Image via Complex Original
Iggy Azalea's debut album, The New Classic, draws on a variety of musical influences from rap to trap, dubstep, and even pop. So we decided to ask the leggy blonde MC who's appearing on the latest cover of Complex which albums sustained her as she grew from a young woman to an artist, first in Australia and later in Florida and California. Her choices say a lot about her development as both an artist and a human being. Iggy told us about her favorite albums from idols like 2Pac,
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The Rolling Stones, Sympathy For The Devil (1968)
Label: ABKCO Records
Iggy Azalea: "I just think the song writing is genius."
Michael Jackson, Thriller (1982)
Label: Epic Records
Iggy Azalea: "The perfect pop/R&B album."
Prince, Purple Rain (1984)
Label: Warner Bros.
Iggy Azalea: "One of the greatest musicians of all time."
The Beastie Boys, Licensed to Ill (1986)
Label: Def Jam/Columbia
Iggy Azalea: "I grew up on this album!"
The Notorious B.I.G., Ready To Die (1994)
Label: Bad Boy
Iggy Azalea: "Simply brilliant."
Nas, Illmatic (1994)
Label: Columbia
Iggy Azalea: "A true version of the purest type of hip-hop. An inspirational album for any rapper."
2Pac, Me Against The World (1995)
Label: Interscope
Iggy Azalea: "A collection of some of my favorite rap tracks of all time."
Lil Kim, Hard Core (1996)
Label: Undeas/Big Beat
Iggy Azalea: "The beginning of females creating their own powerful sexual imagery in hip-hop."
Jay Z, Reasonable Doubt (1996)
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Priority
Iggy Azalea: "One of my favorites from Jay Z."
2Pac, All Eyez on Me (1996)
Label: Death Row
Iggy Azalea: "Best double disc of all time."
Spice Girls, Spice World (1997)
Label: Virgin
Iggy Azalea: "Reminds me of being a little girl and obsessing over pop stars."
OutKast, Aquemini (1998)
Label: La Face
Iggy Azalea: "I love OutKast and think this is their best album."
Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)
Label: Ruffhouse, Columbia
Iggy Azalea: "One of the strongest female artists albums ever. Every song on this album has a special meaning to me."
Eminem, The Slim Shady LP (1999)
Label: Aftermath, Interscope, Web
Iggy Azalea: "Combines interesting lyrical concepts with so many memorable moments across an album."
2Pac + Outlawz, Still I Rise (1999)
Label: Interscope
Iggy Azalea: "The first rap album I ever brought."
Destiny's Child, Writings On The Wall (1999)
Label: Columbia
Iggy Azalea: "I made a ridiculous amount of home made music videos to this album."
Common, Like Water For Chocolate (2000)
Label: MCA
Iggy Azalea: "Some of the best story telling in rap happens on this album."
N.E.R.D, In Search Of (2001)
Label: Virgin
Iggy Azalea: "The most brilliant fusion of rock and hip-hop ever. Seamless."
Missy Elliott, Under Construction (2002)
Label: Elektra
Iggy Azalea: "Loved all the music videos that released with this album. 'Gossip Folks' made me want to talk backwards."
Jay Z, The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002)
Label: Roc-A-Fella
Iggy Azalea: "This album is the first place I ever heard Kanye west rap!"
Lyrics Born, Later That Day (2003)
Label: Quannam Projects
Iggy Azalea: "Very soulful and electric—still so underrated."
Usher, Confessions (2004)
Label: Arista
Iggy Azalea: "I always obsessed over his relationship with Chilli."
Kanye West, Late Registration (2005)
Label: Roc-A-Fella
Iggy Azalea: "Best album skits if all time and a brilliant introduction to Kanye as an artist."
Amy Winehouse, Back To Black (2006)
Label: Universal
Iggy Azalea: "Such a progression for her. so colourful and emotional."
Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III (2008)
Label: Cash Money, Universal Motown
Iggy Azalea: "Shows an amazing diversity of rap styles and innovative lyrical content."