Iggy Azalea, Glory EP

Iggy Azalea's buzz outweighs her catalogue. This fact is of no fault of her own. She just hasn't had much time, really, from making rap a serious pursuit since seeing her name pop up on major sites across the web and out of the mouths of major stars across the game—including T.I., who signed her to his Grand Hustle Records. The Australian MC's love for the culture and the craft is genuine, but she's still growing into herself as an artist, something she continues to do with her new Glory EP.

Iggy is still navigating her way to be comfortable enough on a track to fully make it her own, which is why the strongest cuts on the six-track project find her bringing along a partner in rhyme to add a twist. Things kick off with the B.o.B-assisted "Millionaire Misfits," where an electronic/dance backdrop guide a slew of boasts, like getting "100 racks for a show." After her single "Murda Bizness," with T.I., the 2012 XXL Freshman teams with Pusha T and slows things down on "Runaway." Here, two things stand out: first, is the promise of Iggy's music when she decides to tell her unique story, opening up on a track rather than just talking shit or flaunting her sexuality ("Flash," featuring Mike Posner); second, though, is that she's still finding her voice. Her flow occasionally sounds forced, as if she's creating a voice just for her records—which is fine, if it can be done as fluidly as with someone like Rick Ross or Nicki Minaj.

There's a reason that T.I. brought Iggy Azalea to Grand Hustle, and it's not just her long legs and blonde hair (though those attributes certainly don't hurt her marketability). The up and comer has a personal history and set of experiences not typically told in hip-hop, and potential as an MC if she continues to hone her skills and learn from those around her. With the Glory EP, she heads in that direction. —Adam Fleischer (@AdamXXL)