In an interview with Billboard, released on 27 January, Azalea hinted at an Interscope Records signing, while also revealing hopes of releasing The New Classic in June, and for her debut single to precede it in March. In December 2011, Azalea revealed she would release her debut studio album, The New Classic, as soon as she signed a major record label deal: 'Once that's sorted out and I establish an overall sound and direction for the album, I will be able to know what artists would make for a dynamic collaboration.' On 11 January 2012, Azalea released the music video for 'The Last Song', her third video from Ignorant Art. 'It's supposed to have like, all the ridiculousness of a big-budget '90s video, but then chopped and screwed', said Azalea, of the video. The video features a cameo appearance from character actor and former wrestler Tiny Lister, which earned her more attention due to its rising popularity online. In November 2011, she released a music video for her song 'My World', directed by Alex/2tone.

On 27 September 2011, Azalea released her first full-length project, a mixtape titled Ignorant Art, saying she made it 'with the intent to make people question and redefine old ideals.' Her song 'Pussy' was included on the mixtape, alongside guest appearances from YG, Joe Moses, Chevy Jones, and Problem. In 2018, Azalea was approved as a permanent U.S. Azalea worked in the US illegally until February 2013 when she was granted a five-year O visa. I'm fucking crazy!'.' After she arrived in the US, she received her General Educational Development (GED), and resided in the country on a visa waiver for six years, returning to Australia every three months to renew it. I was right.' She recalled, 'My mum was crying, saying, 'Just be safe.' I was thinking, 'I'm going by myself. She told her parents she was going 'on a holiday' with a friend, but eventually decided to stay and shortly afterward told them she was not coming back home: 'I was drawn to America because I felt like an outsider in my own country, I was in love with hip hop, and America is the birthplace of that, so I figured the closer I was to the music, the happier I'd be. Azalea traveled to the United States in 2006, shortly before she turned 16. She also said she had no friends and was teased for her homemade outfits. She claims to have hated school, which, apart from art class, only made her miserable. She worked and saved the money she earned by cleaning hotel rooms and holiday houses with her mother. In pursuit of her desire to move to America, Azalea dropped out of high school.

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