The 10-track LP clocks in at just under 24 minutes, but it’s packed with quotable one-liners, star-studded collaborations, and bold statements. Princess Gabbara |GRAMMYs/Jul 27, 2024 – 02:00 am
Since Ice Spice first caught our attention two summers ago, she’s been nothing short of a rap sensation. From viral hits like her breakout “Munch (Feelin’ U),” to co-signs from Drake and Cardi B, to a Best New Artist nomination at the 2024 GRAMMYs, the Bronx native continues to build on her momentum — and now, she adds a debut album to her accomplishments.
Poised to be one of the hottest drops of the summer, Y2K! expands on Ice Spice’s nonchalant flow and showcases her versatility across 10 fierce tracks. She dabbles in Jersey club on “Did It First,” delivers fiery lines on lead single “Think U the S— (Fart),” and follows the album’s nostalgic title with an interpolation of an early ’00s Sean Paul hit on “Gimmie a Light.”
Y2K! also adds more star-studded features to Ice Spice’s catalog, with Travis Scott, Gunna, and Central Cee featuring on “Oh Shh…,” “B— I’m Packin’,” and “Did It First,” respectively. At the helm is producer RiotUSA, Ice Spice’s longtime friend-turned-collaborator who has had a hand in producing most of the rapper’s music — proving that she’s found her stride.
As you stream Ice Spice’s new album, here are five key takeaways from her much-awaited debut, Y2K!.
She Doubles Down on Bronx Drill
Ice Spice is one of the few women holding down the New York drill scene on a mainstream level. She’s particularly rooted in Bronx drill, a hip-hop subgenre known for its hard-hitting 808s, hi-hats, and synthesizers — and according to the sounds of Y2K!, it’s seemingly always going to be part of her artistry.
“It’s always time to evolve and grow as an artist, so I’m not rushing to jump into another sound or rushing to do something different,” Ice Spice told Apple Music of her tried-and-true musical style.
While Y2K! may not be as drill-driven as her debut EP Like…?, the album hints that Ice isn’t ready to retire the sound anytime soon. The subgenre is the dominant force across the album’s 10 tracks, most evident in “Did It First,” “Gimmie a Light,” and “BB Belt.” Even so, she continues her knack for putting her own flair on drill, bringing elements of trap and electronic music into tracks like “Oh Shhh…” and “Think U the S— (Fart).”
She Recruited Producers Old & New
Minus a few tunes, all of Ice Spice’s songs start with her signature “Stop playing with ’em, Riot” catchphrase — a direct nod to her right-hand man RiotUSA. Ice and Riot met while attending Purchase College in New York, and they’ve been making music together since 2021’s “Bully Freestyle,” which served as Ice’s debut single. “As I was growing, she was growing, and we just kept it in-house and are growing together,” Riot told Finals in a 2022 interview.
Riot produced every track on Like.. ? as well as “Barbie World,” her GRAMMY-nominated Barbie soundtrack hit with Nicki Minaj. Their musical chemistry continues to shine on Y2K!, as Riot had a hand in each of the LP’s 10 tracks.
In a surprising move, though, Ice doesn’t just lean on Riot this time around. Synthetic, who worked on Lil Uzi Vert’s GRAMMY-nominated “Just Wanna Rock,” brings his Midas touch to “Think U the S—.” Elsewhere, “B— I’m Packin'” is co-produced by Riot, Dj Heroin, and indie-pop duo Ojivolta, who earned a GRAMMY nomination in 2022 for their work on Kanye West’s Donda. But even with others in the room, Riot’s succinct-yet-boisterous beats paired with Ice’s soft-spoken delivery once again prove to be the winning formula.
