Should Have Been Bigger: Iggy Azalea’s “Kream” Deserved More Love

Mike Nied | July 8, 2019 7:05 pm

In this franchise, we look back on singles that deserved a little more love and attention.

Things are coming together for Iggy Azalea as she readies the release In My Defense. Her sophomore album arrives July 19, and it is shaping up to be one of the strongest projects of 2019 based on viral singles “Sally Walker,” “Started” and “Just Wanna.” However, as we prepare to be slayed by the Aussie rapper’s new project, it’s the perfect time to reflect on last year’s underrated Survive The Summer. Why? Because the entire EP deserved infinitely more love. That’s especially the case for its Tyga-assisted lead single (and America’s new national anthem, apparently) “Kream.”

After the trop-pop vibes of the ill-fated and also underrated “Savior” failed to resonate, Iggy switched things up and went in an entirely different direction. That was abundantly evident with one listen to “Kream.” The gritty banger signified a return to the aggressive and very sexual sonics of her early mixtape days (think 2011 breakout hit “Pu$$y” for example). And it went very, very hard. “First you get the money. Then you get the power. Respect. Hoes come last,” she announced on the opening lines over icy beats courtesy of Ronny J, Wallis Lane and GT.

It sounded like a serious hit. Better yet, the twerk-tastic video (directed by Colin Tilley) was bound to go viral. For it, Iggy and a crew of dancers delivered some eye-popping choreographic feats under neon lights. Sleek, sexy and unforgettable, it’s gone on to rack up more than 177 million views on YouTube. However that wasn’t enough to propel it to the top of the charts. Although the anthem should have been massive, it only made a blip on the lower rungs of the Billboard Hot 100. Thankfully big things were on the horizon.

At the end of 2018, the hitmaker celebrated the end of her contract with Island Records and broke new ground as an independent artist. And it’s led to a renaissance in her career and one of her best eras to date. But that doesn’t change the facts. In a fair and just world, “Kream” should have been a “Fancy”-sized hit. Show some respect and revisit the work of art below.

Did “Kream” deserve so much more love? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!