Song of the Week: Iggy Azalea - Work

About last year I started listening to Iggy Azalea - the Australian blonde who raps as if she is a dude straight outta Atlanta, gloating about all her moneys that she be earning with her big booty hoes. 

I briefly read a review about her in some magazine saying how she was the next big thing. Without hesitation, (I was interested what an Australian rapper would sound like to be honest) I searched her up on YouTube and googled her name. 

The first video I watched of her was 'Pu$$y', yes, it was because the name of the song intrigued me. I watched her, in awe - admiration and confusion. She raps in such a fast flow that is slightly incomprehensible at first; maybe this is a trick of hers so you don't instantly get shocked by her crude, vulgar language and metaphors. 

Not only was I confused about what she was saying, but... She puzzled me. Yes I've seen many white rappers, females too. But she literally looked like my Barbie doll. A Barbie doll with a big a$$ and a dirrty mouth. Pretty girls rapping - I loves it.

So I became more interested, went on her website and her mixtape was just sitting there waiting for me to download. 'Ignorant Art' was it's name. And what a fantastic mixtape. Each song had a different flow, a different rhythm, a different purpose and a different meaning. Some spoke about true love, falling in love with the wrong guy, difficulties on being white and female in a male black music industry... and she also mentions sex, strippers and a lot of money talking. I couldn't stop listening to it.

I liked it. I really did. She wasn't really that popular so I made sure my friends knew who she was and I wanted to know their opinions. 

I would trick my friends and say, "oh listen to this rapper, she's real good." They would listen, say "yeah, its cool" then that's when I'd surprise them and admit that she's actually white, and Australian. I could tell they were definitely shocked. Who's every heard of an Australian rapper? And apart from Kylie, who knows that many Australian music artists?

I'm rambling. Only because I wanted to post this like last year. But the whole point of this post was to show y'all that she's got a new song out, and a banging video to go with it. 

This song is definitely the song of the week. Only hearing it on Tuesday, I can't get the lyrics out of my head. I even went to bed singing "no money, no family, sixteen in the middle of Miami" over and over and over and over again. Until I fell asleep thinking I was a rapper. 

There's something about this video I really like. Haha, I've even watched this video everyday so far. 1. I like her clothes 2. I LURVE her hair that whips like a dominatrix 3. that a$$ bro...

(youtube)

Must Watch: The Power of Pussy

I said to myself, "tonight will be an early night". I'm getting fed up of not having enough sleeping hours. So I said to myself, 11pm I'll be asleep.

But I couldn't get to sleep.

I found myself on Facebook, something that I never go on any more. And when I do it's only for the occasionally stalking or to contact friends/family abroad. So when I heard that lil "pop" of a notification at 11.31pm I hesitated to consider either reading the message, which will keep me up for probably another 30mins or so, or, to pretend I heard nothing and 'by accident' sign off.

It turned out to be my friend sending me a link of a YouTube video. She asked "have you seen the power of pussy yet???"

The Power of Pussy? What in the hell was that? I instantly thought it'd be about some scientific feminists proclaiming how the vagina possess some magical powers.

I told her, "no". She replied,  "I'm going to bed but if u haven't watched it, you'll love it".

So this left me in a dilemma. So, struggle going to sleep whilst pondering what this video could be about? Or watch it, be happy, then moan about my little sleep in the morning?

The second one sounded much much better.

An hour and a bit later. I was buzzing. I didn't care if I had 7 hours sleep left... My life was complete.

You may be wondering now what was this video about????

One word. Strippers.

Yes, strippers. The Power of Pussy is a online documentary, four part series of strippers working in Atlanta, Magic City - Premier Adult Entertainment.

Initially I thought it would be glamourising stripping and boost about how much they make and all they do is dance. But this doc ain't glamourising nothing. It showed how difficult and frustrating it can be. Not only do they fear of being semi-naked (and fully) in front of a room of people, but they also fear if this job would turn into a life-long career. Being labelled as as stripper leads to many negative opinions... Could they ever find a serious job, despite their past?

'Strippers' is the incorrect word, 'adult entertainer' fits their features. They. Are. Fit. Girls. They climb up the pole, then to drop back down, then spin their whole body around the pole, just using one arm - and don't forget they are wearing stilettos whilst making themselves look effortlessly sexy throughout without showing a spec of tiredness or pain... and this, ladies and gentleman, is the sport of pole dancing.

Although they know it's not the ideal job, but these girls interviewed didn't seem unhappy in their jobs. They get to be with other girls that have been through the same rough past that has led them to working at Magic City. Like a sense of community within the club. But the best thing is, they also learn how to 'twerk' and shake their derriere in a 'classy way' in front of a 'gentleman'.
All the girls have a nickname, like the name of their alter-ego. Once they get up on stage their ultra provocative ego can be unleashed to a room of the unknown drowsy men. 

The Power of Pussy neither glamourised nor demoralise these women. It was a doc that made me totally respect strippers adult entertainers even more. I always have, especially because it's amusing to think that us women can get paid for flaunting our assets - the things our mama gave us.


WAAAATTCHH ITTTT!

(youtube)

Les Miserables (2012)

Yes.  The fantastic classic is coming to the cinema.  As I sat in the cinema watching the trailer, all I heard was "I dreamed a dream time gone by" and I knew what it would be about.  I must admit I haven't seen Les Mis in at the theatre, but I basically know must of the songs. Thanks to Glee, Susan Boyle and weird primary school choir lessons.

This film looks so empowering;  the cast, the singing.. definitely an Oscar nominee. I forget how much I love "I Dreamed a  Dream" ; the context of the song is so depressing but they way how the singer must sing it has to have a tone of hope within because they believed that life would be better.  Anne Hathaway does a beautiful adaptation of the song - impossible to know it's her.

youtube.com

LDR for H&M

When I was looking through my recent Elle magazine I froze when I finally saw a printed version of Lana Del Rey for H&M. Then I froze again yesterday when I saw her commercial for H&M. She sings 'Blue Velvet' in her signature style, like melting icing.

I don't know when H&M are realising this collection, but the day it does, I'll be there. Fo sure.

Also, yesterday I heard the full version of 'Damn You'. I remember when I was on Tumblr, I heard a 30 second snippet of the song. At the end of the clip I was nearly in tears because I wanted more. The song matched exactly what happened to me that night. Lying down in my room at 3am replaying and replaying the 30 second long clip.
It's such a simple song. Repeated verses and choruses. Sounds like a song that was made in a day on a cheap digital music software. But it's the simplicity that entices me.

(youtube, my own picture)

Dior Addict Advert

Best advert out now. Whenever there's an ad break I pray that it will come on. It's fun, cute, sexy, cheerful and cheeky - all at once. The director of this work is the quirky talented Jonas Akerland. It was such a surprise when I found out he directed it, as he is my favourite director! The caption underneath the video on the Youtube channel says Dior Addict is the art of seduction and being free; which Akerland and the sweet and charming Daphne Groeneveld capture perfectly.

Enjoy, the director's cut version. It's longer!!

(youtube, tumblr)

Wireless Festival: The Weeknd

Yesterday I went to one of the best day festivals you could ever go to.

Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London set up tents for acts such as Professor Green, Example, Angel, Delilah, Wiz Khalifa, The Weeknd, Labrinth, Tulisa, Rita Ora, Nero, The Dream, D'banj, Nicki Minaj and, my future hubby, Drake.

Yep, all those acts for the price of basically one of those A-list artists. The weather wasn't brilliant, but as long as you have your weelies, rain-mac and your best singing in the rain voice, you're good to go.

I was super excited to see The Weeknd, as he doesn't do that many tours, this festival was a must. I've only been a favourite of his for only some time now. But I was instantly mesmerized by his cool and seduction voice. He. Is. Amazing. Live. He sounds just as good live, actually even better, then recordings. If you haven't already heard his masterpieces, see below.

Oh yeah, and Drake was incredible. Obviously. To be frank, the sound system wasn't that good, because it is in an open space and I was a bit far away from the stage, nevertheless myself and the crowd around me rapped, sang and danced in perfect unison.

The Weeknd : image taken on instagram

Leomie Anderson

Just finished watching this interview of Leomie Anderson, who I recognised from a Channel 4 documentary called the Model Agency (a must-watch!) and I had to dedicate this post to Leomie!

She's such an average girl who was scouted by Premier modelling agency at a bus stop coming home from school.... in her school uniform, at the age 14! Happily, I have seen her on a few fashion sites, editorials and runways here and there. And obviously being black and coming from London too, I'm sooo excited seeing her make her breakthrough in the (unfortunately quite racist) fashion industry.

Model Upgrade: Interview with Leomie Anderson: The Essential Upgrades With Galaxy

The interviewer is one of my favourite Vlogger ever! She's so bubbly and always giving good tips on hair, fashion, make up and life it's self. 

BritPopPrincess 

True inspiration.

(Saty+Pratha - Fashion Gone Rogue, tumblr, youtube)

Girls

A HBO new series of four twenty-something girls living in New York. Sounding familiar? Reminding you of Sex And The City? Complete opposite.


First aired on 15th April, 2012. Created by Lena Dunham, directed by Lena Dunham, Executive produced by Lena Dunham and also starring Lena Dunham. This girl is a TV genius.


The reason why it is becoming my favourite TV show is because it does not show the glossy image of young life, e.g; finding a job after parents stop giving you money, trying soo hard to break up with a tender womanly boyfriend and wondering if it is too early to settle down. The amount of laugh out loud cringing moments that happen are so much that I refrain myself from drinking anything or else it will go all over my laptop screen.


I love this so show much. For so many reasons. Dunham says "Gossip Girl was teens duking it out on the Upper East Side and Sex and the City was women who figured out work and friends and now want to nail family life. There was this whole in between space that hadn't really been addressed," 
It's a show that I don't constantly lust over the clothes or attractive characters, but instead I'm concentrating on the plot. I don't see any cliché moments or repeats of other shows, just realistic and original dilemmas in life. 


A definite must-watch. Just definite. 

- Lena Dunham, second right.

(google)