Iggy Azalea wins Best Hip/Hop album at the AMAs: good pick?

Iggy Azalea did not walk the red carpet at last night’s AMAs, which was an interesting move for the most nominated artist at the event. She scored six noms as a newcomer. And she won Favorite Rap-Hip-Hop album of the year. Ahahaha. I’m not laughing at Iggy’s rap stylings. I’m giggling at what Nicki Minaj must have thought when Iggy’s name was called. Not to mention Eminem, who was also nominated. Eminem doesn’t care much about awards, but the dude wrote those gross, rapey rhymes about Iggy, and she scooped the award. Good for her. Iggy name-checked Eminem (and Drake) in her speech. She also thanked T.I. for believing in her:

“This award is the first award I’ve ever won in my entire life, and means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop, because that’s what inspired me to move to American and pursue my dreams. It’s what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times. It means so much that I can stand here against Eminem and Drake and come out with this.”

[From YouTube]

Iggy performed “Beg For It” last night. She also performed “Booty” with JLo.

Zendaya! She was my pick for the night. I know many of you don’t dig her style, but she’s a big risk taker on the red carpet. This Georgine ensemble was no exception. Zendaya went 1970s with a brushed metallic trench coat and palazzo pants, along with a sea-foam leather bandeau top. What really sets this look off is the voluminous wig. I love this. Z’s only 18 years old, and I expect big things for her one day.

Zendaya

 Zendaya

Rita Ora worked her not-so-inner diva in a full-on Zac Posen gown. What should we call this color … mustard or lemon? She worked this structural dress with a train. Her funky top knot went well with the dress, but those spidery lashes were a too much. (Black Widow, baby?) There was something “off” about her foundation.

Rita Ora

Rita

Meghan Trainor kept with her usual style with a lace-and-satin Ted Baker dress. She accessorized with long, flat-ironed locks and a “kiss”-style clutch. This look is too cutesey and Valentine-y for my tastes.

Meghan Trainor

Ali Fedotowsky wore a weird white AQ AQ dress that was all wrong for a music awards show. The deep v-neck is sexy but overruled by the mega pepum and boring sheath skirt.

Ali Fedotowsky

Photos courtesy of Getty & WENN

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70 Responses to “Iggy Azalea wins Best Hip/Hop album at the AMAs: good pick?”

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  1. Shahrizai says:

    Zendaya’s style here makes me sad both sad and glad that she didn’t stick with that crappy Lifetime Aaliyah bio mess. She’s rocking Baby Girl’s style with her own flare and she looks awesome!

    • Chris2 says:

      Never seen/heard of Zendaya but by heck I’d give a full set of toes for hair like that! (I like her loose outfit just because no-one else is dressing that way.)
      • Rita Ora…..isn’t that ‘crome yellow’?

    • Charlie says:

      I think she looks amazing from the neck up and absolutely horrible from the neck down. Among the worst dressed of the night.

  2. tifzlan says:

    HAHAHAHAHA no.

    Also, i don’t understand why Megan Trainor thinks she’s so “big.” She looks like the average woman.

    • me says:

      On E! red carpet Meghan and Fergie were talking to one another, and Meghan asked Fergie how she got her body because she wants one like it. This is a very different message from her “all about the bass” song isn’t it?

  3. Lb says:

    To answer your question, no I dont think she’s a good pick – I simply don’t like her music. I think it’s wrong that so many people in the industry pick on her and harrass her. I can respect her hard work and hustle. That being said, it doesn’t make her or her music any more interesting to me. I change the station everytime she’s on. So no, in my opinion, she’s not a good pick. A lot of America disagrees with me though, which is fine.

    • Santia says:

      I change the station, too. Cultural appropriation is not cute (on anybody). And to come on the scene and have 1 or 2 hit songs and suddenly be crowned the queen of hip hop doesn’t sit well with me.

    • ccinkissimmee says:

      I thought I was the only one to turn the station when her music is on. Her fake urban accent annoys me. She’s probably super talented but the industry package killed it for me.

    • Naye in VA says:

      The song that she has out on the radio are terrible. i like “Fancy” but that has more to do with the hook than her actual lyrics
      “No Mediocre” was incredibly mediocre even for T.I. an that Rita Ora song sealed her terribleness for me, so I just assume the rest of her album sucked. I can’t believe that she won on merit alone. I think she just happens to be the flavor of the month right now. I think all the other artists nominated (except Eminem) should be pissed.

      • G. says:

        Her cultural appropriation is ridiculous and girl can’t even rap. People are so thirsty for a white female rapper that they’ll accept anything. Same with Macklemore. So I am not surprised, but not happy. Good thing she doesn’t have staying power.

      • SteaminSam says:

        Absolutely right, G. This can’t even be considered a novelty thing anymore, where just because she’s white it’s something new and interesting for that fact alone, so it’s mind-boggling how many people actually accept this blackface, minstrelsy BS she puts out there. She’s blown up on so little talent and skates by on appropriation that should’ve been called out long ago for being so fake (isn’t hip-hop about “keepin’ it real”? lol). I can’t stand her, can’t stand anyone who supports her or thinks what she’s doing is harmless. I can only hope you’re right about her lack of staying power.

    • V4Real says:

      I’m not afraid to say that Iggy winning was a slap in the face to hip hop. She sucks and I can’t stand her brand of rapping, it’s all a front. Nevermind that she doesn’t write her rhymes (a lot of artist don’t) I just don’t like that she pretends she does). And let’s be honest, if Iggy was a Black rapper she wouldn’t have been as recognized as she is.

      • Gypsy says:

        Who writes her lyrics, and you need to furnish proof, not just idle conjecture?

      • Steph says:

        I totally agree. I am white and it just makes me sick to hear her, it’s just so wrong. Minstrel is the perfect label and it’s not ok.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        These awards are about airplay, so yes, she still would have won if she was black.

        I think the question of “would she get as much airtime if she was black” is maybe a better question. However, Nicki’s career kind of answers the question that I posed: as long as rap artists are ok with incredibly poppy choruses, then multiple radio formats will embrace them and play them. If a rap artists tries to make music that is less pop influenced, then they won’t get the airplay.

        EDIT: I need to correct myself! The nominees are based on airplay, the winners are based on votes it seems.

      • Nicole says:

        The “she doesn’t write her own stuff” are rumors in the industry. No one knows if they are accurate rumors or not. And that point is moot for me, as there are a lot of people whom have their stuff written for them. Whatever. But Iggy is no way exemplifies the rap or hip hop culture. Maybe mainstream pop-hop as I call it, but what she was awarded for. I dislike Iggy because of the marketing and packaging behind her image. I hate that her speaking voice sounds COMPLETELY different from her “rapping” one. She goes from suburbia, to Southern sounding gutter gutter. It’s a fake accent, and for that reason alone, I dislike her.

      • Amy says:

        @Nicole

        Well said. That has often been an issue in the idea of white-washing. That things that are typically frowned upon becom acceptable when they come from the ‘right’ individuals.

        Iggy can play and pretend to be a rapper and when she’s done she can put it away and speak in a crisp Australian accent and not have to deal with any of the issues of a culture she doesn’t really respect.

      • V4Real says:

        @Gypsy T.I. writes them, that’s who. Beyonce doesn’t write all her songs either, I guess you want proof of that as well.

        As for the person who said Iggy would have won even if she was Black, that’s not true. If you’re trying to say that the AMA’s base their winners on air play well Iggy doesn’t get a lot of air play on the hip hop station/ R&B stations. She’s mainly on the pop stations. How can you be considered the best hip hop artist when hip hop stations barely or don’t play your music.

      • samab says:

        what is called hip hop today is ALL a slap in the face to the real deal that was hip hop back in the days.This is just commercial shit and has nothing to do with music,just looking for the next audience.SAD

  4. Bridget says:

    Now we know where Kate Beckinsale’s gown went – Rita Ora stole it.

    ETA: I did enjoy the network’s lame attempt to hype “Booty” by implying that it was going to be such a super sexy performance that they were worried about the decency standards. Right.

  5. QQ says:

    Someone in Twitter Said Iggy walked to get that award with a face that said “Im reading every Tweet in my TL right now” Which LOL so that sums it up, She shouldn’t be “best Rapper anything” Most successful, most commercially Viable Surrreeee But BEST?? LOL

    Also .. Why this Zendaya Kid dresses SO ABSOLUTELY BAD???! this is another case of having all the Raw materials and then going out there wearing Gold Lame Palazzo f*cking Pants!!

    • Tiffany :) says:

      “Most successful, most commercially Viable Surrreeee But BEST?? ”

      But that is what the AMAs are. It is about airplay, so the winners are very predictable. They say “best”, but what it really means is “most spins”. (EDIT: when I posted I thought the winners were based on airplay, but it is just the nominees).

  6. HH says:

    That bothers me so much on so many levels, but good rap/hip hop is hardly given its credit by mainstream audiences.

    • Amy says:

      You too huh?

      If a black person so much as sneezes the wrong way they’re labeled difficult and looked on a bit as dangerous.

      I consider T.I. to be not a very smart man but clearly he understood our country well, much the same way Usher did.

  7. Someonestolemyname1 says:

    She sold a lot and more power to her.
    AMA’s is not the Grammys.
    AMA’s is a award that has a lot of quiet manuvering going on behind the scenes with corp. power brokers. Imo

    • Gypsy says:

      That is so NOT true, the AMA is the people’s choice, fans vote for their preferred artistes.
      It’s one fan one vote and people preferred Iggy Azalea to all the others.

  8. Someonestolemyname1 says:

    Zendaya is a Beautiful young lady, trying WAY to hard.

    Get thee a better stylist. Z.

    • Bridget says:

      I think she would look similar no matter the stylist – she’s got the very packaged and coached style of a child star. All the Disney talent feels more like a studio creation than a person.

  9. Reece says:

    Maybe I’m in a mood but Iggy’s acceptance outfit is the only one I like.

    Zendaya is good but bordering on costume.

    ETA: Do people not know the AMAs are based on sales and radio play?

    • Santia says:

      And radio play is maneuvered. Yes, we know. Still bugs, though.

    • We Are All Made of Stars says:

      All of these awards shows are based on who keeps the rest of the people in the industry employed. I personally have stopped looking at or taking seriously any numbers concerning music or book sales, radio play, or even box office numbers because they are all either boosted by buying and selling tactics or outright manipulated by them. Don’t believe the hype people.

      • Danskins says:

        +1…like Public Enemy (REAL yet underrated rap artists btw) said, don’t believe the hype!

        Real rap has staying power so it’s good to know that Iggy’s lameness won’t be around very long since she’s all fake hype anyway!

  10. Dawn says:

    No she was NOT a good pick. That is all!

  11. Kitten says:

    AMAs are a f*cking joke so whatever.

    Madlib & Freddie Gibbs- Pinata is my pick.

  12. Chelly says:

    Proves AMAs is pretty shitty, obviously a joke

  13. Marie-France says:

    I´m not found of Iggy´s music, but good for her. A lot of people are mean to her for the wrong reasons. I welcome young women having the confidence to go against the norm and having said that I like what Zendaya is wearing. Because she dresses for herself and she´s having fun!

    • We Are All Made of Stars says:

      +1 on Zendaya. The look is fresh, risk-taking and original. If I had any criticism of it, it would be that it’s a little mature for an eighteen year old.

    • Adrien says:

      She’s racist, you know? The reason why so many people do not like her.

    • Amy says:

      Well it can be disgustingly hard when mainstream media refuses to comment on WHY she’s disliked.

      Nah…she’s just so hated upon for no reason at all…poor baby.

    • SteaminSam says:

      Cultural appropriation and racist/sexist/homophobic jokes and comments on her Twitter feed aren’t “wrong” reasons to be mean to her? Why should she get a pass?

      • otaku fairy says:

        I agree that those aren’t the wrong reasons- those are totally valid criticisms. But a lot of the crap she gets (including from others in the music industry like Snoop and Eminem) isn’t related to that at all.

      • SteaminSam says:

        Fair enough. Yes, I agree comments on things out of her control, like her looks (the supposedly fake rear aside) shouldn’t be fodder for stupid, sexist commentary. But the things she says and writes, the way she presents herself, and the absolute phoniness to her act all invalidate her status as someone whose career is to be respected or even deemed worthy of all the attention she’s garnered recently.

  14. Nebby says:

    No she was not a good pick. She gets my sympathy for some of the things said about her, but that sympathy does not extend to believing she can actually rap. She can’t perform and her lyrics are basic.

  15. Skins says:

    Saw her perform and I could not understand one word that she said

  16. embee says:

    Not a fan. I’m a metal fan. Listening to nu metal is as painful as the Vanilla Ice gimmick

  17. Adrien says:

    Tehehe. Best rap/hip hop. She rhymed huh with uhh.

  18. Amy says:

    Nope.

    Congratulations to her but I feel like it’s a spit in the face every time she’s recognized for anything.

    “Hey so, as long as she has the right color and doesn’t insult the majority we’re just gonna laud her with awards and accomplishments.”

    No thanks. She’s the 2014 version of publicized casual racism.

    • me says:

      The AMA’s are voted on by the fans. There is no committee that votes. The fans are the ones that vote. I really thought Drake deserved an award and was surprised Iggy beat him, but at the same time I bet more of her fans voted and not enough of Drake’s fans cared to vote.

      • Val says:

        Probably because Drake’s album drop was ages ago. Iggy is new and fresh and all over the place.

      • Amy says:

        I didn’t know that, thank you.

        But my point still stands. Especially in the fact the media won’t even cover the many things she’s said and done that has real hip-hop fans furious, yet they’ll cover any and everything said to her.

        It’s ludicrous. But again, she has the right skin tone and her offense is to the right target audience.

  19. Kim1 says:

    The award is for FAVORITE not BEST album

  20. Amy says:

    Zendaya is GORGEOUS.

    Someone else said it but it holds true, she has a style that would have mad her Aaliyah choice more logical. At the same time thank God she got off Lifetime’s sht show.

    I like her style and her attitude so much. She’s not running out trying to look as sexy as possible or wearing standard pretty pretty prom dress #62 to this show. Even when she looks bad you can tell she picked the clothes, hair and accessories herself and was pumped as hell about how she looked before she left the house.

  21. Lucy says:

    ZENDAYA!!! Bond Girl realness. I hope she’ll be around for a long time, too.

  22. Naddie says:

    Wow, I loved Iggy’s outfit. I expected something cheap and gross like her songs.
    Rita Ora looks good to me for the very first time.
    This Zendaya chick is beautiful and stylish, but her bitch face ruins everything.

  23. otaku fairy says:

    Zendaya is beautiful. I’ve listened to some of her music on youtube and I agree that she has potential to be successful- she does have more talent than Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez, and they’ve done pretty well.

  24. Gypsy says:

    Let me clear this up, because some people are spreading mis-information.
    The AMA is the only big music awards where the fans of music get to vote for who they consider the best, so Iggy Azalea won because regular PEOPLE who listen to music considered her the best in Rap/Hip-Hop.

  25. Pepsi Presents...Coke says:

    We’re laughing, but not for the same reason. None of the ‘Poor, Imperiled Princess White Girl’ commentary actually raises the quality of her work or attitude. T.I. can shuck and jive for her all he wants, just reminds me that this was the guy who thought he could get President Obama to save him from jail with all of his repeat weapons felonies. She ought to be saying, ‘Thank you, T.I., for not even recognising that I’ve got you on my stereotypical puppet strings and embarrassing yourself on my account, time after time. We’re totally going to watch Blazing Saddles tonight, after you finish my laundry. Love ya!’

  26. Barbara says:

    I think Iggy is fantastic….and I am an old woman

  27. Fanmail says:

    I don’t like rap in general. It is filled with violence and misogyny and also is getting old and tiresome. But when I heard and saw Iggy Azalea last month I found her refreshing and interesting. She is bringing something new to the rap game. I think its great that a white woman is participating and even winning awards in the dominant musical genre of our time. I looked at her so called ‘racist’ comments on a website but I really didn’t see anything very terrible, to me anyway, and after all she loves rap and surrounds herself with all races. Maybe growing up in Australia she’s not so PC in her speech? or maybe she says it on purpose to generate controversy. They all do. I liked her all black pantsuit as well.
    Zendaya’s gold costume was nice but the bandeau should have been a different color. The blue was too washed out for the gold.

    • Val says:

      +1! I like Iggy. Her rhymes are fun and I like her shtick. Like you said, she brings something new to the game, and I resent the idea that just because she’s white she’s a “fake” rapper. I don’t think she’s racist, but what I do think is that if you’re constantly surrounded by people of different colours, you lose the racial sensitivity – you make jokes and comments because you’re not walking on eggshells.
      She’s said some stupid stuff, for sure, but so has eeeeveryone at some point.

      The bandeau top on Zendaya looks ill fitting to be honest, I’m not a fan. She looks like a little girl dressing up in big girl clothes.

      • Fanmail says:

        I agree, Zendaya’s body is that of an 8 year old and that bandeau is made for a young woman with boobs. it should have been a smaller, narrower tight tube and not gathered. And maybe less fullness in the costume overall. She’s got a stick figure and needs to dress for that.
        Agree about the walking on eggshells too! Glad there are others that find something interesting about IA. Was hard for me to understand all the hate here and at the same time she gets people’s choice???

      • SteaminSam says:

        I honestly hope you’re being purposefully ignorant to the controversies and criticisms surrounding this “artist” if you truly think people are saying that “white” = “fake”. Please show us where that has *ever* been the focal point, and not the fact that she’s culturally appropriating another race and history to the point that she’s turned herself into a walking minstrel show. And please, dear, have a seat with that “everyone has” BS. I have *never* used racist slander and I know many who have not, and the argument that she’s lost cultural sensitivity due to interacting with a diverse set is completely backwards and ridiculous; having a Hispanic, Asian, black, or white friend does NOT give one a pass to use racial slurs and find humor in archaic racist stereotypes. WHY are you people bending over backwards to give this woman a pass for the horrid, embarrassing behavior she’s engaged in? If you genuinely think “everyone does it” and that there’s truly nothing wrong with the things she’s said and done, and the way she presents herself, it’s hard not to wonder about your own potential racist tendencies since it seems so easy for you to excuse them in others. My goodness, your comment is so ignorant.

    • SteaminSam says:

      1. Not all rap is filled with violence and misogyny; it’s wholly ignorant to launch such an accusation 2 seconds after admitting you don’t even like it (and presumably don’t listen to anything beyond mainstream) since you have little clue what real hip-hop is and therefore are not qualified to throw blanket statements at it. 2. There is nothing refreshing or new about Iggy. In “Fancy” alone she mentions Cristal, Grey Goose, rooftop partying, champagne, being a “bad b*tch”, ignoring “haters”, having “swag”, getting money, “staying on her grind”, and “slaying these h*es”. So what exactly is so innovative about such subject matter? What did she bring new to the game with this garbage? Even you, who clearly does not listen to anything beyond the mainstream, commercial rap, have to admit there is absolutely nothing of substance there, nothing that has not been rapped about REPEATEDLY by other, better artists. 3. Growing up in Australia and/or “not being PC” has NOTHING to do with not being a racist, homophobic POS. There’s a difference in not understanding cultural sensitivities and being flat-out racist – who cares that she surrounds herself with all races, if she clearly has no compunction slandering them? 4. Not all artists generate controversy; of those who do, not all of them are so idiotic as this racist, talentless, classless, completely useless waste of space.

  28. vya says:

    Rita knows she at the AMA and not the Oscar right?