Ice Spice

Who Is Ice Spice?

Ice Spice is a Grammy-nominated rapper, recognized for her hit songs “Princess Diana,” featuring Nicki Minaj, and “Karma,” featuring Taylor Swift. Born Isis Gaston in New York, she graduated high school in 2018 and began her music career while attending Purchase College. Her rise to fame was significantly bolstered by viral moments on TikTok, particularly with her 2022 track “Munch (Feelin’ U),” which led to a record deal with 10K Projects and Capitol Records. In the following year, she collaborated with prominent artists, including Minaj, Swift, and PinkPantheress. In 2024, her career gained further momentum with four Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, culminating in the release of her debut album, Y2K!, in July 2024.

Early Life: Real Name and Parents

Ice Spice, born Isis Naija Gaston on January 1, 2000, in The Bronx, New York City, adopted her rap moniker from a fictitious Instagram account she created at the age of 14. Her parents, Joseph Gaston and Charina Almanzar, met while working at McDonald’s. In a 2022 interview with Interview Magazine, Ice Spice shared insights about her relationship with her mother, stating, “She had me at 17, so we kind of grew up together. She gives me sister vibes, and she’s a little crazy, but I’m thankful because that’s why I am who I am. It’s chaotic, but we love each other down.” She also reflected on her father’s influence, noting, “My father, he’s more leveled, which is also why I feel like I am the way that I am. So I’m grateful for both; they’re a perfect combination.”

The separation of her parents when she was just two years old led to each of them having additional children with other partners. Ice Spice has five younger siblings and remarked, “Growing up, I would get jealous that my other siblings had siblings that came from the same mom and dad, but now that I’m older, I just feel special.”

In her early years, Ice Spice spent considerable time with her grandparents and extended family due to her parents’ work commitments. “My parents would be at work a lot, so I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. I have so many cousins, and after school, we’d all link up at my grandparents’ house. We’d chill, eat, laugh, watch TV. I went to after-school a lot, too,” she explained.

Ice Spice attended Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers and, after graduating in 2018, enrolled at Purchase College within the SUNY system, where she studied communications and played volleyball.

Music Career: Songs and New Album

Ice Spice’s journey into music has deep roots, influenced significantly by her father’s dedication to his underground rap career. Reflecting on her childhood, she shared with Rolling Stone, “He was always distributing CDs. I’d take road trips with him to Rhode Island or wherever for a couple of hours. It was just us, and it was fun.” This exposure to the music industry from an early age sparked her own passion for creating music.

While attending college, Ice Spice began to carve out her own musical identity, collaborating with her friend and producer, RIOTUSA. “I always had a passion for music, and I feel like whatever people are passionate about, they’re going to end up doing something along those lines,” she explained in an interview with the Today show. Her primary influences include iconic figures such as Lil’ Kim, Nicki Minaj, Foxy Brown, and Remy Ma, whose artistry has shaped her sound.

Describing her style, Ice Spice identifies as a drill artist, noting the genre’s distinct characteristics. “Drill is defined by the beats and the high-hat patterns and the 808 slides and stuff like that. But drill is expanding like crazy,” she remarked in an interview with Interview Magazine. She traced the genre’s evolution, from its origins in Chicago with Chief Keef to its resurgence in New York, emphasizing her love for the beats as the driving force behind her music.

Taking a hands-on approach to her creative process, Ice Spice asserts, “I write all my music. My producer helps me when we’re in the studio together, and we’re bouncing ideas back and forth. But I don’t like to accept references. If I’m going to work with a writer, I like for us to build it from scratch.” This commitment to originality and collaboration underscores her artistic integrity as she continues to develop her career in the music industry.

Ice Spice: Rising Star in Hip-Hop

Ice Spice first captured attention on social media in early 2021 when she participated in TikTok’s “Buss It” challenge, dancing to Erica Banks’ track. By this time, she was already in the process of recording her debut song, “Bully Freestyle,” released in March 2021.

However, her breakthrough moment came in November 2021 with the release of “No Clarity.” In a candid interview with The Cut, she reflected on her journey: “Once I brought it back to the real me and my roots… that’s when my views started going up again. I was like, ‘Let me just be me.’”

Following this pivotal moment, Ice Spice released “Name of Love” in April 2022, but it was the viral success of “Munch (Feelin’ U)” that significantly propelled her career later that August. By the fall of 2022, she had signed a deal with 10K Projects and Capitol Records, securing ownership of her publishing rights and masters. Her first EP, titled Like…?, was launched in January 2023.

Her collaborations with other artists have further cemented her status in the industry. In February 2023, she featured on PinkPantheress’ viral hit “Boy’s A Liar, Pt. 2.” The following months saw her remix of “Princess Diana” with Nicki Minaj make history as the first No. 1 song by two co-billed women on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart. Additionally, she was featured on Taylor Swift’s “Karma,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2023. Ice Spice reunited with Minaj for “Barbie World,” a track from the Barbie movie soundtrack, released in June 2023.

These impressive achievements have culminated in Ice Spice receiving four nominations at the 2024 Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Best Rap Song, Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Barbie World,” and Best Pop Duo Performance for “Karma.”

Y2K! Album Release

Three months after an electrifying performance at the Coachella music festival, Ice Spice debuted her first full-length album, Y2K!, in July 2024. The album features ten tracks, including the hit single “Think U The Shit (Fart),” which reached the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Collaborations with prominent artists such as Travis Scott and Central Cee further enhance the album’s appeal.

Upon its release, Y2K! debuted at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 chart, though it received mixed critical reviews. To support the album, Ice Spice launched her Y2K! World Tour, kicking off her first headlining concert in Denmark on July 4, with plans to conclude the tour in Florida on August 31.

Ice Spice’s Relationship Status

In a July 2024 profile for Rolling Stone, Ice Spice revealed that she is currently single, dispelling rumors of a romantic involvement with fellow rapper Central Cee, with whom she has collaborated. “We’ve been friends since ‘Munch’ came out, honestly,” she stated. “We’re just twins.”

Previously, Ice Spice had been in a relationship during the fall of 2023, although she chose to keep her partner’s identity private. In an October interview with The Los Angeles Times, she emphasized her desire for fans to focus on her music rather than her personal life.

Speculation about a romance with YouTube star King Cid, whose real name is Jason Cid, surfaced when the two were seen being affectionate in January 2024; however, these rumors eventually dissipated.