BET Awards 2023: Who is Ice Spice? 5 Things to Know About the Rapper Heating up the Internet
The future is spicy. In the ever-evolving world of hip-hop, rising artist Ice Spice has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. With her undeniable talent and unique style, the Bronx native has captured the attention of both critics and fans alike.
Hailing from humble beginnings as a volleyball player studying communications at Purchase College, the emcee’s journey to stardom has been remarkable. Her rap career is relatively new after only starting in 2021 after meeting record producer RIOT. The following year, she would grow her fan base by releasing her viral single “Munch (Feelin’ U)”.
She’s already worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Nicki Minaj, but get to know rap’s hottest rising new emcee with these fun facts. And be sure to check out the 2023 BET Awards airing live on Sunday, June 25.
Her stage name is a shortened version of her birth name
Although she is known to millions of fans across the internet as Ice Spice, the rising rapper was actually born Isis Naija Gaston.
She’s Afro Latina
Ice is proud of her background being of Nigerian and Dominican descent. Last November, she tweeted, “I’m Nigerian” but she didn’t know which tribe she belonged to.
She isn’t the only emcee in her family
While speaking to Audiomack, Ice revealed that her father used to be an underground rapper. She shared some of the advice she’s gotten from him, stating, “He just basically tells me to continue to be myself and to be careful, ‘cause it can get grimy.”
- advertisement
She wants to experiment with other genres
Ice currently creates drill music, a subgenre of rap but she once told reporters, “I wanna do Latin music at some point,” noting that she is “actually working on some Spanish songs right now.”
She added, “I wanna get into more pop stuff, just fun vibes, but later on down the line when that makes more sense.”
She’s inspired by some of the greats
While talking to Erykah Badu and her daughter Puma for Interview Magazine, Ice revealed that the neo-soul pioneer highly inspires her—thanks to her parents, who she said “would play Baduizm top to bottom, like, all day.” She is also influenced by “Lil’ Kim, Nicki, Foxy, Remy, they’re all huge inspos for me.”
The BET Awards 2023 premieres Sunday, June 25 at 8 pm ET/PT on BET and BET Her.