“The Princess Diana of a new generation,” “a breakout star,” “one of the leading young hip-hop artists”—Ice Spice has been called many things. In her early 20s, she rose to global fame with tracks like Munch (Feelin’ U) and In Ha Mood, broke into the Billboard Hot 100, and even became a regular guest of the Kardashian clan. But would any of this have happened without the support of one very influential artist?
Here’s the story of who played a key role in Ice’s life, how her style evolved, and who inspired her during her childhood.
Childhood and Youth
Ice Spice, born Isis Naija Gaston on January 1, 2000, in New York City, grew up in the Bronx—a tough neighborhood that also produced Cardi B, Pusha T, Big Pun, KRS-One, and Jennifer Lopez.
On her mother’s side, she is half Dominican; on her father’s, African-American. She keeps her parents’ names private for safety but often shares stories about them. According to Ice, her parents met at McDonald’s and became parents at just 17.
The relationship didn’t last long, and they split when Ice was two years old, but both remained active in raising her.
Her father, an underground rapper, introduced her to music, inspiring her love for neo-soul, old-school hip-hop, and EDM. She spent a lot of time in recording studios as a kid, receiving compliments on her deep voice from professionals.
However, her deep voice made her a target of mockery at Sacred Heart High School. Boys would imitate her voice in an attempt to tease her.
“I always had a deeper voice compared to other girls. Boys used to make fun of me… Eventually, I learned to embrace it and use it to my advantage. I’m really happy that my career is built on how I sound.”
After high school, she enrolled at Purchase College but dropped out in her second year to pursue music full-time.
Due to crime in her neighborhood, she often stayed indoors watching TV and YouTube. Early on, she dreamed of becoming an actress, but that changed when she discovered Lil’ Kim and Nicki Minaj at age 7. Nicki’s music deeply inspired her, setting her on the path of becoming a rapper herself.
The name “Ice Spice” came from a fake social media account—“Ice” is short for Isis, and “Spice” reflects her love for spices and hot sauces, plus it just sounded good together.
In high school, she wrote poems, freestyled during breaks, and played volleyball—photos of her on the school team are still online.
Her serious music journey began in college when she met producer RIOTUSA, one of the first to believe in her. In 2021, she released Bully Freestyle, Name of Love, and No Clarity on SoundCloud—tracks that quickly went viral on social media.
Breakthrough
Ice Spice’s big break came in 2022 with Munch (Feelin’ U), co-signed by Drake. The song climbed to #5 on Billboard’s Bubbling Under Hot 100 and #35 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
She appeared in major magazines like Vogue and The Cut, and starred in campaigns for Ivy Park x Adidas and Marc Jacobs. She also became close with celebrities like the Kardashians and Kanye West.
In 2023, she dropped her debut album Like..? with hit tracks like Princess Diana (featuring Nicki Minaj), Bikini Bottom, Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 (with PinkPantheress), and a remix of Taylor Swift’s Karma.
Personal Life
Despite being in the spotlight, Isis keeps her personal life private. Rumors linked her to Drake and basketball player Jordan Poole, though the latter was just one expensive date—reportedly costing $500,000.
Most recently, she was rumored to be dating comedian Pete Davidson after being spotted together a couple of times.