Iggy Azalea Defends Azealia Banks Collaboration

Iggy Azalea and Azealia Banks are one step closer to a collaboration.

After teasing their reconciliation, the Australian rapper is now defending their upcoming track. “I dont expect you guys to understand why i would collaborate with someone who has publicly said they hope i die,” she told her fans. “This has been something extremely negative for so long, if there is a way to make it positive and also be creative together, im here for it.”

According to Iggy, there are two possible cuts that would work well for this collaboration. “I have a song already I think she would fit well on,” she wrote. “And she has something I may get on for her project.”

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A collaboration would mark the end of their longstanding beef, but Iggy believes it could have even greater implications, as well. “I think it’s good for female rap,” she said. “dont expect u guys to love her, I disagree with her on tons & It may not last but I won’t know if I don’t try. Also I think females in rap need to really be unified to prosper. We need more collaborations to happen.”

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The rap rivals surprised fans when they announced that they were considering a collaboration. “I wish you had spoken to me before deciding I was out to get you when we first came on the scene, but that’s also typical Gemini reaction shit (I get it),” Iggy wrote in an open letter to Banks. “As a 27 year old adult woman just know: I wish you well from one human to another and joke collaboration or not as adults we should move past trivial beef with strangers.”

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Banks re-shared the message with a heart emoji, but also said that she’s looking for more of a “true reconciliation.” “I think a true reconciliation can happen once there is some acknowledgment of what hip-hop has been trying to tell her,” she told XXL. “I still don’t think she quite understands the effect her racial privilege and the socio-economic leverage that comes with it has on a marginalized group of women’s culture.”

In the meantime, Iggy is working on her oft-delayed sophomore album, Digital Distortion, which was originally due June 30. Late last month, she announced that her album was still being held up by Def Jam. “aint shit happening at midnight or there after. its just the usual DJ mess,” she tweeted. “i dont even know whats happening but i know THAT isnt…i dont have say in the matter.”

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But Iggy was also quick to defend her label, noting that her lack of Hot 100 hits is ultimately to blame for the delay. “they would have liked me to have a hit to drive the album sales but they are probably seeing now that is unlikely,” she wrote. “to be fair, im pretty sure from my experience id be having the same issue with any label because i dont have a single that is charting.”