She doesn’t know it, but Iggy Azalea represents the new Australia. The towering, gorgeous blonde with the milky-white skin looks like she’s stepped right out of an international tourism promo for the “Lucky Country,” as it’s known. But instead of simply being the country’s dream depiction of its population as someone in her position would’ve been in the past (besides Aboriginal tokenism used when convenient, it’s rare anyone else is represented to show Australia’s real diverse, multicultural society), the 21-year-old embodies Down Under seen through a new generation, one that grew up with Tupac Shakur being as much a part of life as Vegemite on toast.

Having resided in America since 2006, Iggy’s been rapping since she landed and is influenced by time spent living in Miami, Houston, Atlanta and currently Los Angeles. Still a newbie in many ways, she’s passionate about carving a career for herself that isn’t limited to music but she insists hip-hop will be at the core of everything she does. Because of this she’s used to being tested when it comes to her authenticity within the culture (questions about her song writing, freestyle ability, knowledge of the music’s history and more) and welcomes being taken to task. It’s her buzz track, “Pu$$y,” that has people’s attention and she’s just released a mixtape, Ignorant Art, giving listeners a glimpse into her current state. With major label offers already pouring in and live stage experience happening slowly but surely, our interview below is a first look at a young artist learning about herself at the same time her new (and fast growing) audience is also.

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