Released: 2018
“Kawasaki” by Iggy Azalea is a bold, audacious anthem that showcases the rapper’s confidence and luxurious lifestyle. The track reflects her braggadocio, unapologetic swagger, and her evolution from humble beginnings to a life of affluence. This song highlights Iggy’s love for high-end fashion, success, and independence, ultimately underscoring her journey and transformation.
The hook of “Kawasaki” sets the tone for the entire song. The repetition of being told to “be humble” while asserting “I’m cocky” captures the tension between external expectations and her own self-perception. It’s about owning who she is, without toning it down for others. Iggy’s clever wordplay “let me feel myself, yeah, daddy know I’m cocky” establishes her confident persona right from the get-go.
In the first verse, Iggy throws around a string of luxury symbols – “my wrist is rocky,” a reference to her expensive jewelry. “He wanna pop a wheelie, ride him like a Kawasaki” adds a layer of metaphor, combining motorbike imagery with romantic or sexual conquest. She goes on to mention a “Phantom grill” and cooking the streets like “hibachi,” blending opulence with a gritty, street-savvy attitude.
Iggy paints a vivid picture of a lavish lifestyle. With lines like “I’m sippin’ sake, I’m raw like ahi,” she likens herself to high-end sushi, suggesting both her status and uniqueness. The inquiry, “Boy, why you always wanna meet me in the lobby?” could hint at secretive or transactional meetings, consistent with the world of fame and wealth she’s portraying.
The refrain, “I’m going live, sit down and watch me,” highlights Iggy’s dominance in the spotlight, akin to a performance or broadcast. This contrasts with the image of someone “rockin’ Jordans but you’re Dennis Rodman,” hinting at superficiality or pretending to fit into a mold of authenticity or success.
The lyrics “I used to get the chicken fingers, now I get the lobster” symbolize Iggy’s rise from simpler, perhaps more financially constrained times, to her current extravagant lifestyle. Her “Halloween team, fame turned me to a monster” cleverly encapsulates the transformation fame can impose on a person, both enhancing and, at times, corrupting them.
Iggy’s wordplay with “Ronda Rousey” in “I make him fight for the pussy” reflects her control over relationships and situations. She presents herself as both the prize and the referee, the orchestrator of her own narratives. Similarly, “playing hard to get” ties into the metaphorical children’s game “ring around the rosy,” suggesting complexity and cyclical challenges in her relationships.
“If we’re lock in, keep it low-key” addresses maintaining discretion amidst fame. It’s an interesting contradiction when coupled with her statement “I’m going live,” showing her balance between public persona and private life. The line “The block is hot, bitch go inside” seems to allude to high tensions or public scrutiny, suggesting that discretion is often necessary for safety or reputation.
She emphasizes her value and legacy in “I can take my jewelry off, still be the golden child.” Here, Iggy declares that her worth is not solely dependent on material wealth but on her intrinsic qualities and past struggles. “Fuck you hoes, I came from nothing” is a triumphant proclamation of her roots and success, directly countering those who doubt her.
The repeated theme of being “cocky” ties into Iggy’s assurance of her talent and resilience. Throughout “Kawasaki,” she rejects humility as defined by societal norms, opting instead to assert her hard-earned confidence. Historically, hip-hop has often been a platform for marginalized voices to reclaim power and visibility, which is precisely what Iggy Azalea aims to do in this vibrant track.
