Similar names aside, Azealia Banks and Iggy Azalea seem to have nothing more in common than a mutual love of hip hop. And while Azealia has made it clear that she does not believe Iggy should be receiving Grammy accolades in the hip hop genre because of her lack of hip hop qualities and, well, talent — Iggy sees it as her being a victim of bullying.
But, putting victims aside, if one watches Banks’ interview with Hot 97 , it becomes clear that her issue is not so much with Iggy Azalea, but with an unfair bias that she states is present in the music (and media) industry. An industry that takes a relative unknown and launches her into the spotlight based on her commerciality and not because of her talent as a real hip hop artist.
It’s easy to understand why Azealia would be mad at Iggy’s Grammy nominations. Banks is obviously far more talented than Iggy (this is known), she was also around first and has not received the same media attention as Azalea — and it seemed like even her name got jacked.
“The Grammys are supposed to be awards for artistic excellence. Iggy Azalea’s not excellent,” Banks said at one point in the interview.
Watch the video and share your thoughts. Iggy seems to just be a pawn in the whole situation, but Azealia does make some valid points when she spoke about white artists appropriating black culture. And it seems Solange may be on team Banks.
Thank you @AZEALIABANKS
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) December 19, 2014
Thank you @kendricklamar & @JColeNC
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) December 19, 2014
Signed……a music fan. A black girl.
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) December 19, 2014
J. Cole called out Iggy on a track called “Fire Squad” from his new album.
Cole rapped, “This year I’ll prolly go to the awards dappered down / Watch Iggy win a Grammy as I try to crack a smile.”
Iggy’s The New Classic is up for the Best Rap Album Grammy. In 2014, Macklemore controversially beat Kendrick Lamar’s critically-adored good kid, m.A.A.d city album in the Best Rap Album category.
After his win, Macklemore texted Kendrick , “It sucks that I robbed you.”
As one Twitter user put it…
Take a look at how the media is framing @AZEALIABA NKS . Images convey a message. What message are they sending here? pic.twitter.com/MSZQaLMucN
— Bougie Black Girl (@BougieBlackGurl) December 19, 2014
Many are predicting a similar “robbery,” courtesy of Azalea at the 2015 Grammys.