Kream (feat. Tyga)

“Kream” is a braggadocious anthem centered on the themes of wealth, power, and sexual empowerment. The title itself is an acronym for “Kash Rules Everything Around Me,” a direct homage to and interpolation of the iconic 1993 Wu-Tang Clan song “C.R.E.A.M.” (Cash Rules Everything Around Me). While the original song by Wu-Tang Clan was a gritty commentary on the struggles of poverty and the necessity of money for survival, Iggy Azalea and Tyga's version re-contextualizes the phrase into a celebration of opulent success and the power that comes with it.

The song's core message is that financial success is the ultimate measure of power and respect in modern society. The lyrics explicitly state the formula: “First you get the money / Then you get the power / Respect.” Azalea's verses are filled with imagery of her lavish lifestyle—cars, designer bags, real estate—and she asserts her financial independence and dominance. She also intertwines this financial power with her sexuality, presenting it as another tool of control and a source of her success, as seen in lines like, “Pussy in your face, that'll put you in your place.”

Tyga’s verse continues this theme, playfully twisting the acronym to “Ass rules everything around me” before reverting to the primacy of cash. Both artists use the track to assert their status, confidence, and control within the hip-hop industry and the broader culture of materialism.

The narrative of the song is an unapologetic and bold celebration of wealth, power, and female sexuality, asserting that money is the ultimate ruler in contemporary society. The song opens by establishing a clear hierarchy: first comes money, then power, and finally, respect. This mantra sets the stage for a lyrical journey focused on flaunting success and dominance.

The protagonist, voiced by Iggy Azalea, presents herself as a woman who is entirely in control of her financial and personal life. She speaks of opening safes, implying vast wealth that others can only talk about. She uses her sexuality as a form of power, suggesting it can put others in their place. Her success is tangible, represented by luxury cars, bags, and real estate. She's not here for games or romance (“Foreplay, I ain't come to play”); her focus is on accumulating more wealth, using her allure as bait for “big fish money.”

She demands energy and quick transactions, referencing modern financial tools like Cash App to highlight the immediacy of her earnings. There's a sense of detachment and self-assurance; she dismisses those who claim to know her and aligns herself with rebellious figures like Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. The lyrics are filled with imagery of a lavish and fast-paced lifestyle, from being dressed in designer clothes to name-dropping model Bella Hadid as a peer. The recurring chant of “Cash rules everything around me” reinforces the central theme.

Tyga’s verse complements this narrative from a male perspective, echoing the themes of sexual prowess and wealth. He cleverly twists the central acronym to “Ass rules everything around me,” emphasizing the physical aspect before reaffirming the dominance of cash. He portrays himself as an alpha figure, a “shark in the water” and a “dog” on the hunt. His lyrics are also steeped in pop culture references, mentioning Ice Cube and the movie “The Players Club” to build his persona. He boasts about the authenticity of his wealth and success, deriding others as fake or “Photoshopped,” like rappers who rely too heavily on autotune. He compares his crew's effectiveness to the Golden State Warriors basketball team, known for their precision and dominance. Both artists together paint a picture of a world where financial success is paramount, enabling a lifestyle of luxury, power, and freedom from judgment.

“Kream” was released on July 6, 2018, as the lead single from Iggy Azalea's extended play, Survive the Summer. The track features American rapper Tyga. The song was written by Azalea (Amethyst Kelly), Tyga (Michael Stevenson), and Ronny J (Ronald Spence Jr.), with production handled by Ronny J, GT, and Wallis Lane.

The song's creation is notable for its prominent sample of Wu-Tang Clan's legendary track “C.R.E.A.M.”, which provides the foundational hook, “Cash rules everything around me.” This creative choice anchored the song in hip-hop history while giving it a modern trap spin. The song also interpolates a viral clip from a Complex interview with model Bella Hadid.

“Kream” was originally intended for Azalea's scrapped second studio album, Digital Distortion. After facing numerous delays and eventually switching record labels from Def Jam to Island Records, Azalea repurposed the track for the Survive the Summer EP. The release was seen as a comeback effort for Azalea, marking her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 since her 2016 single “Team”.

The rhyme and rhythm of “Kream” are fundamental to its trap aesthetic, characterized by a deliberate, confident, and steady flow that complements the slow, bass-heavy beat.

Rhythm and Flow: Both Iggy Azalea and Tyga employ a relaxed, behind-the-beat flow. This rhythmic choice projects an air of nonchalance and control, as if they are not struggling to keep up but are dictating the pace. The tempo is slow and steady, making it a club-friendly track designed for a confident strut or slow twerk, which is heavily featured in its music video. The cadence is often syncopated, with phrases starting and ending in unexpected places against the beat, a common feature in modern trap music.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is generally simple and direct, often relying on couplets (AA, BB) and occasional internal rhymes to maintain momentum. For example, in Azalea’s verse: “Pussy in your face, that'll put you in your place / 7 letters on the plate, fuck you when I brake.” This straightforward structure makes the lyrics memorable and punchy. She also uses slant rhymes (e.g., shinin'/grimy, tonic/get it) to maintain a natural, conversational feel while still creating a sense of lyrical connection.

“Kream” employs several stylistic techniques to create its confident and hypnotic atmosphere:

• Musical Style: The song is built on a sparse, slow-bounce trap beat, which is characteristic of producer Ronny J's style. This minimalist instrumental, with a heavy bass and skeletal melody, puts the focus squarely on the vocal delivery and lyrical content, creating a hypnotic and assertive mood.
• Vocal Delivery: Iggy Azalea utilizes a more filtered and mellow vocal delivery compared to some of her earlier, more aggressive tracks. This creates a sense of effortless confidence and control. Tyga’s flow is characteristically smooth and rhythmic, complementing Azalea's style while adding his own brand of laid-back bravado.
• Sampling and Interpolation: The most significant technique is the interpolation of Wu-Tang Clan's “C.R.E.A.M.” This not only provides the song's thematic backbone but also grounds it in hip-hop credibility. The song also samples a viral interview moment with Bella Hadid, rooting the track in contemporary pop culture.
• Literary Devices: The lyrics are rich with braggadocio and cultural allusions, name-dropping figures like Sid Vicious, Ice Cube, and Bella Hadid to build a specific persona of being edgy, powerful, and in vogue.

“Kream” marked a significant moment in Iggy Azalea's career, serving as a successful comeback single. After a period of commercial struggles and album delays, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 96, becoming her first entry on the chart since 2016. The track was a streaming success, largely propelled by its viral, stripper-themed music video directed by Colin Tilley, which has amassed hundreds of millions of views on YouTube.

The song was certified Platinum by the RIAA in February 2019, confirming its commercial success. Its use of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan sample was a key factor in its reception, bridging a gap between classic hip-hop and modern trap. This creative choice was seen as a respectful homage that helped bolster the track's credibility.

A year after its release, the song saw a resurgence in popularity through the “Open Up The Safe Challenge” on social media platforms like TikTok, where users would dance to a snippet of the song's opening lyrics. This viral trend extended the song's relevance and introduced it to a new audience, cementing its place as one of Azalea's enduring hits from her later career.

The central and most powerful symbol in “Kream” is the concept of “cream” itself, repurposed as “Kream” (Kash Rules Everything Around Me). This is a direct and intentional reference to the Wu-Tang Clan's “C.R.E.A.M.,” which symbolizes the harsh reality that money is the ultimate force governing society. In Azalea's version, this symbolism shifts from a narrative of survival to one of triumphant dominance and luxury.

Other symbols in the song are tied to wealth and power:

• The Safe: The opening line, “Open up the safe,” immediately establishes a theme of accessible, immense wealth. The safe is a classic symbol of protected riches, and her ability to open it signifies her control and ownership of her fortune.
• Luxury Goods: The mentions of “cars,” “bags,” and “real estate” are not just descriptions of a lifestyle but symbols of status and achievement in a materialistic culture. They serve as tangible proof of her success.
• “Big fish money”: This metaphor suggests she is attracting wealthy partners or opportunities, likening the world of high finance and influence to a sea where she is a skilled angler.
• Sid Vicious: By referencing the rebellious and notorious punk rocker from the Sex Pistols, Azalea aligns herself with a persona of defiance and edginess, suggesting she plays by her own rules.

Tyga uses the metaphor of being a “shark in the water,” symbolizing his predatory and dominant nature in the pursuit of success and pleasure.

The most prominent recurring motif in “Kream” is the phrase “Cash rules everything around me,” directly interpolated from Wu-Tang Clan's “C.R.E.A.M.” This line is repeated in the chorus and serves as the song's central thesis, constantly reinforcing the theme of money's ultimate power. Its repetition acts as a hypnotic mantra for the entire track.

The title word, “Kream,” is also a key recurring element, often chanted in the background or used to punctuate phrases. This reinforces the song's brand and central idea.

Lyrical motifs of wealth and luxury are pervasive throughout. Phrases and words like “cash,” “bags,” “safe,” and “designer” appear repeatedly in both Azalea’s and Tyga’s verses, creating a consistent landscape of opulence.

Another recurring motif is a commanding, instructional tone. Lines like “get it, get it, get it” and “Can you drop it down, make that ass talk to me?” are repeated, creating a sense of instruction and control that aligns with the song's themes of power.