Azalea's debut studio album, The New Classic (2014), peaked among the top five on several charts worldwide, but received mixed reviews from within the industry. The album eventually topped the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, making Azalea the first non-American female rapper to reach the top of the chart. The New Classic was preceded by Azalea's debut single "Work" and chart-topping single "Fancy" (featuring Charli XCX), which hit the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Azalea was featured on Ariana Grande's 2014 single "Problem", which peaked at number two behind "Fancy". With these hits, Azalea became the second musical act (behind The Beatles) act to rank at number one and two simultaneously on the Hot 100 with their debut appearances on the chart. In addition, she achieved three top ten hits simultaneously on the Hot 100 with the aforementioned songs and the album's fifth single, "Black Widow" (featuring Rita Ora), which debuted later that year.
After her debut album, Azalea released a slew of singles to build anticipation for her intended second album, Digital Distortion. However, a series of conflicts with her label, as well as personal conflicts, resulted in the project being cancelled. Consequently, Azalea switched labels, releasing the EP Survive the Summer (2018) under Island Records. Further disagreements led to Azalea becoming an independent artist and creating her own label, Bad Dreams, through a distribution deal with Empire. Her second album, In My Defense, was released in 2019, followed by another EP, Wicked Lips, that same year. Before taking a hiatus from music, Azalea released her third studio album, The End of an Era, in August 2021.
Azalea's accolades include two American Music Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, a People's Choice Award, four Teen Choice Awards and four Grammy Award nominations. Azalea's official YouTube channel has accumulated more than 3.4 billion views, with 15 music videos receiving over 100 million views on Vevo.
Work
Iggy Azalea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But they don't wear these shits where I'm from
I'm not hating, I'm just telling you
I'm tryna let you know what the fuck that I've been through
Two feet in the red dirt, school skirt
Sugar cane, back lanes
Three jobs, took years to save
People got a lot to say
But don't know shit about where I was made
Or how many floors that I had to scrub
Just to make it past where I am from
No money, no family
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
No money, no family
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
No money, no family
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
I've been up all night, tryna get that rich
I've been work work work work working on my shit
Milked the whole game twice, gotta get it how I live
I've been work work work work working on my shit
Now get this work, now get this work
Now get this work, now get this work
Working on my shit
Work, work, work, work yeah you know I got that soul
I'm just watching Iggy pop
Don't stop it girl, you rock 'n' roll
All she say is buy me clothes
She don't want my time she want the snort and my reply is nose (achoo)
I wonder, DC where I come from
Please believe I don't leave the scene
But they gon' fiend for me, down under
Ask beat, my youngins
Cobain, my soldier
Then Iggy called about the city, darling it's a Dundee like Paul Hogan
Hold up, they gon' play this for real
Hold up, I ain't playing with this here
Know what? I could skate with your chick
Nigga I caught her, you Foster, like "Australian for Beer"
Hold up, niggas start the show when he show up
With a lot of whores in that tour bus
Yet I'm still feeling myself, like Goldust
Better roll out, relax, and bring rollup
Better dress warm when that flow out
It's beyond something that y'all know about
Folarin the God, ho work out
You don't know the half
This shit get real
Valley girls giving blowjobs for Louboutins
What you call that?
Head over heels
No money, no family
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
No money, no family
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
No money, no family
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
I've been up all night, tryna get that rich
I've been work work work work working on my shit
Milked the whole game twice, gotta get it how I live
I've been work work work work working on my shit
Now get this work, now get this work
Now get this work, now get this work
Working on my shit
Pledge allegiance to the struggle
Ain't been easy
But cheers to Peezy for the weeks we lived out of duffel
Bags is all we had
Do anything for my Mama, I love you
One day I'll pay you back for the sacrifice
That ya managed to muscle
Sixteen, you sent me through customs so
All aboard my spaceship to Mercury
Turn First at the light that's in front me
'Cause every night I'ma do it like it's my last
This dream is all that I need
'Cause its all that I ever had
Now get this work, now get this work
Now get this work, now get this work
Working on my shit
Now get this work, now get this work
Now get this work, now get this work
Working on my shit
In the first verse of "Work" by Iggy Azalea, she compares her life to a pair of expensive shoes, Louboutins, that not everyone is lucky enough to wear. Iggy emphasizes that she’s not hating on others who have had it easy in life, but rather she's trying to let people know what she's been through. She further explains her humble beginnings growing up in Australia where she had to work hard for everything she has accomplished. These lines symbolize the struggle she faced growing up, both economically and socially.
The second verse of "Work" continues to showcase the struggles that Iggy faced growing up, and how she overcame them with hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Iggy describes how she poured all her efforts into making something of herself, working at three jobs and saving for years to be able to afford a ticket to get her out of Australia. She has faced many hardships, and her story gives hope to the many others who are facing challenges - that with dedication, hard work, and a positive attitude, anything can be achieved.
Overall, "Work" is a reflection of Iggy Azalea's life story and the hardships that she faced on her journey towards success. It encourages listeners to work hard and believe in themselves, no matter how challenging the road ahead may seem.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk a mile in these Louboutins
You can't understand my life until you've lived it.
But they don't wear these shits where I'm from
My life is different from yours.
I'm not hating, I'm just telling you
I'm not criticizing, just informing.
I'm tryna let you know what the fuck that I've been through
I'm trying to tell you about the hardships I've faced.
Two feet in the red dirt, school skirt
Growing up poor in a rural area.
Sugar cane, back lanes
Living in an area where sugar cane is grown.
Three jobs, took years to save
I had to work very hard and for a long time to save up money.
But I got a ticket on that plane
I eventually managed to save enough money to buy a plane ticket.
People got a lot to say
People like to talk.
But don't know shit about where I was made
People don't know anything about where I come from.
Or how many floors that I had to scrub
I had to work hard and clean many floors to get where I am now.
Just to make it past where I am from
I had to work hard just to leave the area I grew up in.
No money, no family
I had no money or family to rely on.
Sixteen in the middle of Miami
I was 16 years old and living in Miami.
I've been up all night, tryna get that rich
I've spent many sleepless nights trying to become rich.
I've been work work work work working on my shit
I've been working very hard on my career.
Milked the whole game twice, gotta get it how I live
I've succeeded in my career but I still need to work hard to maintain it.
Now get this work
Let's get busy.
You can hate it or love it
You can have any opinion of me you want.
Hustle and the struggle is the only thing I'm trusting
I trust in the effort I've put in and the difficulties I've faced.
Thorough bread in a mud brick before the budget
I've always been destined for greatness even before I had money.
White chick on that Pac shit, my passion was ironic
I'm a white girl who's passionate about hip-hop, which is ironic.
And my dreams were uncommon
My dreams were not typical for my background.
Guess I gone crazy, first deal changed me
My first big break in the music industry changed me.
Robbed blind, basically raped me
I was taken advantage of and exploited by the industry.
Ran through the bullshit like a Matador
I overcame the obstacles and difficulties in the industry.
Just made me madder and adamant to go at em
My hardships fueled my determination to succeed.
And even the score so, I went harder
I worked even harder to get ahead.
Studied the Carters till a deal was offered
I studied successful rappers (the Carters) until I got a record deal.
Slept cold on the floor recording, at four in the morning
I slept on a cold floor while recording music at 4am.
And now I'm passin' the bar like a lawyer
I'm achieving success in my career like a lawyer passing the bar exam.
Immigrant, art ignorant
I'm an immigrant who didn't know much about the music industry at first.
Ya ill intent was insurance for my benefit
The industry's negative intentions towards me only made me stronger.
Hate be inconsiderate
Hate is thoughtless and insensitive.
But the Industry took my innocence
The music industry made me lose my naivety.
Too late, now I'm in this bitch!
Now it's too late, I'm fully involved in the music industry.
Valley girls giving blowjobs for Louboutins
Rich girls will do anything for luxury items.
What you call that?
What do you think of that?
Head over heels
Very passionate and committed.
Pledge allegiance to the struggle
I'm committed to my hardships and difficulties.
Ain't been easy
It hasn't been an easy journey.
But cheers to Peezy for the weeks we lived out of duffle
Shoutout to my friend Peezy who helped me during the tough times.
Bags is all we had
All we had were bags to carry our belongings.
Do anything for my Mama, I love you
I'm grateful for my mom and will do anything for her.
One day I'll pay you back for the sacrifice
One day I'll repay my mom for everything she's done for me.
That ya managed to muscle
That you were able to overcome.
All aboard my spaceship to Mercury
I'm pursuing my career with enthusiasm and readiness.
Turn First at the light that's in front me
I'm taking the necessary steps towards my goals.
'Cause every night I'mma do it like it's my last
I'm going to work hard every night as if it's my last chance.
This dream is all that I need
My dream is everything to me.
'Cause its all that I ever had
My dream is all I've ever had to rely on.
Now get this work
It's time to get to work.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jonathan Shave, Amethyst Amelia Kelly, Markous Roberts, Jason Pebworth, George Astasio, Natalie Sims
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sarah Rebecca
on Work
i love this song iggy is awesome
Jalyn Welch
on Bounce
i love this song!
Carmela Bellucci
on Fancy
[Verse 1 — Iggy Azalea:]
First thing's first, I'm the realest (realest)
Drop this and let the whole world feel it (let them feel it)
And I'm still in the Murda Bizness
I could hold you down, like I'm givin' lessons in physics (right, right)
You should want a bad bitch like this (huh?)
Drop it low and pick it up just like this (yeah)
Cup of Ace, cup of Goose, cup of Cris
High heels, somethin' worth a half a ticket on my wrist (on my wrist)
Takin' all the liquor straight, never chase that (never)
Rooftop like we bringin' '88 back (what?)
Bring the hooks in, where the bass at?
Champagne spillin', you should taste that
[Hook — Charli XCX:]
I'm so fancy
You already know
I'm in the fast lane
From L.A. to Tokyo
I'm so fancy
Can't you taste this gold?
Remember my name
'Bout to blow
[Verse 2 — Iggy Azalea:]
I said, "Baby, I do this, I thought that you knew this."
Can't stand no haters and honest, the truth is
And my flow retarded, each beat did depart it
Swagger on stupid, I can't shop in no department
To get my money on time, if they not money, decline
And swear I meant that there so much that they give that line a rewind
So get my money on time, if they not money, decline
I just can't worry 'bout no haters, gotta stay on my grind
Now tell me, who that, who that? That do that, do that?
Put that paper over all, I thought you knew that, knew that
I be the I-G-G-Y, put my name in bold
I been working, I'm up in here with some change to throw
[Hook — Charli XCX:]
I'm so fancy
You already know
I'm in the fast lane
From L.A. to Tokyo
I'm so fancy
Can't you taste this gold?
Remember my name
'Bout to blow
[Bridge — Charli XCX:]
Trash the hotel
Let's get drunk on the mini bar
Make the phone call
Feels so good getting what I want
Yeah, keep on turning it up
Chandelier swinging, we don't give a fuck
Film star, yeah I'm deluxe
Classic, expensive, you don't get to touch
Ow...
[Verse 3 — Iggy Azalea:]
Still stunned, how you love that?
Got the whole world asking how I does that
Hot girl, hands off, don't touch that
Look at it I bet you wishing you could clutch that
It's just the way you like it, huh?
You so good, he's just wishing he could bite it, huh?
Never turn down money,
Slaying these hoes, gold trigger on the gun like
[Hook — Charli XCX:]
I'm so fancy
You already know
I'm in the fast lane
From L.A. to Tokyo
I'm so fancy
Can't you taste this gold?
Remember my name
'Bout to blow
[Outro:]
Who that, who that, I-G-G-Y
That do that, do that, I-I-G-G-Y
Who that, who that, I-I-I-G-G-Y
Blow
Who-who-who-who that, who that, I-G-G-Y
That do that, do that, I-I-G-G-Y
Who that, who that, I-I-I-G-G-Y
Blow