With a sugar rush of playful sensuality and unbothered cool, Ice Spice has established herself as the music world’s latest shapeshifting superstar. Since emerging with “Munch (Feelin’ U),'' in the fall of 2022, she has reconfigured the raucous energy of the Bronx to make anthems for baddies and their baddie friends—sexy theme songs that ring off in the club or an NY deli, places Ice Spicehas no problem turning into her own personal dancefloor. Powered by singles like “In Ha Mood” and “Princess Diana,” as well as the deluxe edition of her Like..? EP, she’s collected more than 2.5 billion streams, multiple top 5 Hot 100 singles, and four Grammy nominations, including nods for Best New Artist, Best Rap Song, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best Song Written for Visual Media. More symbolically, she’s become an emblem of the new Big Apple, a fact that isn’t lost on the media.
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Writing for The New York Times, Maya Salam listed Ice Spice as the breakout pop artist of 2023, citing her “cool, confident, raw” signature sound. Meanwhile, Variety’ listed Like..? as her fourth favorite project of last year, praising her “sharpshooter flow” and her all-around versatility on the project. For their part, Billboard named Ice Spice 2023’s Rookie of the Year. It’s all part of a calculated level up at the intersection of planning, distinctive style and unfailing belief. As Rolling Stone put it, “it’s already tough to imagine we ever lived in a world without her.”
Ice Spice’s breakout really began with “Munch (Feelin’ U),” a track that quickly became a playgirl’s dancefloor bat signal. The song earned Ice Spice her first RIAA-certified Gold plaque before amassing nearly 120 million Spotify streams. After initially releasing the song and its follow-up, “Bikini Bottom,” she signed a deal with Capitol Records and 10k Projects. From there, she fortified her buzz with “In Ha Mood” and the Lil Tjay-assisted “Gangsta Boo.” Both tracks landed on her debut EP, Like..?, a critically acclaimed project that crystallized her star status.
The hits have only continued to pile up. In February 2023, Ice Spice appeared on “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” a PinkPantheress single that’s equal parts infectious and emotionally vulnerable. That March, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Then came the “Princess Diana” remix with her idol Nicki Minaj. All of that was before she guested on Taylor Swift’s 2023 single, “Karma,” which hit No. 2 on the Hot 100. Ice Spice parlayed that popularity surge into 12 performances as Doja Cat’s opening act for The Scarlet Tour. It was her first time performing in arenas, which has set her up for even bigger stages, like Coachella, which she’ll hit in April 2024.
Her musical impact has only made her a ubiquitous cultural force. Last year, she appeared as the star of Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS campaign, with her fly everygirl persona making her a perfect fit for an emerging fashion powerhouse. That summer, she teamed up with Nicki Minaj again for “Barbie World,” a single that belonged to the Barbie soundtrack. A flurry of effervescent pop, the track peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100 chart. She also appeared alongside Ben Affleck for a Dunkin’ commercial introducing her MUNCHKIN Drink, a frozen treat named after her dedicated fan base. Malleable enough to oscillate among brands, genres, and fans, it’s no surprise that Google announced Ice Spice as the second-most searched musician of 2023. Her level-up isn’t stopping anytime soon. With her debut album on the way, Ice Spice plans to continue to make varied soundscapes her playground.
