Iggy Azalea's Post-Racial Mess: America's Oldest Race Rale, Remixed

Iggy Azalea Mistakes Appropriation For Artistry
Australian singer Iggy Azalea performs on the main stage at Wireless festival in Finsbury Park, north London, Friday, July 4, 2014. The first festival took place in June 2005 and was staged in Hyde Park. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)
Australian singer Iggy Azalea performs on the main stage at Wireless festival in Finsbury Park, north London, Friday, July 4, 2014. The first festival took place in June 2005 and was staged in Hyde Park. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Recently, my nine year-old nephew came running into the room, eager to find a seat to watch a performance by Iggy Azalea on an awards show. He sat, enraptured by her performance, yelling, “Iggy!” utterly oblivious to the look of chagrin and dismay on my face, as I, too, tuned in to watch this white girl from Australia, turned ATL-style rapper, caricature everything I love about Southern Hip Hop.

The look and feeling of chagrin has stayed with me each time I turn on my radio and hear Iggy’s hit song, “Fancy” coming through my speakers. And some of the dismay I feel is at myself, because almost without fail, I immediately start bobbing my head to the beat.

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