Virality, it could be assumed, is a gift and a curse.
Hit big online and channel that momentum into mainstream appeal, then the work comes: How does an artist sustain success? the laidback Bronx rapper born Isis Naija Gaston with the too-cool-for-school, lackadaisical flow and the bright orange curls now iron straight, knows a thing or two about the topic. First came the raunchy 鈥淢unch (Feelin鈥� U),鈥� with its delightful dismissal of 鈥淵ou thought I was feeling you?鈥� (the song inspired the name of her fanbase, who are called Munchkins). Then there was the effortless, 鈥淏ikini Bottom.鈥�
Her 2023 debut EP, 鈥淟ike..?,鈥� produced by her longtime collaborator RiotUSA, only further confirmed her talents; 鈥淏oy鈥檚 a Liar, Pt. 2鈥� with U.K. hyperpop-garage producer-artist became the song of the summer. Hell, even Taylor Swift tapped her for a remix of her hit 鈥淜arma." Ice Spice, in two short years, has become a four-time Grammy nominee 鈥� and one of the most divisive names in mainstream rap 鈥� before she even released an album.
鈥淵2K!鈥� is Ice Spice's first but don't expect an introduction. (The title functions in that way, sort of: Ice Spice was born on Jan. 1, 2000, perhaps emblematic of her aesthetic ideology and prescience for her future, social media-indebted success. It is hard to think of another MC that better encapsulates the current moment.) At the core of 鈥淵2K!鈥� are her immediately quotable 鈥� and let's be honest here, meme-able 鈥� booty-shaking bars, ripe for internet consumption. And so are the cheeky hooks that made her household name.
A few songs directly recall the Ice Spice listeners have grown to know: Like 鈥淭hink U the S鈥�- (Fart),鈥� which leans into her characteristic playfulness while maintaining her necessary bravado. 鈥淭hink you the s鈥�-?鈥� Ice Spice recites in the chorus. 鈥淵ou not even the fart.鈥� Or 鈥淕imme A Light,鈥� which samples classic 鈥淕imme the Light."
Across the release's 23-minute run time, drill is still a priority, as she mentions on 鈥淕imme A Light鈥�: 鈥淟et鈥檚 talk drill / Who bigger than she?鈥� she posits. Brevity is also a strong suit of Ice Spice's 鈥� she understands modern attention spans and she cuts the fat across the album.
Previously released single 鈥淧hat Butt" might've been the clearest tease of some new sonic explorations in the world of Ice Spice, still one indebted to She launches into a quick nod to Minaj's 鈥淏eez in the Trap鈥� in the intro ("Uh, Man") and works in a sample of the 2005 hit 鈥淚 Think They Like Me鈥� by rap group Dem Franchize Boyz with Da Brat and Bow Wow. Closer 鈥淭TYL鈥� sees Ice Spice raising her voice for a rare rap-rock kiss-off. Standout 鈥淏B Belt鈥� is bed-squeaking Jersey Club.
The 10-track release uses collaborations sparingly: the self-referential, trap 鈥淥h Shhh鈥︹�� with , nods back to 鈥淒eli" in certain lyrics, the hard-hitting 鈥淏itch I'm Packin'鈥� with Gunna, and the infidelity-revenge anthem 鈥淒id It First,鈥� brings the hottest contemporary rapper, Central Cee.
Across "Y2K!", Ice Spice flexes her lackadaisical flow and traverses new territory, pushing her voice in subtle moments 鈥� if only there were more. If anything, this is the New York rapper further manicuring her distinctiveness, offering listeners a hot, short and sweet album.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
