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"Trouble" is a song by Australian rapper Iggy Azalea featuring American recording artist Jennifer Hudson, taken from Reclassified, the former's 2014 reissue of her debut studio album. The song was produced by The Invisible Men and Salt Wives. In December 2014, Azalea revealed the track would be the official second promotional track off the reissue, although no specific date for the single to be released digitally or serviced to radios was reported. It was then announced that the song would be impacting mainstream radio stations in the US on 24 February 2015, with an accompanying music video also shot earlier that month. The video premiered on 27 February 2015 on VEVO.

Background and release

On 4 September 2014, Azalea announced that she would be reissuing her debut studio album The New Classic. In October 2014, details of the reissue started to be revealed and that it would be officially released in November. During an interview with Radio.com backstage at the CBS Radio We Can Survive concert at the Hollywood Bowl on 24 October 2014, Azalea talked about her upcoming re-release Reclassified. With the expanded version of the album, Azalea got to team up with Jennifer Hudson for a second time, after being featured on Hudson's song "He Ain't Goin' Nowhere" off her third studio album JHUD, "It kind of has a doo-wop feel," Azalea said, also mentioning her desire to do something different from her musical style and being excited about performing it; "It's kind of something you'd picture Aretha Franklin singing."

In December 2014, Azalea shared through her Twitter account that she was preparing her next single, "Trouble," as the second promotional track off the reissue, while also announcing plans to shoot a music video for the previous single "Beg for It" had been scrapped. After being questioned by fans about the decision to make the track a single, Azalea answered by noting it was related to radio formats and audience testing explaining, “People need to realize they ‘test’ the songs with people and give them scores. That's how it works, they pick based on what scores.”

On 5 February 2014, during American record producer and music industry executive Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy Gala press day, Azalea detailed the track saying, "I think it’s new for me ... because I usually do things that are so constructed and have so many stage props or choreography, but this is a really different record for me to be able to have me and (Jennifer) perform it and have that relaxed atmosphere." "It has a great, great live vibe to it,” Hudson added, "It came to life for both of us when we were performing it together." "Seeing them in rehearsal today, you can see why magic is coming out of the song "Trouble" that they'll be releasing together. I love to have these collaborations every year, in the past we had Alicia with Aretha Franklin, Lou Reed with Rod Stewart, we've had Jennifer with Barry Manilow, we've had combinations that you just don't see. And I think that's why we get everybody coming back year after year," stated Davis while talking about the duo's chemistry.

Azalea claimed she knew right after collaborating for the first time with Hudson she wanted to work on another track with the singer, "I had plans, I don't know if Jennifer had plans," with Hudson responding, "I was ready when I got the call. But I think for us both took a life of its own especially when we performed it the other day . Something just happened, like a magic kicked off." "I don't think you can anticipate that with any record. It's just that magic of a song, what makes a hit, that no one can really explain, and you can't anticipate until you just perform it and it happens or it doesn't. It definitely has, we got something," both concluded. On 4 February 2015, during their late-night show performance on Jimmy Fallon, the single artwork — an illustration of Azalea and Hudson reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto video game covers — was also unveiled, with both artists sharing it with their fans on Instagram shortly after.

Hudson described being "surprised" on an interview with Billboard when she found out that Azalea wanted to collaborate on "Trouble," but saying "working with her was interesting because it was a different way to see an artist work," explaining, "She's so creative. She actually directed the video and wrote the treatments. I was like, 'hmm, maybe I need to do that.' I got to see another artist work up closely and see her creativity, which inspired my creativity as well. I don't think I've ever worked on a video with the artist being the director." During an interview with Ryan Seacrest on 24 February 2015, Azalea also revealed T.I. orchestrated her first collaboration with Hudson, "He heard that the Jennifer Hudson track, they were looking for a rapper and he was like, ‘You should give Iggy a try,'" referring to their team-up on the Pharrell Williams-produced "He Ain't Goin' Nowhere" off JHUD, "So I tried the verse not knowing if I would be accepted or not and she loved it and that's how I starting working with Jennifer." The song was serviced to mainstream radio stations in the US on 24 February 2015 and an accompanying music video was also shot earlier that month, having premiered on 27 February 2015 through Azalea's VEVO channel.

Critical reception

Jim Farber of the New York Daily News gave "Trouble" a positive mention, while reviewing Reclassified, stating that it "reaches back further", while comparing it to another album track that he describes as an "updated Giorgio Moroder-style ’70s fusion-funk", “We In This Bitch,” "to borrow the sprightly piano, exuberant hand claps and tart horn punctuations of a Motown ’60s hit. A gutsy guest vocal from Jennifer Hudson adds to the attitude." Mark Beaumont of NME also praised Hudson's contribution pointing out that she "brings soulful sass to the piano-led song."

Mike Wass of Idolator said the track "represents an interesting departure for the Mullumbimby babe with its soulful chorus, retro production and mellow rap. It speaks volumes for the femcee’s versatility that she pulls it off as easily as a sexy pop anthem like “Black Widow”." Rory Cashin of State was less impressed with "the piano driven throwback" commenting that it's "perfectly pleasant and jaunty – or in other words, totally forgettable." Jacques Peterson of Popdust noted the track "definitely has the potential to be bigger than "Beg For It" was; it follows the same formula as all of Iggy’s hits by having a strong female vocalist serve as the hook singer, while the song’s pop-soul production falls right in line with current Hot 100 chart-toppers like Meghan Trainor and Mark Ronson." A writer for Music Times also reviewed the track remarking "a throwback groove reminiscent of The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," complimenting Hudson's appearance on the song as well, "The rapper delivers a firm flow throughout the performance, but the main draw is definitely Hudson. She's in prime vocal form, giving Azalea's track just the right amount of soul."

Music video

On 20 January 2015, Azalea announced music video plans for "Trouble" and that she would be directing it with her stylist Alejandra Hernandez. Azalea and Hudson were then spotted shooting the video for the track in downtown Los Angeles during the first weekend of February 2015. In the ’70s-inspired visuals seen on the candid images, Azalea, in a Farrah Fawcett-style hairdo and plunging crop top, had just smashed a red classic sports car into a fire hydrant as part of the cop-and-robber act, while Hudson could be seen dressed as a police officer handcuffing Azalea with both also eventually dancing together in the same street.

When asked about the concept of the video during an interview with Access Hollywood a few days later, Azalea mentioned being "very nervous" because it is her first time directing a music video, with Hudson chiming in saying Azalea's doing a "good job". Azalea continued, "It's a narrative storyline so I don't want to give too much away because I want to leave the surprise. But it's fairly evident that Jennifer is this badass sassy cop, strong boss lady, and my character is more naïve than one would think from the pictures, and I've kind of stumbled into this Bonnie and Clyde-type of situation that I'm in — thats all I'll say." During yet another interview with MTV News, Azalea also promised "a lot of car stuff," plus a beginning, middle and end similar to her previous video for the song "Black Widow". "Anytime there’s a video with a strong narrative and you really get to play a character and perform that character and give the character its own quirks and things, you really get to have fun with it," she said. Hudson also hinted plans for a sequel adding, "It’s definitely that type of video that you could see a part two coming about." On 7 February 2015, Azalea stated she had "just wrapped the Trouble video."

On 17 February 2015, an official lyric video premiered on Azalea's VEVO channel featuring pictures of the music video shoot.

On 27 February 2015, the official music video was released on her VEVO channel. In the opening scene, Azalea unknowingly assists her bad boy boyfriend in robbing a bank. Once he’s behind bars, she devises a plan to help him escape. The lovers speed through the streets of downtown L.A. in her getaway vehicle, while Hudson plays a sassy cop. In the end, Azalea and her boyfriend are hauled off in cuffs to jail.

Live performances

On 4 February 2015, Azalea and Hudson performed the song for the first time by teaming up with The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The performance received a positive reception, with an editor from The Boombox writing, "Despite it being their first live TV performance together, the onstage chemistry between the two was evident from start to finish with both vibing off of each other’s movements and energy with ease. Backed by the show's in-house band, the Roots, Azalea and J-Hud owned the stage and looked stylish as ever while doing so." They performed it again at Clive Davis and The Recording Academy's annual pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, on 7 February 2015.

Track listing

Digital download

1. "Trouble" (featuring Jennifer Hudson) – 2:46

Charts

Release history

References

1. ^ "Iggy Azalea Is Releasing 'Trouble' With Jennifer Hudson As Her Next Single". popdust.com. 23 December 2014.
2. ^ "Interview: Iggy Azalea on Working With Ellie Goulding & Jennifer Hudson on 'Reclassified'". radio.com. 14 November 2014.
3. Menyes, Carolyn (28 December 2014). "Iggy Azalea Scraps "Beg For It" Music Video Due to Jingle Ball: "Trouble" Will Be Next 'Reclassified' Single". United States: musictimes.com. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
4. "Iggy Azalea to reissue 'New Classic' with six new songs". upi.com. 4 September 2014.
5. "Iggy Azalea to reissue 'New Classic' with six new songs". thelineofbestfit.com. 24 October 2014.
6. "Iggy Azalea Confirms Duet With Britney Spears, Explains Why "Trouble" Is Her Next Single & Follows Selena Gomez". idolator.com. 23 December 2014.
7. ^ "Iggy Azalea: I'd Be Happy With A Grammy For Best Album Artwork". KRON4. 5 February 2015.
8. ^ "Iggy Azalea & Jennifer Hudson on concept of 'Trouble' music video". Access Hollywood. 6 February 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
9. "Iggy Azalea & Jennifer Hudson Debut Sexy 'Trouble' Duet – Watch". hollywoodlife.com. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
10. http://instagram.com/p/ythV4hOEoC/
11. http://instagram.com/p/ytmejZLqNL/
12. "Jennifer Hudson: Iggy Azalea 'Inspired My Creativity'". billboard.com. 20 February 2015.
13. "Iggy Azalea on Quitting Twitter, Flying to China for Second Date With Nick Young". ryanseacrest.com. 24 February 2015.
14. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015.
15. ^ Wass, Mike (3 February 2015). "Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Hudson play cops & robbers". New York Post. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
16. Farber, Jim (November 21, 2014). "Iggy Azalea "Reclassified" album review". nydailynews.com. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
17. Beaumont, Mark (November 24, 2014). "NME Reviews - Iggy Azalea - 'Reclassified'". nme.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
18. Wass, Mike (November 24, 2014). "Iggy Azalea's 'Reclassified': Album Review". idolator.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
19. Rory, Cashin (November 25, 2014). "Iggy Azalea - Reclassified". state.ie. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
20. ^ "Iggy Azalea - Reclassified". musictimes.com. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
21. http://twitter.com/IGGYAZALEA/status/557493757184970752
22. Wass, Mike (2 February 2015). "Iggy Azalea Gets Arrested By Jennifer Hudson In Their Foxy "Trouble" Video: See A Still". Idolator. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
23. Midgarden, Cory (13 February 2015). "Iggy Azalea & Jennifer Hudson Get Into 'Trouble' Shooting Their New Video". mtv.com.
24. "IGGY AZALEA on Twitter: "Just wrapped the trouble video."". Twitter.com. 7 February 2015.
25. "Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Hudson Are 'Trouble' In New Lyric Video—Watch Now!". popdust.com. 17 February 2015.
26. "Video: Iggy Azalea feat. Jennifer Hudson - 'Trouble'". rap-up.com. 27 February 2015.
27. "Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Hudson Bring 'Trouble' to 'Tonight Show'". Rap-Up. 5 February 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
28. "Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Hudson Perform 'Trouble' on 'Jimmy Fallon' - Video". theboombox.com. 5 February 2015.
29. "Iggy Azalea & Jennifer Hudson Bring Trouble To Jimmy Fallon's Doorstep! See The Duo's Debut TV Performance HERE!". PerezHilton.com. 5 February 2015.
30. "Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala Welcomes Sam Smith, Meghan Trainor, Johnny Mathis & More". Billboard. 8 February 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
31. "iTunes - Music - Reclassified by Iggy Azalea". Itunes.apple.com. 24 November 2014.
32. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles Chart". ARIA. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
33. "December 13, 2014 – Hot Canadian Digital Songs – Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Retrieved 10 December 2014. (subscription required)

External links

• "Trouble" audio on SoundCloud
• Template:MetroLyrics song

• 2014 songs
• 2015 singles
• Iggy Azalea songs
• Jennifer Hudson songs
• Songs written by Iggy Azalea
• Def Jam Recordings singles
• Virgin EMI Records singles
• Song recordings produced by The Invisible Men
• Songs written by Jason Pebworth
• Songs written by George Astasio
• Songs written by Jon Shave