{"id":3076,"date":"2025-05-08T05:34:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T09:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/?p=3076"},"modified":"2025-09-17T15:36:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T19:36:26","slug":"ice-spice-the-rap-star-from-the-bronx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/eternal-3076-ice-spice-the-rap-star-from-the-bronx","title":{"rendered":"Ice Spice: The Rap Star from the Bronx"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Bronx rapper has skyrocketed to fame in just the last three years, racking up <strong>over 11 million Instagram followers<\/strong>, chart-topping YouTube videos, and collaborations with top global brands. Her lyrics, delivered with a distinct feminine and New York flow, combined with a raw Bronx sound, make her music unique and accessible to a wide audience. Read on to learn more about Ice Spice\u2019s rise to fame, brought to you by <a href=\"http:\/\/bronxski.com\">bronxski.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3562a3ecdf0\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3562a3ecdf0\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/eternal-3076-ice-spice-the-rap-star-from-the-bronx\/#A_Turbulent_Childhood\" >A Turbulent Childhood<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/eternal-3076-ice-spice-the-rap-star-from-the-bronx\/#Getting_Started\" >Getting Started<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/eternal-3076-ice-spice-the-rap-star-from-the-bronx\/#A_Rapid_Rise\" >A Rapid Rise<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/eternal-3076-ice-spice-the-rap-star-from-the-bronx\/#A_Controversial_Style_and_Princess_Diana_Parallels\" >A Controversial Style and Princess Diana Parallels<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Turbulent_Childhood\"><\/span>A Turbulent Childhood<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The star&#8217;s real name is Isis Gaston. She grew up in the Bronx in a large family with little harmony. Her parents constantly fought and eventually divorced. As the oldest of six children, Isis took on the role of protector for her younger siblings. She says her greatest joy in her current success is being able to provide her family with stability and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTheir friends and classmates treat them well because they know they\u2019re my siblings, and I love that,\u201d she says. \u201cThere was a time they were getting bullied\u2014we all get bullied at some point\u2014but they don\u2019t have to deal with that now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronxski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/ad_4nxfym-jt-itnhs2cgskpefbkpn-tkltm_fwixawusocirgd8n3kyw_adboa8wmi8yvzusrskdmfngdutd_wmh8hisoknfzltf7fginydkaavcaipasgcb7a63nnocvwbjqlog6kaxakeycwfddbdonlha97bis5etfavt.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a child, Isis loved \u201cForrest Gump\u201d and wrote poetry. She penned her first poem in the first grade\u2014and while it seems naive to her now, her mom kept it on the fridge along with her other school mementos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growing up, Gaston didn&#8217;t have a clear career path in mind, but she was always drawn to acting and being in the public eye. She dreamed of attending an arts-focused school, but her mom didn\u2019t allow it, which was a source of long-lasting resentment. She was angry with her mother about it for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even though Ice Spice only recently found fame, she says she always felt a certain pull of attention. Whether in school or at any public event, all eyes were on her. She was one of the most popular students in her class and always knew she could be famous. Interestingly, Isis was born on the first day of the monumental year 2000\u2014the millennium everyone was waiting for and feared at the same time. Perhaps the energy of that moment influenced her destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronxski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/ad_4nxeo4ko5ruqmgcy7flfh6xp3pab6fndznxvc9xgu0m2jmjzrcdeoglsdqtz4ql1vvg9czzuyw8t-smx0njrtdazxqdwfwyghueuo7e8_rp2nielzvydorf2ijzxjkhc3mtmt4qgkeycwfddbdonlha97bis5etfavt.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_Started\"><\/span>Getting Started<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The nickname Ice Spice originated in her teenage years from her private &#8220;Finsta&#8221; account, which she created at age 14. She started making music in 2021 while she was a communications major and playing volleyball at SUNY Purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the success of her debut track, \u201cBully Freestyle,\u201d in early 2021, Ice Spice admits the next few songs were, in her words, total flops. She deleted those tracks and is reluctant to talk about that period. She attributes the failure to trying to fit the industry\u2019s idea of the \u201cright\u201d sound. Returning to her authentic self became a turning point. In November 2021, she released \u201cNo Clarity\u201d and felt like she was reconnecting with her audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI put on my Jordans again, wore my natural hair, I was being me\u2014and everything just took off,\u201d she says. \u201cI just decided to be myself.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronxski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/ad_4nxeu18ufmumuhztph7zppu57ht3meizyddbgqtah78qf_pmkw2zuwv1qgtqjd5zimfqtvdc_oeiapqj9f7kgimcpheygqvrdmoyzeortusdtdjaihjowsrzwx04lagwvxoe_wu_mhwkeycwfddbdonlha97bis5etfavt.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At first, music was just a hobby. Isis didn&#8217;t give it her full attention, focusing on school, hanging out, and sports. But everything changed in an instant in August 2022 when she released the track <strong>\u201cMunch (Feelin\u2019 U)\u201d<\/strong>\u2014a minimalistic rap song about unrequited love that can also be seen as a statement of female empowerment. The song caught the attention of Drake, who played it on his Sirius XM radio station, and soon after, the track went viral on TikTok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMunch\u201d was a true breakthrough for Ice Spice. With <strong>43 million YouTube views<\/strong>, <strong>three billion TikTok interactions<\/strong>, a Drake co-sign, and nearly 87 million Spotify streams, it became a massive hit for the rest of the summer and the entire fourth quarter. Just a month after the track&#8217;s release, in September, Gaston signed with 10K Projects and Capitol Records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronxski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/ad_4nxcz6g9nibj9osxo3y6vhlmnvdzzh1i0dmntfucgcgznv-ehg3r6_3ilfzfu1i6q5uxjn-0w1m6rhodw7h2gqtk3kxczheglrlsma9eys1k4vngexe7kasioospfkww7aeydafqykeycwfddbdonlha97bis5etfavt.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Rapid_Rise\"><\/span>A Rapid Rise<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Producers knew they had to capitalize on the insane initial success, so everyone worked hard on new material. On January 20, 2023, the singer&#8217;s debut EP, \u201cLike..?\u201d, was released. Music critics noted Ice Spice\u2019s unique sound. Her calm, detached voice is both relaxing and energizing, the perfect combination for fans of the <a href=\"https:\/\/bronxanka.com\/en\/eternal-2972-bronx-club-culture-emergence-and-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">club scene<\/a>. Her style\u2014calm yet confident\u2014can lull you to sleep or get you ready to party. In her songs, Ice Spice addresses themes of self-respect, apathy toward romance, and ironic feminist narratives. Gaston\u2019s favorite track, \u201cPrincess Diana,\u201d is a two-minute ode to her own greatness with lines like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn the hood I\u2019m like Princess Diana,\u201d and \u201cI\u2019m the baddest\u2014and everybody knows who I\u2019m talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On stage, Ice Spice exudes that same inner strength, appearing extremely self-assured and self-sufficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cLike..?\u201d EP was also a success, and her story only picked up speed from there. Ice Spice\u2019s <strong>signature reddish-orange hair<\/strong> became instantly recognizable, and her look from the \u201cMunch\u201d video became a viral Halloween costume. Her hit \u201cIn Ha Mood\u201d garnered over 100 million streams on Spotify, her collaboration with PinkPantheress on \u201cBoy\u2019s a Liar Pt. 2\u201d hit number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and a <strong>highly anticipated collaboration with Nicki Minaj<\/strong> solidified her status. Their remix of \u201cPrincess Diana\u201d not only hit number four on the Hot 100 but also became the <strong>first all-female duet to top the rap charts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronxski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/ad_4nxfe5r_meubltdu3cu_gvkknq_5_l5mfxeqoxhjzvgzrddhcb6fv2f1gjakowqsrpt8fgv-t69tqpj5p_xim9phmxto3qzzanxn45pcotoelh6sx6vwaus_zmfydkr4pgxthtnjeywkeycwfddbdonlha97bis5etfavt.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On May 24, 2023, it was announced that a remix of Taylor Swift&#8217;s \u201cKarma,\u201d featuring Ice Spice, would be released on May 26 as a bonus track on a special edition of Swift&#8217;s tenth studio album, &#8220;Midnights&#8221; (2022). The publication Pitchfork declared 2023 the breakout year for Ice Spice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June 2023, Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj recorded a soundtrack for the \u201cBarbie\u201d movie. On July 26, 2024, Ice Spice released her debut album, \u201cY2K!\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On November 2, 2024, she performed a concert in Times Square as a \u201cFortnite\u201d in-game event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s phenomenal that while countless talented, professional artists struggle to find that desired popularity, this simple, red-headed girl from a poor Bronx neighborhood, with no musical education whatsoever, is releasing hit after hit that goes viral globally at an insane speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until recently, Gaston lived between her two parents\u2019 homes, which were only a few minutes&#8217; walk from each other. Now, Ice Spice lives in New Jersey, having moved there after becoming too recognizable in the Bronx. In her new home, she loves to listen to her own tracks and play her music videos on the TVs all over the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy lifestyle has changed drastically,\u201d she says. \u201cConsidering where I\u2019m from, when we had next to nothing, things look so different now\u2026 It\u2019s a nice change.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Controversial_Style_and_Princess_Diana_Parallels\"><\/span>A Controversial Style and Princess Diana Parallels<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ice Spice&#8217;s style stands out from the crowd: cropped tops and True Religion jeans, which she says she\u2019s trying to bring back. When rapper <strong>Lil Nas X dressed up as her for Halloween<\/strong>, she was thrilled. Isis laughed her head off when she saw her friend in the reddish-orange wig and outfit from her now-infamous \u201cMunch\u201d music video. That clip garnered over 6 million views and further popularized the young rapper&#8217;s street style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronxski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/ad_4nxcwirggfs7julnrfmizibvzgk_lswp2pk1bjz2pk1j7zi2qbvfrqdgcjfvr1x0f8yxrxiyvmvpfpdll4akbif63pdx9i1ok6fbce9voemqvjtmcb2wgu_e5c_w8hsjfcvds-nkebqkeycwfddbdonlha97bis5etfavt.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Gaston\u2019s style has remained consistent, access to designer brands has certainly influenced her clothing choices. But despite these fashion influences, she\u2019s committed to staying true to herself. Isis often clashes with stylists who she says don\u2019t get her energy and try to change her into someone else. Though Ice Spice may seem soft on the outside, she isn\u2019t afraid to speak her mind and is always ready to stand up for herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the filming of her \u201cIn Ha Mood\u201d music video, her outfit\u2014short shorts, jeans revealing a red thong, a double-buckle sparkly belt, a cropped tank top, and a fur coat\u2014sparked controversy. There were quite a few harsh comments from users who rudely advised her to hire a stylist, but the rapper always responds to such statements with wit and humor\u2014they don&#8217;t bother her in the slightest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bronxski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2025\/05\/ad_4nxdatq-2bqpuhohcffltx9h_hpzyu0gjuj2npw0cgrbwwbiijsn9abcsyixue5qjvlfbowyuapgq-rzpnfxwn_nqtmjy6_jrsyjfraezquliz_cezzdmk9zwmdvlhe4gfqigtt3cigkeycwfddbdonlha97bis5etfavt.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fans have dubbed Ice Spice the <strong>\u201cPeople&#8217;s Princess,\u201d<\/strong> a title previously associated with Princess Diana. At first, Isis didn&#8217;t quite understand the comparison and thought it was a joke. But over time, she began to see the parallels: <strong>her short hair, her humility, and a certain vulnerability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy deny it if people want to see me as the second coming of Princess Di?\u201d the artist says with a smile.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This Bronx rapper has skyrocketed to fame in just the last three years, racking up over 11 million Instagram followers, chart-topping YouTube videos, and collaborations with top global brands. Her lyrics, delivered with a distinct feminine and New York flow, combined with a raw Bronx sound, make her music unique and accessible to a wide [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":399,"featured_media":2467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[190],"tags":[1642,1644,1645,1643,1639,1637,1646,1635,1647,1636,1634,1638,1641,1648,1640],"motype":[196],"moformat":[76],"moimportance":[],"class_list":["post-3076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-success-stories","tag-bronx-rapper","tag-female-rapper","tag-hip-hop-2","tag-ice-spice","tag-lil-nas-x","tag-munch","tag-music-biography","tag-nicki-minaj","tag-nyc-music","tag-princess-diana","tag-rap-star","tag-taylor-swift","tag-viral-artist","tag-women-in-rap","tag-y2k-album","motype-eternal","moformat-longread-short"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/399"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3076"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3077,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3076\/revisions\/3077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3076"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3076"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3076"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bronxski.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}