Ice Spice is an American rapper from the Bronx who went from college volleyball player to viral sensation almost overnight. Her breakout single "Munch (Feelin' U)" turned her into one of hip-hop's fastest-rising stars in 2022, and she's since picked up Grammy nominations and A-list collaborators.
Here's a fact-checked look at who she is, how she got started, and how her career has grown.
Ice Spice was born Isis Naija Gaston on January 1, 2000, in the Bronx, New York City.
She is the oldest of five siblings.
Her father, Joseph Gaston, is African American, and her mother, Charina Almanzar, is Dominican.
She played volleyball at Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers, New York, before earning a scholarship to play at SUNY Purchase.
At SUNY Purchase, she majored in communications, not biology as some viral posts have claimed.
She began her music career in 2021 after meeting record producer RiotUSA, a fellow SUNY Purchase communications student, on campus.
Her rise was fueled by a viral 2021 video of her doing the "Buss It" challenge on Twitter, which led to her debut single, "Bully Freestyle."
She eventually left SUNY Purchase to pursue music full time.
Her breakout hit, "Munch (Feelin' U)," went viral on TikTok in mid-2022 and was boosted by a co-sign from Drake.
Her debut EP, "Like..?," was released on January 20, 2023, through 10K Projects and Capitol Records.
"Like..?" features six tracks: "In Ha Mood," "Princess Diana," "Gangsta Boo" (featuring Lil Tjay), "Actin A Smoochie," "Bikini Bottom," and "Munch (Feelin' U)."
A deluxe edition of "Like..?" was released on July 21, 2023, with additional tracks.
In 2023, Billboard named Ice Spice its R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Year.
She earned four Grammy nominations for the 2024 ceremony, including Best New Artist, largely on the strength of songs like "Barbie World" and "Princess Diana."
She cites Lil' Kim, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B among her musical influences.
She's known for a playful, colorful style, frequently switching up bold hair colors like pink braids and blue curls.
Her stage name grew out of a fake Instagram account she created around age 14; friends already called her "Ice," and "Spice" rhymed with it.
Her fans are commonly known as "Munchkins."
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