Ice Spice’sY2K!arrived on July 26 as one of the most anticipated rap debut albums in recent memory. The 24-year-old — born on Jan. 1, 2000 — has packed a career’s worth of accolades for most artists into the last two years since becoming the face of New York’s drill scene.
While she could’ve attacked the project in myriad different ways, Ice made the conscious decision of getting back to the essence of what made her a star. She crafted a drill-heavy project alongside right-hand producer RIOTUSA, who sharply laid the sonic foundation, then had Mike Dean come in from the bullpen to lend his mixing/mastering expertise.
The Bronx princess continued to sneer at her opps and radiate unbridled charisma along with delivering some toilet-themed lyrics at the Spice Cabinet’s amusement throughout Y2K!. “We wanted to make what we like,” Ice told Billboard. “I just love drill beats, and his specifically. We just locked in for a whole year and really got to it when we could. We have the busiest schedules, but I think that’s why it’s important to have a close bond with whoever you’re collaborating with.”
At times, she experimented with her voice and flows, but never steered off the highway to crash before her destination. With 10 tracks and 23 minutes of run time featuring cameos from Travis Scott, Gunna and Central Cee, Ice Spice kept her debut concise instead of opting to overstuff a burdensome project like some of her peers.
Y2K! began to take form at the top of the year when Ice Spice had her toes in the sand while enjoying the beaches and serenity of Turks and Caicos where she recorded a few records during the trip. She would set up shop wherever her career took her while spending time in Miami, Los Angeles and back home in New York City.
Ice also revealed she was bumping a lot of Chief Keef and riding around Miami to the Chicago drill pioneer’s music, which influenced her creativity heading into the album. The Grammy-nominated MC also admits there was some turbulence and unexpected hurdles before the finish line: “For both projects that I’ve made, there’s been sample issues and feature clearances that we run into — but that’s part of the process,” she says, shrugging.
Y2K! debuted at No. 18 on this week’s Billboard 200 — and despite the outside noise, the rap star is proud of her growth while she treks across the U.S. on her Y2K! World Tour.
“Like..? did 15k so thank u to everyone who supported me then & thank u to all the new supporters,” she wrote to X. “Y2K! WORLD TOUR been so fun that these numbers are cool and all but bitch u should of seen that Boston CROWD last night NYC TOMORROW.”
Ice Spice detailed to Billboard how a handful of the album’s tracks came to fruition. Check out the converesation below.
“Oh Shhh…” (feat. Travis Scott)
Producers: RIOTUSA & GOLDIN
I had recorded that record first. I think I was in Miami. I had sent him that record and he said it was fire and he got on it. When he said my name, I was gassed. [Travis] had brought me out at his sold-out stadium [show in London]. Period, he ate that. His show is crazy.
I love our record and our video that we put out for “Oh Shhh…” He hit me congratulating me. [Sei Less] is one of my favorite New York restaurants, honestly. I’ve went so many times in the last year.
[“Popa”] was recorded in Turks on my birthday, I think. That’s an event in itself — I was lit. I love Turks. I recorded both of them records during the same Turks trip. I had just sent [Gunna] the song and he loved it and got on it right away. Shout-out to him too because his album [One of Wun] is fire. Turks was where it was at. I was eating jerk chicken wings and in the sand, vibing.
“Plenty Sun”
Producers: RIOTUSA, UpMadeIt & Synthetic
I was in Miami at the time and listening to a lot of Chief Keef and driving around. That’s where I made that record. It was a mix of [recording locations] for real. I did like four songs in Miami and a couple in Turks and some in New York. I think a little bit in L.A. as well. I just be recording wherever I’m at.
“Did It First” (with Central Cee)
Producers: RIOTUSA, Nico Baran & Lily Kaplan
I think I did that in Miami as well. Sometimes I’ll start a record in Miami and finish it in New York. I just sent it to him and he had got on it. Everybody was f–king with the records thankfully. We talked about a music video and got it done. I’m so glad we did because it’s mad cute. No complaints.
“BB Belt”
Producer: RIOTUSA
“BB Belt” is my personal fave on the album. That’s my favorite song on the album — my favorite solo record besides “Think U the S–t.” “BB Belt,” it does something to me — it just gets me activated. I don’t even know where I was at [when recording] — I was probably in Miami.
