It became Azalea's highest-charting single as a lead artist on that chart, and also peaked at number 3 in the United States, while receiving mixed reviews from music critics.

[4] She also stated she would be signing to a major record label "soon and once that's sorted out and I establish an over all sound and direction for the album, I will be able to know what artists would make for a dynamic collaboration".

It was later revealed in the interview that she was in negotiations with labels other than Interscope and possibly Def Jam (wherein Bu Thiam, whom of which originally placed a bid to sign her, is VP of A&R).

[3] Azalea worried that if she was to make a mistake with her career that Interscope Records would not support her, and she felt that being signed to the label was for commercial reasons rather than artistic.

's Grand Hustle imprint, it was then confirmed that she had signed a deal with Island Def Jam Music Group, she announced via Twitter: "Hey world.

[13] Chris Anokute, a senior vice president of Island Def Jam, later welcomed her to the record label tweeting: "Congrats Iggy.

[13] In an interview with Blare magazine, Azalea explained that Island Def Jam made her feel more confident as a musician, and she felt less pressure from them as a company.

[15] In February 2012, Azalea premiered a song titled "Picture Me Rollin", performing it in Los Angeles in Dim Mak Studio.

"[19] Natalie Sims, whom Azalea had worked with in Atlanta before relocating to Los Angeles, abandoned the last four stops on a tour and flew over to Wales in December to help record the album.

[26] On 27 September 2011, Azalea released her debut mixtape Ignorant Art, saying she made it "with the intent to make people question and redefine old ideals".

During January and February 2013, Azalea was the supporting act for British singer-songwriter Rita Ora's Radioactive Tour in the United Kingdom.

[31] During March 2013, Azalea was the supporting act for American rapper Nas, on his Life Is Good concert tour in the United Kingdom.

[34]During October and November 2013, Azalea was the supporting act for American singer-songwriter Beyoncé's The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour in Australia.

[38] On 26 February 2014, in an interview with Los Angeles radio station Power 106, Azalea spoke on her long-awaited and often-delayed album: "In a way I'm very glad that it has taken a long time, because I've had so many experiences and I really feel like the last two years have been fast-forwarded and I had just so many different things happen to me that's been a lot of great things to write about..."[39] The album became available for pre-order 10 March 2014, along with an instant gratification track, "Fancy" or "Impossible Is Nothing", depending on the country.

[43] To promote the album, Azalea announced a 14-date North American tour kicking off on 23 April in Boston and stopping in major cities including Detroit, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, wrapping 22 May in Seattle.

[45][46] It was described as a subdued trap-meets-snap tune about Azalea's peculiar coming-of-age as a model who came to America in her teens before trying her hand at rap ("no money / no family / 16 in the middle of Miami").

[48] Directed by Jonas & François, the video "is all trailer park elegance, dive bar lap dances, and a bit of 'Bad Girls'-inspired ridin' around and/or gettin' it".

[47] Azalea revealed the inspirations for the visuals included Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Tarantino's Death Proof and the music video for Outkast's "B.O.B.".

[53] "Work" also debuted at number 14 on Billboard Hot Rap Songs for the week ending 17 May 2014, marking Azalea's second top 20 hit on that chart.

In May 2013, in an interview with Rap-Up, after Azalea revealed she was no longer signed to Grand Hustle Records, she announced the album's third single would be titled "Change Your Life" and would feature T.I.

[citation needed] On 5 December 2013, an unfinished song by Azalea, which surfaced with the title "Leave It" and the tag "produced by DJ Mustard", was leaked online.

[67] On 5 February 2014, Azalea announced that she would be releasing a new single titled "Fancy", featuring English singer-songwriter Charli XCX, later that week.

[69] Thanks to "Fancy" and "Problem", in which she is the featured artist, Azalea joined The Beatles as the only acts to rank at numbers one and two simultaneously with their first two Hot 100 hits.

[73] Simon Vozick-Levinson of Rolling Stone said Azalea gives the songs "the kind of shamelessly poppy hooks that make Top 40 programmers giggle in delight and 'real hip-hop' heads shake theirs sadly.

"[80] Tshepo Mokoena of The Guardian felt the album "barely resembles the west coast hip-hop Azalea idolised and imitated when developing her voice, and sits somewhere between EDM, dance-pop and trap music.

[84] Ray Rahman of Entertainment Weekly found its high-quality singles overshadowed by "undercooked, overstudied 'urban radio' and 'EDM' filler",[76] while Q called Azalea a faux rebel who follows convention, despite an occasional catchy song.

[79] In a positive review for Cuepoint, Robert Christgau argued that while Azalea may never demonstrate a powerful, soulful, or attractively melodic delivery, her "striving Australian-Atlantan cadence" is original and carries every song.

[75] He deemed The New Classic "plenty authentic – and damn good to boot" while dismissing Azalea's media naysayers: "predictably, the songs where she expresses wonderment that 'Impossible Is Nothing' are more relatable than the ones where she flaunts her liquid assets.

"[86] Kellan Miller of XXL said despite some poor songs near the end of the record, it is "a persuasive indicator that Iggy Azalea will be around for the long haul.

[101] It re-entered the top forty on the Billboard 200 chart for the week ending 28 December 2014, selling 10,000 more copies and bringing its annual total to 485,000 in the United States.