Isis Naija Gaston, known professionally as Ice Spice, is an American rapper born on January 1, 2000, in the Bronx, New York City. She is the eldest of five siblings. Her father, Joseph Gaston, is an African-American former underground rapper, and her mother, Charina Almanzar, is Dominican. Her parents divorced when she was two years old. Ice Spice spent a significant amount of her childhood with her grandparents and cousins. She attended Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers. After graduating in 2018, she enrolled at the State University of New York at Purchase, where she studied communications and played on the volleyball team. She eventually dropped out during her sophomore year.
Career Beginnings
Ice Spice began her music career in 2020 after meeting record producer RiotUSA. Her first song, "Bully Freestyle," was released in March 2021. She gained significant recognition in late 2022 with her song "Munch (Feelin' U)," which went viral on TikTok. This success led to a record deal with 10K Projects and Capitol Records.
Rise to Fame
Following the success of "Munch (Feelin' U)," Ice Spice released singles like "Bikini Bottom" and "In Ha Mood". In 2023, she released her debut extended play, "Like..?", which included the hit single "Princess Diana," a collaboration with Nicki Minaj that reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She achieved further success with collaborations such as "Boy's a Liar Pt. 2" with PinkPantheress, "Karma" with Taylor Swift, and "Barbie World" with Nicki Minaj and Aqua, all of which also charted in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut studio album, "Y2K!", was released in 2024.
Musical Style and Influences
Ice Spice's music is primarily categorized as Bronx drill. She is known for writing her own lyrics, which she has described as "super simple" and easy to understand. Her early musical inspirations include Sheff G and Pop Smoke. She has also cited Lil' Kim, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Foxy Brown, and Remy Ma as major influences.
Accolades
Ice Spice has received numerous awards and nominations. She won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 2023. At the 2024 Grammy Awards, she was nominated for four awards, including Best New Artist and Best Rap Song. She has also won a People's Choice Award for The New Artist of the Year.