Ignorant Art

Ignorant Art is Iggy Azalea's debut music release and the project generally credited as Azalea's career breakthrough.{{cite magazine | url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/09/18/kreayshawn-and-9-other-female-emcees-you-should-know/slide/iggy-azalea/ | title=Kreayshawn and 9 Other Female MCs You Should Know | magazine=Time | date=17 September 2012 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Locker | first=Melissa}} The strength of the release contributed to XXL's decision to list Azalea amongst the magazine's 2012 Freshmen list, the magazine stating that Azalea is "the first female MC to grace the cover on the strength of her track "Pu$$y" and breakthrough mixtape Ignorant Art".{{cite web | url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/08/iggy-azalea-finds-a-new-home-at-def-jam-and-hits-the-road-with-beyonce/ | title=Iggy Azalea Finds A New Home At Def Jam And Hits The Road With Beyoncé | work=XXL | date=16 August 2013 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Diep | first=Johnny}} XXL{{'}}s decision proved controversial, particularly with rapper Azealia Banks who started a public feud with Azalea.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/491576/azealia-banks-responds-to-tis-comment-on-her-beef-with-iggy-azalea | title=Azealia Banks Responds to T.I.'s Comment on Her Beef With Iggy Azalea... Again | magazine=Billboard | date=23 April 2012 | access-date=4 June 2015 | last=Ramirez | first=Erika}}{{cite magazine|author=Brian Josephs and Max Goldberg|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/06/the-25-best-rappers-25-and-under/iggy-azalea|title=24. Iggy Azalea - The 25 Best Rappers 25 And Under|magazine=Complex|date=14 June 2012|access-date=3 June 2015|archive-date=17 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140617012303/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/06/the-25-best-rappers-25-and-under/iggy-azalea|url-status=dead}} The mixtape is further credited for giving Azalea enough exposure to convince rapper T.I. to sign her to his Grand Hustle label. Prior to the release of the mixtape, Azalea had shared several home videos on her YouTube channel as an underground rapper, including remixes of Gucci Mane's "Gucci Two Times," and Kendrick Lamar's "Look Out for Detox," as her "Pussy Two Times" and "Look Out for D.R.U.G.S." versions, respectively.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CQ02QsRydA | title= IGGY AZALEA - LOOK OUT FOR D.R.U.G.S. [ @djneugirl Exclusive] | publisher=Youtube.com | date=3 September 2011}} Her "Two Times" remix originated a part two that was included on this mixtape and used as the first promotional track, "Pu$$y."{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/the-aftermath-iggy-azalea-says-t-i-gives-great-personal-advice-20130712|title=The Aftermath: Iggy Azalea Says T.I. Gives Great Personal Advice|publisher=rollingstone.com|date=12 July 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlQssG92LVc|title=Iggy Azalea: The Aftermath Interview 2013|publisher=Yahoo! Music's The Aftermath (Youtube.com 1:15, 2:11) |date=6 September 2013}} During an interview at 102.7 KIIS FM in August 2013, Azalea revealed the title of her first mixtape was originally going to be called "Coming to America," named after the 1988 comedy film of the same name.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nA4x7zIB8zo|title=Iggy Azalea - Hangs out w/ Chuey Martinez|publisher=Chuey Martinez/KIIS-FM (Youtube.com 7:15) |date=26 August 2013}}

The MOBO Awards, who nominated Azalea for Best International Act in their 2013 award ceremony, stated that "Ignorant Art was a superb introduction to the amazing talents of Iggy Azalea. It felt more like a mini-album and she delivered as she promised she would."{{cite web | url=http://www.mobo.com/news-blogs/mobo-18-performer-profile-iggy-azalea | title=MOBO 18 PERFORMER PROFILE: IGGY AZALEA | publisher=MOBO Awards | date=25 September 2013 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Gboyega | first=Adenike | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053111/http://www.mobo.com/news-blogs/mobo-18-performer-profile-iggy-azalea | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }} MOBO called the mixtape an instant "cult classic", and MTV agreed, stating that Azalea "made waves" with the release.{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1679371/ti-izzy-azalea-the-new-classic/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621010157/http://www.mtv.com/news/1679371/ti-izzy-azalea-the-new-classic/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=21 June 2014 | title=T.I. Promises To Make Iggy Azalea Twice As Good | work=MTV | date=15 February 2012 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Markman | first=Rob}} On signing to Mercury Records in the UK in early 2013, the label's president stated that "Ignorant Art catapulted her into the limelight in 2011," adding that Azalea is "incredibly exciting and forward-thinking" as well as "utterly unique."{{cite web | url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/iggy-azalea-signs-to-mercury-records-uk/053660 | title=Iggy Azalea signs to Mercury Records UK | work=Music Week | date=19 February 2013 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Hart | first=Tina}}

Ignorant Art was released as a free digital download on 27 September 2011.{{cite magazine|last=O'Neil|first=Aimee|url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/iggy-azalea-goes-for-glory/#_| title=IGGY AZALEA GOES FOR GLORY|magazine=Interview|access-date=3 June 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/12770/1/iggy-azalea | title=Iggy Azalea | work=Dazed | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Martin | first=Lauren| date=27 February 2012 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/news/a41270/iggy-azalea-timeline/ | title=How Did Iggy Azalea Become the World's Most Hated Pop Star? | work=Cosmopolitan | date=1 June 2015 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Iandoli | first=Kathy}} In December 2011, Azalea shared an a cappella version of the project for DJs and remixers.{{cite web|author=Osei, Anthony |url=http://www.fresh-grind.com/2011/12/28/iggy-azalea-ignorant-acapellas-mixtape/|title=Iggy Azalea - Ignorant Acapella (Mixtape)|work=Complex|date=11 January 2012}} Azalea also released accompanying visuals for three tracks of the mixtape, including "Pu$$y," which was first uploaded on her YouTube channel in the Summer of 2011.{{cite news |last=Haithcoat |first=Rebecca |url=http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2011/10/28/meet-iggy-azalea-the-street-smart-blonde-bombshell-behind-puy |title=Meet Iggy Azalea, the Street Smart Blonde Bombshell Behind "Pu$$y" |newspaper=LA Weekly |date=2013-10-03 |access-date=2014-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606204829/http://www.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2011/10/28/meet-iggy-azalea-the-street-smart-blonde-bombshell-behind-puy |archive-date=2014-06-06 }} "My World," directed by Alex/2tone, was released in November 2011, and featured a cameo appearance from character actor and former wrestler Tiny Lister, which earned her more attention due to its rising popularity online.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/11/08/video-iggy-azalea-my-world/ |title=Video: Iggy Azalea – 'My World' |publisher=Rap-up.com |access-date=16 April 2014}} "It's supposed to have like, all the ridiculousness of a big-budget '90s video, but then chopped and screwed," said Azalea, of the video.{{cite news|title=Iggy Azalea On The Rise|url=http://www.tastemakermag.com/iggy-azalea-on-the-rise/|access-date=31 August 2014|work=Tastemaker Magazine|publisher=Atlanta Tastemaker Magazine|date=18 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015073028/http://www.tastemakermag.com/iggy-azalea-on-the-rise/|archive-date=15 October 2014|url-status=dead}} In January 2012, a 40's glam/surrealistic inspired-music video for "The Last Song," directed by Bell Soto, premiered online.{{cite web|author=Osei, Anthony|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/01/video-iggy-azalea-the-last-song|title=Video: Iggy Azalea 'The Last Song'|work=Complex|date=11 January 2012|access-date=10 June 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232234/http://www.complex.com/music/2012/01/video-iggy-azalea-the-last-song|url-status=dead}} Soto said the video "was very inspired on Surrealism and the old school process of Photography (red darkroom, contact sheets, 4×5 cameras). But we did not go vintage, we kept everything very polished and modern."{{cite web |url=http://www.hungertv.com/music/feature/iggy-azalea/ |title=Iggy Azalea - Music - Hunger TV |work=hungertv.com |date=15 October 2012 |access-date=17 June 2015 |archive-date=17 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617040727/http://www.hungertv.com/music/feature/iggy-azalea/ |url-status=dead }}

Azalea has claimed on numerous occasions that the title of Ignorant Art is a direct reference to Jean-Michel Basquiat.{{cite web | url=http://www.nylon.com/stories/9264 | title=the insider: iggy azalea | work=Nylon | date=18 June 2013 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Cole | first=Kira }}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Azalea stated: "I like how the stuff he did was crude and wasn't super polished, I wanted to do my music like that too." She says that the title is a direct quote from Basquiat, who, on meeting Andy Warhol, asked Warhol if he would like "to buy some ignorant art."{{cite web | url=http://www.complex.com/music/2011/10/who-is-iggy-azalea/13 | title=Who Is Iggy Azalea? | work=Complex | date=2 October 2011 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Ahmed | first=Insanul}} Azalea claims that Basquiat felt misunderstood and disliked being labelled a "black artist", mirroring Azalea's own feelings, with her stating "I identify with that because people are always like, 'You're a white rapper.' I'm like, 'Why do I have to be that? Why can't I just be a rapper?" She further explains that she "made Ignorant Art with the intent to make people question and redefine old ideals."{{cite web|title=Iggy Azalea Paints a New Face on Hip-Hop with 'Ignorant Art'|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/10/13/iggy-azalea-paints-a-new-face-on-hip-hop-with-ignorant-art/ | work=Rap-Up|access-date=3 June 2015|date=13 October 2011}}{{cite web | url=http://www.at40.com/artist/iggy-azalea/30787 | title=Iggy Azalea | work=American Top 40 | access-date=3 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610193533/http://www.at40.com/artist/iggy-azalea/30787 | archive-date=10 June 2015 | url-status=dead }} The cover of the mixtape is a further reference to the Warhol/Basquiat connection, being a remake of a poster the two artists made for a 1985 art exhibition in New York.{{cite web | url=http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/warhol-warholbasquiat-paintings-ar00461 | title=Warhol/Basquiat Paintings 1985 | publisher=Tate | access-date=4 June 2015}}

Azalea also addresses perceptions in hip hop about "what makes rap art or not", stating "I'd hear people in rap talk about what "real" rap is ... I wanted to change that so on that tape I used a lot of samples and made my own version of a rap record. I wanted it to be purposely ignorant."{{cite web | url=http://www.andpop.com/2013/05/22/iggy-azalea-talks-about-being-ignorant-on-purpose-and-why-shed-rather-not-be-a-role-model/ | title=Iggy Azalea Talks About Being Ignorant on Purpose And Why She'd Rather Not Be A Role Model | publisher=ANDPOP | date=22 May 2013 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Ross | first=Evan | archive-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610224917/http://www.andpop.com/2013/05/22/iggy-azalea-talks-about-being-ignorant-on-purpose-and-why-shed-rather-not-be-a-role-model/ | url-status=dead }} Elsewhere, Azalea states "If I tell a story, then that's real rap, but if I talk about vaginas, then that's not art anymore. What is real rap? What is art?"

Despite referencing Basquiat's "crude" approach, Ignorant Art was followed by more commercial works, Azalea allegedly having "decided to ease off her raunchy style and capture a more mainstream audience."{{cite web | url=http://www.idolator.com/7579134/grammys-2015-best-new-artist | title=Grammys 2015: Who Will Win Best New Artist? | publisher=Idolator | date=2 February 2015 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Gracie | first=Bianca}}

Ignorant Art was recorded in Los Angeles, California, where Azalea was residing since 2010 after migrating from Australia to Miami in prior years. It was produced by D.R.U.G.S., an acronym that stands for Directing Reality Undermining Governed Systems, to which Azalea and Problem, who is also featured on the track "Drop That," were members, along with the executive producer of the mixtape Chordz 3D, and being described as "a group of artists, producers and musicians from all over. We've come together to save the world from mediocrity."{{cite web | url=http://tonygrands.com/2011/10/06/chordz-3d-of-d-r-u-g-s-tony-grands-talk-iggy-azalea-l-a-rappers-inspiration/ | title=CHORDZ 3D (of D.R.U.G.S.) & Tony Grands Talk Iggy Azalea, L.A. Rappers, & Inspiration | work=tonygrands.com | date=6 October 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/IGGYAZALEA/status/281903943863386113 |title=IGGY AZALEA on Twitter: "And PS. incase you just stepped in the room with me..." |date=December 20, 2012 |publisher=twitter.com |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527120543/https://www.webcitation.org/6b9Dn9iPb?url=https://twitter.com/IGGYAZALEA/status/281903943863386113 |url-status=dead }} The intro track, "Dirt in your Pussy Ass B!tch", consists of a skit on which a male voice loftily recites a poem about "young girls dropping their panties in hotel rooms, ignoring calls from their moms", Azalea explained, "It's a parody of Kanye West's song "Blame Game"," which famously ends with a serious verse by a woman called Chloe Mitchell. "She's my friend, and we thought: let's get together and write a poem that is the most ignorant shit ever but is actually really well-written. We wanted to see what's rap and what's not," she said.{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/mar/24/iggy-azalea-one-to-watch | title=One to watch: Iggy Azalea - Music | work=theguardian.com | date=24 March 2013}}

Azalea replaces her speaking Australian accent by a southern drawl throughout the project. When she first moved to America, Azalea was involved in the Southern hip hop scene of Miami and later Atlanta, which made it easy for her to cultivate the Southern influence in her music: "I lived in the South for five years; you pick up things from your surroundings and teachers. The people who taught me to rap are all from the South and so was the music I had listened to as a teen."{{cite web | url=http://thepopmanifesto.com/issue09/iggy-azalea | title=Iggy Azalea Discusses Her Musical Influences, Identifying with Australian Culture and More with The Pop Manifesto | work=thepopmanifesto.com | date=10 April 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216224532/http://thepopmanifesto.com/issue09/iggy-azalea | archive-date=16 February 2013 }}

During an interview with Complex a few months after the release of the mixtape, Azalea talked about the perception people had of her sexually-charged imagery, "So much of what I do that's controversial in America wouldn't be a big deal back home. America is a highly sexualized society but people are afraid to admit what they like. When people tell me that I have to be sexy that's demeaning, not powerful...to a lot of people, a powerful, sexy woman is vulgar. When I first came out people said, 'She only raps about her vagina.' I'm not a vagina rapper! [Laughs]. I talk about many other things."{{cite web | url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.19151/title.iggy-azalea-explains-the-sexual-imagery-of-her-music | title=Iggy Azalea Explains The Sexual Imagery Of Her Music | work=hiphopdx.com | date=26 March 2012}}

The Los Angeles Times wrote about Azalea's "flow" on Ignorant Art, calling it "brash" and "aggressive," whilst Complex stated you should "let Ms. Azalea's machine gun flow win you over. Yup, she's that nice."{{ cite web | url=http://uk.complex.com/music/2011/09/mixtape-iggy-azalea-ignorant-art | title=Mixtape: Iggy Azalea "Ignorant Art" | work=Complex | date=28 September 2011 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Osei | first=Anthony}}{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jun-17-la-ca-femcees-20120617-story.html | title=The return of the Femcee: New female rappers shake up the game | work=Los Angeles Times | date=17 June 2012 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Kennedy | first=Gerrick D}}{{cite web | url=http://www.complex.com/music/2011/09/mixtape-iggy-azalea-ignorant-art | title=Mixtape: Iggy Azalea "Ignorant Art" | publisher=complex.com | access-date=3 June 2015}} MTV Base wrote that "the 2011 mixtape ... was the kind of impressive, raw statement one expects from an unknown with no pressure on her."{{cite web | url=http://www.mtvbase.com/music/artists/iggy-azalea/w3se62 | title=Iggy Azalea | publisher=MTV Base | access-date=3 June 2015}} Rap Reads gave it four and a half out of five stars, saying "Iggy chose eccentric, eclectic, intriguing production to rhyme over. The unique soundscapes that she chose do nothing but accentuate her very unique style," concluding it's "a very clean, concise listen."{{cite web | url=http://www.rapreads.com/2012/03/late-pass-iggy-azalea-ignorant-art.html | title=Late Pass: Iggy Azalea 'Ignorant Art' Mixtape Review | work=rapreads.com | date=21 March 2012 | access-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610233149/http://www.rapreads.com/2012/03/late-pass-iggy-azalea-ignorant-art.html | archive-date=10 June 2015 | url-status=dead }}

The Guardian called the mixtape "forward thinking" whilst HNHH noted that "Azalea's musical situation is improving with every new release, and Ignorant Art will most definitely help the cause."{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/17/iggy-azalea-new-classic-review | title=Iggy Azalea: The New Classic review – hit-and-miss debut from Australian rapper | work=The Guardian | date=17 April 2014 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Mokoena | first=Tshepo}}{{cite web | url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/iggy-azalea-ignorant-art-mixtape.27093.html | title=Iggy Azalea - Ignorant Art (New Mixtape) | work=HNHH | date=28 September 2011 | access-date=3 June 2015 | author=Ill Will | archive-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610215014/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/iggy-azalea-ignorant-art-mixtape.27093.html | url-status=dead }} RapReviews.com were more sceptical, stating in their review of the mixtape that "'ignorant' probably isn't the right word. But neither is 'intelligent'."{{cite web | url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2012_02_ignorantart.html | title=Iggy Azalea :: Ignorant Art :: self-released | work=RapReviews.com | date=14 February 2012 | access-date=3 June 2015 | last=Jost | first=Matt}} In a chart of Azalea's best songs published in 2015, the NME rated "Pu$$y" at number ten, writing that "her debut mixtape's title, Ignorant Art, seemed amusingly perceptive to haters ... and 'Pu$$y' ... is the crux of her problematic pop allure."{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/list/iggy-azalea-s-10-best-songs-ranked/378264/article/378265#article | title=IGGY AZALEA'S 10 BEST SONGS RANKED | work=NME | access-date=3 June 2015}}

{{small|Note: No detailed credits and personnel were ever officially published for the project. }}

[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lYAm7mkQ6eERYP3bLyxjs5_oTQScv8IYI Official YouTube playlist].

{{Track listing

| total_length = 26:42

| title1 = Dirt In Your P***y Ass B!tch (Intro)

| length1 = 1:17

| title2 = Hello

| note2 = featuring Joe Moses

| length2 = 3:49

| title3 = My World

| length3 = 3:19

| title4 = Pu$$y

| length4 = 2:43

| title5 = You

| note5 = featuring YG

| length5 = 2:51

| title6 = Backseat

| note6 = featuring Chevy Jones

| length6 = 3:00

| title7 = Treasure Island

| length7 = 3:18

| title8 = Drop That Shit

| note8 = featuring Problem

| length8 = 3:09

| title9 = The Last Song

| length9 = 3:16

}}

;Sample credits

Information adapted from WhoSampled.{{cite web|url=http://www.whosampled.com/Iggy-Azalea/|title=Iggy Azalea's Sample-Based Music|publisher=WhoSampled|access-date=10 June 2015}}

• "My World" contains a sample of "Astronomia" performed by Tony Igy.
• "You" contains a sample of "Crash Into Me" performed by Dave Matthews Band.
• "Backseat" contains samples of "Last Night" performed by Niki & The Dove and "Backseat" performed by STAYGOLD featuring Spank Rock, Damian Adore, and Lady Tigra.
• "Treasure Island" contains a sample of "Waste" performed by Foster The People.

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Discogs release|type=album|3502985}}

{{Iggy Azalea}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2011 mixtape albums

Category:Albums free for download by copyright owner

Category:Iggy Azalea albums

Category:Self-released mixtape albums

Category:Electronic albums by Australian artists