Rapper Iggy Azalea is refusing to have her tattoo tribute to ex-boyfriend A$Ap Rocky removed, because she's still very proud of her former lover.

The two stars had a nasty falling out and the Australian insisted she hated her ex for months after the split, but she has since found a new respect for Rocky - even though she's convinced they'll never be friends.

She says, "I definitely hated his guts and he hated my guts for a few months... but once you've had a few months to look at things in retrospect you realize, maybe you don't hate that person, you hate whatever caused the break-up, and you both failed in the relationship.

"I don't call him up and have conversations and I wouldn't say Rocky is my friend, but there are times I've congratulated him on things he's achieved... We're cordial and I respect him."

And Azalea has no plans to remove her A$AP Rocky tattoo from her finger, telling Complex magazine, "I f**king loved him, I know he loved me too. I felt like he was somebody I could count on who loved me for being me, and I don't want to forget that.

"I would sacrifice a quarter of a pinky (finger) for those memories. That's why I didn't cross it out all the way, because if I'd covered it up all the way, that says I'm embarrassed. You shouldn't be ashamed of the trials of becoming an adult."

The rapper crossed out the 'A$AP' part of her 'Live. Love. A$AP' tattoo on her finger shortly after the couple ended its year-long romance in July, 2012.