The unpredictable tides of today’s music scene have churned up a new star: Ice Spice, the 23-year-old rapper from the Bronx who went from relative unknown to “rap’s new princess” in what felt like the blink of an eye. Her meteoric rise was on full display at a recent concert at the O2 Ritz in Manchester, where an adoring crowd of mostly teenage fans sang their lungs out to every rapid-fire verse and irresistibly catchy hook.
Ice Spice, born Isis Gaston, first caught the internet’s attention in late 2022 with her viral hit “Munch (Feelin’ U)”. The track’s pulsating drill beat, playful lyrics, and Spice’s nonchalant yet hard-hitting flow struck a chord, racking up tens of millions of plays and earning her instant buzz as one to watch. She quickly capitalized on the momentum, dropping a string of singles that fused drill, hip-hop, melodic pop, and the frenetic energy of Jersey club music into a sound that felt both fresh and infectious.
Spice Heats Up the Stage
In Manchester, Ice Spice wasted no time turning up the temperature, barreling through hit after hit with breakneck pace. Backed by booming beats, a troupe of skillful dancers, and no shortage of airhorn sound effects, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand from the jump.
Early highlights included the bass-heavy rumble of “Princess Diana”, the woozy synth loops of “Munch”, and the speaker-rattling 808s of “In Ha Mood”. Spice attacked each track with her signature blend of cheeky punchlines, free-associative flexes, and earworm hooks, her laid-back flow belying the relentless energy she brought to the stage.
Twerking, Hooks, and Nostalgia
In between the wall-to-wall bangers, Ice Spice peppered in moments of levity and nostalgia. At one point, the crowd erupted into squeals as she broke into an impromptu karaoke session of Aqua’s eurodance classic “Barbie Girl”, a cheeky nod to her recent appearance on the soundtrack for Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie alongside rap royalty like Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat.
Spice’s own twerking abilities got plenty of shine as well, driving fans into a frenzy with each expertly gyrated beat. Her backup dancers were equally mesmerizing, their powerful and graceful moves providing the perfect complement to Spice’s more frenetic shaking.
Packing 21 Songs into 45 Minutes
With most songs clocking in under three minutes, Ice Spice blazed through a whopping 21 tracks in her roughly 45-minute set. The lightning pace left little room to breathe, each song’s hooks and punchlines whizzing by before the last could fully sink in. Still, the approach felt true to the ephemeral, always-scrolling nature of Spice’s extremely online come-up.
The set’s final stretch showed off welcome range, from the thundering bravado of “Did It First” to the woozy, slowed-down grind of “Fisherrr” to the playful raunch of closer “Think U the Shit (Fart)”. By the end, even a half-full venue felt thoroughly rocked by Ice Spice’s buoyant stage presence.
Meme Queen, Serious Talent
For all the very-online memery and novelty hits that have fueled her rise, Ice Spice’s Manchester gig proved she’s a performer with real chops and undeniable star power. Her flow is limber, her hooks are sticky, and her unflappable cool anchors even her silliest bars.
As “rap’s new princess” continues her reign on the charts and in the culture, all signs suggest her IRL impact will keep growing to match her digital footprint. With a hotly anticipated appearance at London’s Wireless Festival and persistent rumors of a debut album on the horizon, the forecast calls for Ice Spice to keep heating up through 2024 and beyond.
