre of music to branch out into. Rap music is normally 
identified with the African American culture, and maintaining an authentic lifestyle. Being a "white" female rapper how do you see yourself identifying with this?
Iggy Azalea: 

Rap and Hip hop music have always been categorized by society as "Black" and I feel that having these stereotypes is just another form of segregation

 Personally I do live an authentic lifestyle and stay "true" to my music because my songs are about my struggles and out of these struggles came fame. One of my more popular songs "Work" basically deals with the struggles I have faced in my past and present. It's actually funny because my first tattoo I got is this one: "Trust your struggles".  When I was visiting Hollywood I saw it on a statue when I was at the walk of fame. The story behind it is both anecdotal and meaningful. I got it on a whim but it symbolizes that no one can trust and believe in a person as much as you. I just thought I just so identify with this and I got it done that day. Referring back to your question I think I do identify with the rap culture but not the African American culture because clearly I am not Black. Music should not be associated with a society but rather an individual

Rough Information need to find out where to add this: (reword too)

Your music has reached everywhere and now you have such a large audience, what impact do you think you have on them?

Iggy Azalea:
Referring back to your last question I think that being who I am a white female rapper is in itself breaking all those barriers and restrictions that have been created by society. I think that I am impacting and somewhat inspiring my fans and showing everyone that there are no rules for art, because art is art. My music is just another form of expression so therefore I think that my music just helps people break free out of their norm and categories.

Devyani:
You said that you have noticed these categorizations,  where specifically have you had experience with this?

Iggy Azalea:
Well in the most apparent form celebrity disputes. I have had so many celebs throw shade at me because of my race. Not to emphasize on the negativity but Azealia Banks actually tweeted me saying quote: "I'm not anti-white girl, but I'm also not here for anyone outside my culture trying to trivialize very serious aspects of it".  Hate comments like this normally and automatically just go to the junk section of my head, but this stuck because it deals with my personal identity and how people are not willing to accept it. Classification and things like judgment bring in another aspect of this business and it just shows that it is now at a level where it’s not all about the music. That’s why my personal mantra is that music should not be linked with a society.

Need to add more questions related with identity.