Edie Himmer

Some have made the accusation that Ice Spice is an industry plant, meaning that she became successful from record labels using their money and connections to manufacture her fame.

Isis Naija Gaston, also known by the stage name Ice Spice, has come into the public eye over the last year, and has started off 2024 with her first Grammy appearance after being nominated for Best New Artist.

At the 2024 People’s Choice Awards, Ice Spice also received the most votes for the New Artist category.

Ice Spice began writing and listening to rap music when she was seven years old. Ice Spice began rapping in 2021, and released her first extentented player (EP) “Like…” in January of last year. This EP debuted at number 37 on the US Billboard 200 and later reached number 15. 

Following this release, Ice Spice collaborated with a number of other artists, including singer Taylor Swift on her song “Karma,” and with rapper Nicki Minaj on their song for the “Barbie” movie. Her collaboration with Swift led to her receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

A reason behind Ice Spice’s fast rise to fame is her fanbase, also known as the Munchkins. A number of Munchkins discovered her through social media websites like Instagram and TikTok, where she was present and viral before ever releasing music.

In the past few weeks, Ice Spice has garnered conversation over her new album “Y2K,” set to release later this year. Ice Spice claims to have named her album after her birthday, Jan. 1, 2000. 

Few details about Ice Spice’s new album have been shared, including teasing a “crazy collaboration.” She has also given hints at what the album will sound like. 

It is anticipated to have “New York drill vibes, club music, [and] Jersey club [sonics],”Spice said.

Drill music is a more recent genre, originating in the 2010s, that is said to be sonically similar to trap music, and thematically similar to the gangsta rap subgenre.

Ice Spice also claims to be “bringing drill to new heights, and [feels] like it would make sense to incorporate a lot of that in an album,”Spice said. “There’s trap and everything else, but so many people are doing it and it’s so saturated right now.”

However,people have questioned how Ice Spice achieved her fame. She went viral on TikTok in 2021 after posting a video to a trend, and was signed to Capitol Records the following year. Her 2022 single “Munch” then became viral on Tiktok, growing her fanbase and inspiring their name.

Some have made the accusation that Ice Spice is an industry plant, meaning that she became successful from record labels using their money and connections to manufacture her fame.

Others believe differently, including rapper Cardi B. 

“The labels are putting money behind the girls who people are listening to,” B said. “So if you feel like somebody is coming really fast, that’s because y’all [are] listening to them.”

For more information, listen to the West Linn Weekly Wakeup’s newest episode, hosted by Preston Weller,  Arts and Entertainment Editor, and Garrett Arendt, Student Life Editor.