Isis Naija Gaston, professionally known as Ice Spice, is a Bronx-born rapper whose laid-back delivery and catchy hooks propelled her from viral clips to Grammy-nominated star in just a few years. She was born on January 1, 2000, in the Bronx, New York City, to a Dominican mother and Nigerian father, and grew up moving between neighborhoods while attending Catholic school.(Wikipedia)
Ice Spice started rapping seriously in 2020 while in college, linking up with producer RiotUSA. Early tracks circulated in New York’s Bronx drill scene, but her breakout came in 2022 with “Munch (Feelin’ U),” which went viral on TikTok thanks to its quotable lines and her unbothered delivery. The song caught the attention of labels and peers; she soon signed with 10K Projects in a joint venture with Capitol Records.(Wikipedia)
Her 2023 EP Like..? collected “Munch,” follow-up singles like “Bikini Bottom” and “In Ha Mood,” and introduced her signature aesthetic: monotone-cool flow, minimalist beats, and playful, internet-native lyrics. The EP produced “Princess Diana,” especially its remix with Nicki Minaj, and “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” with PinkPantheress; both became top-10 Billboard Hot 100 hits. She also landed another top-10 with Taylor Swift on the “Karma” remix and scored a major movie tie-in with “Barbie World” alongside Minaj and Aqua on the Barbie soundtrack.(Wikipedia)
These collaborations made her the only rapper to notch four Hot 100 top-ten entries in 2023, and they translated into awards: MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, a Billboard Women in Music Hitmaker award, and BMI’s Impact Award, plus four Grammy nominations including Best New Artist.(Wikipedia)
In 2024 she released her debut album Y2K!, leaning into turn-of-the-millennium aesthetics while refining her sound. The single “Think U the Shit (Fart)” generated memes and debate, underlining how comfortable she is operating at the intersection of serious rap and internet humor.(Wikipedia)
By 2025 Ice Spice was expanding into film, voicing a character and contributing the song “Big Guy” to The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants. The track’s surreal chorus sparked another wave of viral memes, proving her instinct for cultural moments.(People.com)
Open about being bisexual and unbothered by discourse over “simple” lyrics, Ice Spice has said she intentionally keeps her bars digestible and fun.(Wikipedia) With her ginger curls, deadpan charm, and steady stream of viral hooks, she has emerged as one of Gen-Z rap’s defining faces.