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 audience. Read on to learn more about Ice Spice’s rise to fame, brought to you by bronxski.com
A Turbulent Childhood
The star’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.
“Their friends and classmates treat them well because they know they’re my siblings, and I love that,” she says. “There was a time they were getting bullied—we all get bullied at some point—but they don’t have to deal with that now.”
As a child, Isis loved “Forrest Gump” and wrote poetry. She penned her first poem in the first grade—and while it seems naive to her now, her mom kept it on the fridge along with her other school mementos.
Growing up, Gaston didn’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’t allow it, which was a source of long-lasting resentment. She was angry with her mother about it for a long time.
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—the millennium everyone was waiting for and feared at the same time. Perhaps the energy of that moment influenced her destiny.
Getting Started
The nickname Ice Spice originated in her teenage years from her private “Finsta” 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.
Despite the success of her debut track, “Bully Freestyle,” 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’s idea of the “right” sound. Returning to her authentic self became a turning point. In November 2021, she released “No Clarity” and felt like she was reconnecting with her audience.
“I put on my Jordans again, wore my natural hair, I was being me—and everything just took off,” she says. “I just decided to be myself.”
At first, music was just a hobby. Isis didn’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 “Munch (Feelin’ U)”—a 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.
“Munch” was a true breakthrough for Ice Spice. With 43 million YouTube views, three billion TikTok interactions, 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’s release, in September, Gaston signed with 10K Projects and Capitol Records.
A Rapid Rise
Producers knew they had to capitalize on the insane initial success, so everyone worked hard on new material. On January 20, 2023, the singer’s debut EP, “Like..?”, was released. Music critics noted Ice Spice’s unique sound. Her calm, detached voice is both relaxing and energizing, the perfect combination for fans of the club scene. Her style—calm yet confident—can 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’s favorite track, “Princess Diana,” is a two-minute ode to her own greatness with lines like:
“In the hood I’m like Princess Diana,” and “I’m the baddest—and everybody knows who I’m talking about.”
On stage, Ice Spice exudes that same inner strength, appearing extremely self-assured and self-sufficient.
The “Like..?” EP was also a success, and her story only picked up speed from there. Ice Spice’s signature reddish-orange hair became instantly recognizable, and her look from the “Munch” video became a viral Halloween costume. Her hit “In Ha Mood” garnered over 100 million streams on Spotify, her collaboration with PinkPantheress on “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” hit number three on the Billboard Hot 100, and a highly anticipated collaboration with Nicki Minaj solidified her status. Their remix of “Princess Diana” not only hit number four on the Hot 100 but also became the first all-female duet to top the rap charts.
On May 24, 2023, it was announced that a remix of Taylor Swift’s “Karma,” featuring Ice Spice, would be released on May 26 as a bonus track on a special edition of Swift’s tenth studio album, “Midnights” (2022). The publication Pitchfork declared 2023 the breakout year for Ice Spice.
In June 2023, Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj recorded a soundtrack for the “Barbie” movie. On July 26, 2024, Ice Spice released her debut album, “Y2K!”.
On November 2, 2024, she performed a concert in Times Square as a “Fortnite” in-game event.
It’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.
Until recently, Gaston lived between her two parents’ homes, which were only a few minutes’ 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.
“My lifestyle has changed drastically,” she says. “Considering where I’m from, when we had next to nothing, things look so different now… It’s a nice change.”
A Controversial Style and Princess Diana Parallels
Ice Spice’s style stands out from the crowd: cropped tops and True Religion jeans, which she says she’s trying to bring back. When rapper Lil Nas X dressed up as her for Halloween, she was thrilled. Isis laughed her head off when she saw her friend in the reddish-orange wig and outfit from her now-infamous “Munch” music video. That clip garnered over 6 million views and further popularized the young rapper’s street style.
While Gaston’s style has remained consistent, access to designer brands has certainly influenced her clothing choices. But despite these fashion influences, she’s committed to staying true to herself. Isis often clashes with stylists who she says don’t get her energy and try to change her into someone else. Though Ice Spice may seem soft on the outside, she isn’t afraid to speak her mind and is always ready to stand up for herself.
During the filming of her “In Ha Mood” music video, her outfit—short shorts, jeans revealing a red thong, a double-buckle sparkly belt, a cropped tank top, and a fur coat—sparked 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—they don’t bother her in the slightest.
Fans have dubbed Ice Spice the “People’s Princess,” a title previously associated with Princess Diana. At first, Isis didn’t quite understand the comparison and thought it was a joke. But over time, she began to see the parallels: her short hair, her humility, and a certain vulnerability.
“Why deny it if people want to see me as the second coming of Princess Di?” the artist says with a smile.