As the great Ann Perkins once said, “I know jogging keeps you healthy, but god, at what cost?”
I think we can all agree that exercise is the worst, but unfortunately it’s something that must be done if you, like me, insist on eating double quarter pounder combos (with extra Mac Sauce, and a sundae to dip your fries in) at McDonald’s. Taking a cue from the great Mindy Kaling‘s book Is Everyone Hanging Out With Me (And Other Concerns), one great way to motivate yourself to work out is to come up with elaborate fantasies, more specifically, revenge fantasies. Because if you can’t muster up the courage to save your imaginary husband from the equally imaginary terrorists, what’s the point of exercise? It’s also a bonus if you can come up with a badass plot line while listening to some equally badass music.
Lucky for you, I did all the work for you by pairing up great tunes with some equally badass scenarios to help you burn off the pack of raw cookie dough you ate at 3 AM.
1) Ni**as in Paris – Kanye West and Jay-Z
Best for: The start of your workout because it makes you feel like the best person in the world.
Fantasy: It’s been a long gruelling season on the bench and you have finally been called up to play for your favourite sports team in the Champions League final. You have been ridiculed by the press and Piers Morgan all season and finally it’s time to get your revenge. After only during the last 20 seconds of the game you score a screamer from 30 yards out and your team become champions of Europe. If you have time, don’t forget to include the presentation of awards.
Length of fantasy: 4:12
calories burned: 40
2) Joker and the Theif – Wolfmother
Best for: Walking home or running thanks to the one of the best guitar parts of all time.
Fantasy: You have been learning guitar for months now in secret in order to challenge your guitar playing rival to a duel. You arrive at the duel and play the opening riff of this song while simultaneously melting the faces off everyone in attendance. You go, Glen Coco.
Length of fantasy: 0:56
Calories burned: 10
3) Countdown – (Her Royal Highness) Beyonce
The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran has a lot on his plate. Not only is he and his bandmates currently on tour and the stars of their own reality T.V. show, but Siva’s adding modelling to his list of growing duties. Now modelling isn’t a stretch for Siva not just because he’s highly photogenic (have you seen his cheekbones?!) but because he’s modeled before. Siva started modelling at the tender age of 15 in Ireland with his identical twin brother Kumar (yes you read that right, he has an identical twin) and is now returning to his modelling roots.
However Siva isn’t the only celebrity to sign with a modelling agency, here is your guide to celebrities with a modelling contract.
1) Emma Watson (Storm Model Management)
2) Ian Somerhalder (DNA Model Management & Storm Model Management)
3) Kendall Jenner (Wilhelmina Models) Read more…
With two singles currently out, Iggy Azalea is set to make a splash in the rap world. This Aussie MC began rapping at 14 and moved to the States at 16 in order to begin her career. She was so determined to hit it big that she told her parents that she was just going on vacation, but never came back.
Although Azalea was heavily influenced by her close friend Tip Richardson a.k.a. T.I., she decided to strike out on her own and she left his label (Interscope) for Def Jam to continue to craft her sound. She is much loved by her fans (called “Azaleans” on Twitter), but relatively unknown to the casual rap listener. This will probably change soon, though, as her first studio album The New Classic is set to drop later this year.
ANDPOP’s Evan Ross spoke to Iggy Azalea about her beginnings, what it’s like to work on a full record, and why she is wary of the term “role model”.
Evan Ross: What was it about rap that drew you to it?
Iggy Azalea: Some things can’t be explained, I just had an emotional connection to it.
Why did you pick the name Iggy Azalea?
Iggy Azalea: My grandfather kept saying that I had to have a stage name and my real name (Amethyst Amelia Kelly) was too long. I had a dog named Iggy, who was named after Iggy Pop and I wore a necklace that said “Iggy” on it so people started calling me that a lot. Azalea was the street that I lived on at the time.
Who are some of the artists that influenced you, both now and when you were younger?
Tupac definitely when I was younger. In terms of a female influence I would say Missy Elliot; she was a woman I wanted to dress like, wanted to dance like. I would save my money so I could buy the Adidas jackets that she wore. I basically wanted to be Missy Elliot (laughs). Now I don’t idolize people so much, I have grown out of that. But I like Kendrick Lamar and really like Andre 3000; I hope he has another record.
You talk a bit about how you supported yourself when you left home in “Work.” How else has your past influenced your music?
My music isn’t really biographical, but what I think definitely shapes the music. My music has both my past and my present, and past stories are evident.
Is there any reason behind the accent you use when you’re performing?
Victoria Abraham defines one up and coming artist each week so you can impress your friends with your musical brilliance. This week, she tackles Iggy Azalea, an Australian rapper.
Iggy Azalea from Sydney, Australia (see what I did there) is the first female and non-American rapper to be featured on XXL’s annual Top 10 Freshman cover issue, and for good reason. She is not afraid to rap dirty while still looking pretty, and there is always something refreshing about a girl who bravely takes on a male dominated genre, and isn’t afraid to look like a girl while doing it. Stay tuned for her debut studio album The New Classic which is set to drop in 2013.
Origins: Sydney, Australia
Full name: Amethyst Amelia Kelly
Known for: Iggy Azalea is known for her no nonsense raps, her platinum blonde hair and tough girl attitude
Used in a sentence: From her first mixtape to her debut album, Iggy’s dedicated to bringing something new to hip hop
File next to: Azealia Banks, Missy Eliott, Angel Haze,
Download now: “Work”
Five fun facts:
1. She came to America by herself when she was 16 after telling her parents she was going on holiday with a friend. Later on she told them she wasn’t coming home
2. She was announced as the new face of Levi Jeans in late 2012. She is also signed with Wilhelmina Models
Steve Aoki and Angger Dimas dropped a new catchy tune with Australian rapper Iggy Azalea called “Beat Down.”
Iggy is a spitfire rapper and the super catchy electronic beat behind her makes the track danceable.
“What you looking at/ do I got something in my eye/ do I got shit up on my face/ or did my hair catch on fire/ cause you really really staring/it must be something that you like, geeze/ ask for my number/ or you could fly a kite,” says Iggy. Her debut album The New Classic will be released in June.
Listen to it here:
