Ice Spice

 Isis Naija Gaston, professionally known as Ice Spice, is a prominent American rapper born on January 1, 2000, in the Bronx, New York City. She rose to fame in 2022 with her viral hit "Munch (Feelin' U)" on TikTok and has since achieved significant success in the music industry.

Early Life and Education:

Isis Naija Gaston, the eldest of five siblings, was born in the Bronx, New York City, on January 1, 2000. Her parents, Joseph Gaston and Charina Almanzar, hail from diverse backgrounds, with her father being African-American and her mother Dominican. They met at a McDonald's but later divorced when Isis was only two years old.

Growing up in the Fordham Road neighborhood of the Bronx, Isis spent a substantial part of her childhood under the care of her grandparents and cousins due to her parents' busy work schedules. She attended school in the Bronx until she transferred to Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers. Her passion for hip-hop music ignited at the young age of seven when she discovered artists like Lil' Kim and Nicki Minaj. Throughout her school years, she honed her skills by writing poetry and freestyle raps. Her father's background in rap music exposed her to iconic artists like Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Wu-Tang Clan, influencing her musical taste. She often typed out lyrics on her iPhone's Notes app, rapping along to hip-hop instrumentals. The moment she saw Nicki Minaj perform, she was captivated and determined to pursue a career in music. It was during her freshman year in high school that she adopted the stage name "Ice Spice."

After graduating from Sacred Heart High School in 2018, she enrolled at the State University of New York at Purchase. During her time there, she balanced her studies in biology with her role as a defensive specialist on the school's volleyball team. However, her sophomore year marked a turning point when she decided to drop out due to her belief that the school wasn't the right fit for her, compounded by the strenuous commute. As the eldest sibling in her family, she took on the role of protector for her four younger siblings. To support herself financially, she worked as a cashier at Wendy's and The Gap.

Career Beginnings (2021-2022):

Ice Spice's journey into the music industry commenced in 2021 when she crossed paths with record producer RiotUSA. Under his guidance, she released her debut track, "Bully Freestyle," in March 2021. The song gained attention after a video of Ice Spice participating in the "Buss It" challenge went viral on Twitter. Her track "Name of Love" found success on SoundCloud, leading to her rising popularity on Instagram.

Breakthrough with "Like…?" (2022-Present):

August 10, 2022, marked a significant milestone in Ice Spice's career with the release of her track "Munch (Feelin' U)." The song was accompanied by a video distributed by WorldStarHipHop and received support from Drake, who played it on his Sirius XM radio station, Sound 42. "Munch (Feelin' U)" gained viral traction on Twitter and TikTok and charted on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Bubbling Under Hot 100 charts. In September 2022, Ice Spice made a guest appearance as a featured artist on B-Lovee's track "One Time." Later that month, she inked a record deal with 10K Projects and Capitol Records.

On October 28, 2022, Ice Spice released the single "Bikini Bottom." Her debut EP, "Like..?," was subsequently launched on January 20, 2023, featuring hit tracks such as "Munch (Feelin' U)," "Bikini Bottom," and "In Ha Mood."

In February 2023, Ice Spice collaborated with Lil Tjay on the tribute single "Gangsta Boo" dedicated to the late rapper of the same name. This collaboration marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 82. On February 3, 2023, a remix of PinkPantheress's song, "Boy's a Liar Pt. 2," featuring Ice Spice, was released alongside a music video. The song achieved a remarkable position, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. April 2023 witnessed the release of the remix of "Princess Diana" in collaboration with Nicki Minaj, which peaked at number four on the Hot 100. May 24, 2023, brought the announcement of a remix of Taylor Swift's "Karma" featuring Ice Spice, released on May 26, 2023. The remix was featured as a bonus track on special editions of Swift's tenth studio album, "Midnights" (2022), accompanied by a music video featuring both Swift and Ice Spice. The year 2023 was characterized as the breakout year for Ice Spice, with "Karma" reaching number two on the Hot 100, establishing her as the artist with the most Hot 100 top-five singles in 2023. Additionally, the deluxe version of her EP "Like..?" was released on July 21, 2023, featuring five new tracks.

Artistry: Ice Spice's musical style primarily encompasses Bronx drill. Her stage name, "Ice Spice," originated from a "finsta" (fake Instagram account) she created at the age of 14. Although she writes all her own lyrics, she doesn't categorize herself as a lyricist. She prefers her lyrics to be straightforward and easily digestible.

Influences:

In a 2022 feature for Rolling Stone titled "My Life in 10 Songs," Ice Spice mentioned Coldplay's "Yellow" and the 1975's "Sex" as significant influences during her formative years. She recalled playing The 1975's music frequently during her early adolescence, drawn to their European origins and distinctive accents.

Ice Spice's initial inspiration to pursue rap came from artists like Sheff G and Pop Smoke. Her musical influences include New York-based rap legends such as Lil' Kim, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Foxy Brown, and Remy Ma, given their roots in the same city. Additionally, she has expressed admiration for artists like Erykah Badu, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Lauryn Hill for their timeless beauty and graceful angelic vibes. These influences have shaped her unique musical journey, marking her as a rising star in the rap industry.