0:03

Zane Lowe, Apple Music. Hi everybody,

0:06

thanks for joining me. I'm Zane Lowe for another conversation

0:08

right here with an amazing artist on the interview

0:10

series. This week we talked to the incredible

0:13

Ice Spice. I say that in full confidence. We

0:15

throw words around like that, superlatives around

0:17

the arts a lot, and especially when it happens

0:19

really fast, sometimes people ask

0:22

the question, is it really incredible?

0:24

Does it qualify? It's happened so quick, what does it

0:26

actually mean? You know, in the case of Ice Spice,

0:29

she 100% knows who she is,

0:31

what she's going to do, and how she's going to do

0:34

it. She's in complete control

0:35

and has been from day one, which explains

0:37

why when she first came out with Munch

0:40

and had a huge, like one of those kind of smash

0:43

moments that just happens in a blue moon, a

0:45

lot of people were very skeptical, particularly

0:48

online, about where she came from,

0:50

why is the song so big, is she

0:52

quote unquote an industry plant, all that kind of chatter,

0:55

and just didn't even register with her. From

0:58

her point of view, it's like, you talk all you want, I'm

1:00

busy in the studio making follow-ups, and that project

1:02

that came out, like, is such a brilliant

1:05

start to finish statement following

1:07

on from a hit song, it kind of shut everybody

1:10

up, which brings us to this moment right here where myself

1:12

and Ice Spice got a chance to sit down and dive into

1:14

her origin story and bring it bang up to date.

1:16

Really this is the beginning of what will hopefully be many conversations

1:19

we're going to have with Ice Spice, but this is a good one, right

1:21

here on the interview series.

1:23

I'm excited to talk to you, it's rare in

1:25

life that an artist gets to connect with something

1:28

and it moves as fast as it's moved

1:31

for you, and I think we get

1:33

obsessed with the time of that, like, it's happened

1:35

so fast, and we forget actually

1:37

that

1:38

the time it took to make the music,

1:41

and the environment in which the music was made.

1:44

When I listen to this project and I hear what's

1:46

come out, it just sounds like you and Riot were

1:48

having fun.

1:49

We was, like genuinely. All

1:52

the records, I feel like, just fun, just

1:55

vibes. What's the environment like

1:57

when you were creating this? Because, you

1:59

know... You met in college, you're coming out of that experience,

2:02

and you found this great chemistry creative

2:04

vibe between the two of you. I

2:06

mean, is it in the dorm room? Is it

2:09

in the studio? Because it just

2:11

sounds so free to me, this music.

2:13

You know what's so funny? The other day, we was just talking

2:15

about how we was in our friend's

2:18

dorm, who's also a producer. And

2:21

I remember saying, oh, right, had

2:23

I asked me, oh, so what's your rap name going to

2:25

be your stage name? And I'm like, I don't know

2:27

if it should be my Finsta name, or

2:29

if I should just go by ISIS. I really

2:32

wanted it to be ISIS. Because ISIS

2:33

is sick, by the way. Thank you. And

2:35

he was like, it can't be ISIS. Thank you. Thank the parents,

2:38

right? Thank the parents that go to ISIS. Thanks,

2:40

Mom. Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. Well, ISIS is

2:42

an Egyptian goddess. Yeah. But

2:44

now it's like other things. But

2:48

no, yeah, we was just in college. Everybody

2:51

was just creating things. And

2:54

everything just happened naturally.

2:55

I think back to those times, what it

2:57

must have been like for you, and then to look back on that, it must

2:59

seem like a lifetime ago. But it really wasn't that

3:01

long ago.

3:02

No, and it doesn't feel

3:05

that long ago either. I very much still

3:07

feel like a girl from Fordham.

3:10

I can vividly remember being.

3:13

I remember everything. And everything's still the same,

3:15

because it wasn't that long ago. What was

3:17

it like when you were in college and you were just meeting all these

3:19

great creative people? Because it sounds like you

3:21

found yourself in an extended education

3:23

environment that was very creative. There was a lot

3:25

of people who were moving, doing different things. I

3:28

guess that's a really safe place for you to experiment

3:30

and not feel self-conscious.

3:31

Yeah, I did feel that way. When

3:34

I left high school, I was like, OK, now

3:36

I'm going to college. I could just rebrand

3:38

completely and be a brand new person.

3:41

And I just did that, honestly.

3:44

I feel like I did a whole 180. And I

3:46

just really found myself. And

3:48

I took time to be like, who am I?

3:50

Is that when I spice the identity

3:53

really presented itself? I feel like that's

3:55

when it fully made sense,

3:58

because I was already Iced by you.

3:59

since 2014. And

4:02

I never really like thought much about

4:04

it. Like it was just my handle. And

4:07

in college I was like, I'm my space period.

4:09

Yeah, I love it. And you know, I can hear it too.

4:11

I can hear the commitment to this art.

4:14

Yeah. It's art. I think,

4:17

you know, when music comes out quick, we

4:19

have an inclination as a species to want to doubt it.

4:21

Like, why does it happen so fast? Where'd it come from? What's

4:23

going on? This is super quick. I can't

4:25

get my head around it, as in people. And

4:28

we forget to actually listen to

4:30

the music. I think what people are really getting now

4:32

is they're listening to the music away from that

4:34

hype and they're realizing the music is

4:36

sick. Yeah. Well, the hype wouldn't be there

4:38

without the music, you know, because, um,

4:41

like

4:41

genuinely Munch is a hit and

4:43

I love that for me. Um,

4:45

I love that feel. Yeah. Like I love it. It wasn't just

4:47

like, I love that for him. I love that for him. I love that for the

4:49

whole team. For all of us.

4:51

You know, so I just love being

4:54

able to contribute to culture and actually like add,

4:57

you know, because I feel like a lot of people think that, oh,

4:59

I'm just like this like pretty girl that like

5:01

post on Instagram, but there's like millions

5:04

of pretty girls that post on Instagram. And like, you know,

5:06

you have to really contribute to the culture in order

5:08

to like matter.

5:09

Just look at the B E T performance.

5:11

Listen to the music. I understand where it's come from.

5:14

I'm going to put us into the Royal. We I'm

5:16

going to do it out of the kindness of my heart. Cause I

5:19

don't really consider myself to be part of the people who got it wrong.

5:21

I heard the music straight away and was like, I get it. But for

5:23

the sake of not separating myself,

5:26

we got it really wrong.

5:28

I really think we did because I'm looking at this stuff in red

5:31

here, what you don't want to talk about. And

5:33

in my lifetime, no, it's good. It's good. This is good.

5:35

The era of no is really

5:37

good. You got to know when to say, no,

5:39

I don't want to discuss that anymore. But I've just never

5:41

had seen it happen so fast

5:44

with someone after like a year of releasing music

5:46

is already saying you blew that one.

5:49

You exhausted that. You got it wrong on

5:51

that. I'm done talking about that.

5:53

Did you feel that way? Did you get to a point where you're like,

5:56

man, I'm sick of sort of having to try to justify

5:58

things when people aren't actually getting what the point.

5:59

here is. Yeah, sometimes I

6:02

do feel like a product and I really hate when I feel

6:04

that way. Because like a lot of people like,

6:06

let's say they'll gift me something and then I'm like,

6:08

Oh, it's a gift cute. And then they'll be like, Oh, can I take

6:10

a picture of you holding the gift? It's a trade. Now

6:13

an ad. You know what I mean? It's a

6:15

weird industry. Yeah. Yeah. But, um, no,

6:17

I appreciate like free gifts. I'm not gonna lie. Like I love

6:19

all that. I love everything that comes with it. I'm not

6:22

going to sit here and act like I hate fame because at the

6:24

end of the day, like it opened doors for me. It

6:26

allowed me to like help my family

6:28

and help myself and like changing my lifestyle for the better.

6:30

So

6:30

regardless, I'm grateful. You know what I mean?

6:32

Was it ever something you aspire to as a kid? Did you feel

6:34

drawn to the idea of attention as a currency or

6:36

fame? Um, genuinely, I think so. Like

6:39

I feel like a lot of kids are like, I'm going to be

6:41

famous. It's so true. I think you come out and you

6:43

immediately get, you gravitate to music because all babies

6:45

do. You're like, what is this? I like this nursery rhymes. Let's

6:47

go. And then it's a really short distance between

6:50

that. And wow, I made my parents really happy

6:52

by dancing.

6:53

Yeah. And that's kind of, I think

6:55

where the bug either sets in or it doesn't.

6:58

Was that for you? Were you like, I like to

7:00

make people happy by expressing myself even as

7:02

a kid?

7:02

I feel like I was always

7:04

trying to entertain. I do remember

7:06

like as a kid, like constantly coming up with like

7:09

dances with my cousins or like we would always try

7:11

to put on a show for the family. Like we would be

7:13

like, okay guys, look what we made. And then we

7:15

would start like dancing and singing and stuff like that. We'd

7:18

always have talent shows and just like

7:20

express ourselves. I do like entertaining.

7:22

I always like, I never really thought about

7:24

it as like, Oh, I'm entertaining. But when I look

7:26

back at my life and like the things I've done, I'm

7:28

like, I'm naturally an entertainer.

7:30

What about with your siblings and stuff? Because

7:32

I know you're the eldest within your family. And

7:34

so there's naturally a desire to look up to the

7:36

eldest sibling. How

7:39

was that relationship growing up? And do you

7:41

sort of feel to some degree, even now that you're starting to

7:43

succeed in your life, there's that responsibility

7:45

of making sure that you set a right example, right? For your siblings.

7:48

Yeah. I always felt like I needed to set the right example

7:51

for my siblings, especially. Because I was always told that

7:53

like growing up, it's always like, Oh,

7:55

like you need to behave better because your sister's

7:57

watching you. Especially the the

8:00

eldest daughter, like all the eldest daughters

8:02

know exactly what I'm talking

8:03

about. I can't even imagine. Yeah, for sure. I

8:06

wish I had an older sister so bad. Yeah. But

8:08

being the eldest, there's something really great about, you know, sitting

8:10

a bar, not just for yourself, but for others as well, right?

8:13

Yeah, I feel like I'm very grateful

8:15

that I have so many siblings and stuff

8:18

like that. Because I feel like I learned a lot

8:20

of things at home that like apply to real

8:22

life now, you know, and I feel like I

8:24

guess them looking up to me is kind of like

8:26

a reflection of now people, so many people

8:28

looking up to me, like you said, and it did

8:31

really prep me.

8:32

So how does that relationship sort of evolve

8:34

over time? Like do you have one sibling in particular

8:36

that you know you can call when you just need to be reminded

8:38

about, you know, where you came from? Because you know, you've

8:41

been, you've done six different flights and you're in six

8:43

different countries and you're talking to strange people like me.

8:46

And I have

8:48

cousins and stuff that are like my age

8:50

and like I have so many cousins and siblings and

8:52

I feel like they all

8:55

like, they're great to talk to and

8:57

stuff like that. They remind me of everything. My

8:59

sisters miss me so bad. We was just getting

9:01

into it

9:02

because it's like it do be hard to like maintain

9:05

a relationship with somebody you grew up with and

9:07

then try to like

9:08

travel the whole world and like please so

9:10

many other people. And it's like you still gotta pay attention

9:13

to them. So it's a lot, you know, but I'm trying

9:15

to deal with it.

9:16

Shout out my sisters. I missed them. There's

9:18

no other way to put it. I don't mean to scare you or whatever, but ultimately

9:20

following your dreams is there was sacrifice that comes

9:22

with that. Yeah. And I think the family

9:25

thing is the ultimate sacrifice when you leave the people behind

9:27

that you love and you just don't, they're always going to be there, but you

9:29

just don't get all that time.

9:30

And it's sad because they'll blame you

9:33

like, and they'll be like, Oh, we're distant now or whatever.

9:35

And it's like, I don't mean to be. It's just like,

9:38

I can't be in another country and

9:40

also be as close to you as I was when we was five.

9:42

But yeah, we still, it's all love at the end

9:44

of the day. I appreciate that they even miss me,

9:47

you know, because some people, siblings don't care

9:49

about them.

9:49

It breaks my heart. Well,

9:52

the thing is, that's why you're working so hard now, I guess, because

9:54

eventually it's going to get to a point where the success

9:56

dictates your decision and whether

9:58

you get to say yes or no.

9:59

when you get to reset the balance. At least that's what I've

10:02

seen with great artists. The longer you stick at it, the

10:04

more successful you become. Then you're able to say,

10:06

this is family

10:07

time. Yeah. You know? And I'll figure

10:09

it out. Exactly. I've been working all year. Like,

10:12

you know, I need a little month off or something

10:14

like that soon. But not today, because we got your

10:16

work in. Sorry. It's

10:19

Apple Music Up Next. I should probably remind people why

10:21

we're having a conversation. I'm no good at that. But this is

10:23

Apple Music Up Next. And, you

10:26

know, it feels kind of crazy to call you up next because you're

10:28

so now. I mean, it's happening right now. So

10:30

we're really grateful for the fact that, you know, you've decided

10:32

to collaborate with Apple and appreciate the program, even

10:34

at a point when you're saying no to things.

10:36

Yeah. Of course, I appreciate Apple, you know. Like,

10:39

Apple showed me love real early on. We

10:41

hear it. And, you know, we're a place where artists get

10:43

to come and ultimately, I think, sort of stretch

10:46

out and tell their story. And that's what we want to try and get

10:48

to today. Just getting back to a little bit

10:50

to the process of making music, because

10:52

I'm a super obsessive music nerd.

10:54

How do you kind of work with Riot? I mean, I know he's

10:56

over there. But how do you work with Riot? Because

10:59

you two obviously have such a great working relationship. You could

11:01

have just respect, gotten a hit, done

11:03

what other people have done, bounced out, created

11:05

a list of producers who are waiting for the phone call. Here's

11:08

the really good news, right? They're still waiting for the phone

11:10

call.

11:11

And long may

11:13

they wait as far as I'm concerned, because it really

11:15

works. The two of you, it really works. So how

11:17

does it work?

11:18

Just naturally, you know, it's so hard to explain

11:20

because, like, everybody's always like, how

11:23

does it work? How does it work? But I can't really explain

11:25

it, you know? It's just like, it just works. Sometimes

11:28

you just, you meet a great collaborator,

11:31

and you just do great things, you know?

11:33

Yeah. When you listen back

11:34

to your music in progress, when you're

11:36

working on something in the studio, and you're both feeling it, you

11:38

know, you're going to see it through and finish it. Yeah. How

11:41

does that feel? Can you try and put

11:41

that into some words? It feels amazing. Like,

11:44

right now, I have this song that I really, really, really

11:46

love. And I just told my fans about it on Twitter Spaces.

11:49

It's so fire. Like, it's for

11:51

the streets, it's for the baddies, it's for the ures,

11:54

it's for everybody. And it just really

11:56

gives me that vibe, like, we've been listening to it

11:58

in the car and stuff. It's not even mixed yet.

11:59

But you know what song is fire

12:02

when it's not mixed and it's slapping. Yeah,

12:05

for sure. You got to be careful with that, because

12:07

you know what I'm talking about. You guys think called demoitis,

12:09

where the mix never lives up. Oh, trust

12:11

me. Yes. That's what it

12:13

means. Yeah. I can imagine that listening

12:15

to the way that you write and perform

12:17

your songs and work with Riot, that you

12:19

don't let it go. Some artists do

12:21

their verse. I've been in the room, and then they bounce out.

12:24

It's like, you do it. You do the music. I don't care. Whatever. Something

12:27

tells me that you really love being

12:29

in the whole experience and making sure that it sounds

12:31

and feels right to you. Is that, am I right? Yeah.

12:33

I have to be. Because it's like, at the

12:35

end of the day, I am like, it's

12:37

my music. You know, I want to make sure it sounds how

12:39

I want it to sound. And like, I just,

12:41

it's fun. Like, I love being a part of it.

12:44

I'm not like rushing to leave.

12:46

I like recording in my own personal space.

12:48

Like, I have a studio at home and stuff. I

12:51

like taking my time, because I don't like to

12:53

just hurry up and rush it. Like, I

12:55

like to just feel the vibe. You know

12:57

what I'm saying? Lay it down. And then it's like,

12:59

if I want to take a break, I will just take a break

13:01

and come back to it if I need to.

13:03

I think we should remind people who are listening to this or

13:05

watching this from your perspective

13:07

that like is a bunch

13:09

of songs that have been around for a while. Do you know

13:12

what I mean? Like, these are some songs that you already had

13:14

waiting to go, and you continually working

13:16

through. So you were loyal to some of these songs. Like, what's

13:18

the oldest song on this project? Munch.

13:20

Yeah.

13:21

Munch is what's recorded

13:23

January 2022. Munch.

13:32

That's well over a year old. And so you were really

13:35

honored that process and put that out. How

13:37

do you feel about that project now that

13:39

you're already much further down the road and we haven't heard

13:41

where you're at?

13:42

I love this project. And

13:45

I also feel like a lot of people are thinking

13:47

that it's so old because of how much

13:49

success I've had since it dropped. But it's

13:51

only six months old. It's crazy. So it

13:54

is a new project still. It still is. You know

13:56

what I mean? But I love

13:59

the deluxe is coming soon.

13:59

and I'm really excited for that. The

14:02

song that I just gassed up is going to be on

14:04

there

14:04

for sure. How many other songs? I

14:06

have three right now that I'm like, okay, I really

14:08

like these three and I want to put them out. I'm trying to squeeze

14:10

in a fourth one, but we'll see. If not, it's

14:12

going to be three.

14:13

I love the idea of a deluxe because again,

14:15

it just continues to feed on a project that you're not sick

14:17

of yet and we're not sick of yet, so it keeps it alive.

14:19

I love this vibe, I just want to put a little

14:21

more into it. What is this

14:24

vibe to you? How would you describe what like

14:26

is going to be versus where you're going to go next

14:28

or where you go in the future? Are you any

14:30

closer to understanding what this project feels

14:32

like to you?

14:33

Like it just feels very like home

14:35

to me. It feels very much like a

14:37

Bronx story and like just a

14:40

baddie from the Bronx, just telling her truth

14:42

and just vibing, feeling herself. That's

14:45

what the album is going to sound like too.

14:48

I just know the album is going to have a lot

14:50

of elements of like, and of

14:52

course some evolution in there, but it's

14:55

going to very much be me still.

14:57

You know, there's a lot of people listening and watching

14:59

all around the world because we're in well over 100

15:01

countries and up next is a global thing. They

15:04

won't understand what it's like

15:06

growing up in the Bronx, let alone the

15:08

level of importance and influence Bronx had

15:10

on the invention of not just hip hop, multiple

15:13

musical genres, incredible

15:15

jazz legends, soul funk,

15:17

R&B legends. What was it like kind

15:19

of growing up in the Bronx and what is the childhood

15:21

in the Bronx like?

15:23

A childhood in the Bronx, I'm not going to lie,

15:25

is like,

15:26

it's fun. For me, like that's how

15:28

my childhood was. I know a lot of people

15:30

in the Bronx have different experiences, especially

15:33

depending on what part of the Bronx you're from. But

15:35

I had a fun childhood. I mean,

15:37

I only know it from my perspective. I

15:39

don't know, you know what I'm saying? It's hard to compare

15:41

it to other people, but...

15:42

Big music plays. You feel the music

15:45

in the streets. Like, yeah, when you're walking off for them,

15:47

stores is playing music to try to get you to come in.

15:50

Yeah. Like the stores will have the music playing

15:52

and like on a speaker outside. And you're like, come

15:54

on, come on. Exactly.

15:56

I always say that when a song hits, and you'll know

15:58

this now because you've had one, when a song hits in New York...

15:59

It's like no other place in the world because it's the

16:02

inside going out. If you have a song

16:04

that hits in LA It's playing it's playing being played in cars

16:07

or at home or in your headphones. It's

16:09

kind of insula in New York

16:11

To your point every car that drives

16:13

past is playing it loudly Right people listening

16:16

to it on the stoop people listening to

16:18

it in the store Yeah And when you have that magic moment

16:20

where everyone's listening to it Like what

16:22

did that feel like for you when you were walking around your home

16:24

city

16:25

and you heard your song being played somewhere Unexpected

16:28

for the first time though. Would you remember where

16:30

it happened?

16:30

No, I don't remember exactly where I'm not

16:33

gonna lie But I still feel

16:35

really excited like when I'm outside and I hear

16:37

my music playing like just random

16:39

people walking by whatever I still get excited

16:42

like the first time because that's just so

16:44

crazy to me You know like I expect to

16:46

see it like online and on streaming

16:48

and like seeing people enjoy

16:50

it at home on tik-tok Whatever. Yeah, but like when you

16:53

see people outside Different feeling it is

16:55

different. It's like it makes a real

16:57

man. You've had a real crash course in this weird music industry

17:00

you know when you're sitting in the in this, you know homemaking

17:02

music was riot and Or

17:04

a couple of other people you probably had no

17:06

idea

17:07

What you were gonna experience when you came

17:09

out into it putting all the niceties aside because

17:12

I know how great for you Why did get your music out in front of people

17:14

and like you said have positive impact you impact

17:16

for your family and for your life That's passion like

17:18

that's you deserve that for making great. Thank you But

17:21

how has the overall experience been

17:24

an artificial construct of the music

17:26

business for you? I spice the

17:28

artist so far

17:30

it's been cool Like I'm still pretty

17:32

new and I don't go out a lot like I don't go to

17:34

parties a lot or whatever That's just cuz

17:36

like I don't really like want to I be I'd

17:39

be tired after working and everything I don't

17:41

be really wanting to party and I was never really a big party

17:43

person There's no way you make

17:44

party music for everyone else to party is that the point

17:46

I'm home making the party. That's why I DJ

17:48

Cuz I didn't want to go and dance It

17:53

was my social anxiety play I

17:56

Feel that oh

17:58

my god, I would get the craziest things going

18:00

into parties. Like I remember when Sweet 16

18:03

came around and everybody was turning 16. Dreading

18:05

it. Oh my god. I would be outside like my

18:07

stomach hurt. I can't go. I

18:09

suck so bad because I'd be missing people's birthday

18:12

and it's like I love you but I just I

18:14

can't go. I'm the same.

18:16

They must know you though. I mean the people who

18:18

love you know they know what you go through. So it's an interesting

18:20

job that you have for someone who struggles

18:22

with social anxiety like I do. Exactly.

18:25

So but no I push through it and stuff. Sometimes

18:28

I'll be having my days but for the most part I try

18:30

my best to push through it and I like remind myself positive

18:33

things and whatever all the time. But being

18:35

in the music industry is fun. I'm not gonna lie

18:37

like it's a little ghetto but it's fun. And

18:40

I'm from the Bronx. So like a lot of people like

18:43

I'm real classy and I'm pretty and but

18:45

like I've I'm from the I'm

18:47

from Fordham bro. Like I took the

18:49

Ford train every day to school. Like you

18:52

know what I'm saying? Took the 12 bus every day.

18:54

The one train like

18:55

I do this like it's not

18:58

I'm I'm real cute but it's not. It's like

19:01

I'm I see it like can be both.

19:03

Thank you because a lot of people don't think that a

19:05

lot of people think that if you're from the Bronx you gotta be one

19:08

specific type of way but it's like there's

19:10

so many people in the Bronx so many cultures.

19:13

Like really is just

19:16

be yourself like you know what I'm saying? A

19:18

lot of people think because I'm from the Bronx I gotta act

19:20

like different or like yeah or

19:22

like I'm being fake classy or I'm being whatever

19:25

and it's like I don't even consider myself classy.

19:27

I just think I'm to myself. And

19:29

also you know such a strong image when you came out which is

19:31

smart. I mean why would you come out and not

19:33

present a strong image? It's like

19:35

I mean that's the play. Go big or go home. Go big or

19:37

go home right. I mean that's expected and yet everybody

19:40

I think it's so obsessed. This is what I was referring to in

19:42

the beginning when I said that I think we all got it very

19:44

wrong right. And for you you must have

19:46

been kind of laughing quietly to yourself. Everybody's

19:48

making these assumptions in the first six months. Just

19:51

sitting

19:51

on it. All the time. So even to this day people

19:53

be saying crazy and I used to be like anyways

19:55

next like. Yeah I love the fact that you're sitting

19:58

on the knowledge that you don't give a **** though. I'm

20:01

a Capricorn, so. What does that mean? We

20:03

don't give a shit. Yeah. Can

20:06

you give me a few more tricks? Like, why are you a typical

20:09

Capricorn? I would say I'm

20:11

like a workaholic. And like,

20:13

I'd be working on my birthday. I feel like that's some Capricorn

20:16

shit to do. Like, I work on Christmas. You know what

20:18

I'm saying? That's like, like

20:20

I remember being like on Thanksgiving

20:22

working.

20:23

Yeah, yeah. How do your family feel about that?

20:25

Do they ever try to slow you down? No, cause

20:27

they get it. Like, you gotta hustle. Where I'm from,

20:30

it's like the whole point is to make it out. Like,

20:32

you know what I'm saying? So you gotta work. Like, imagine,

20:35

I'm gonna just say home on my birthday. When I got

20:37

money to make. Like, you know what I'm saying?

20:39

Yeah, so what's the end result then? Is the

20:41

work the point? Or do you have like a

20:43

point on the timeline, further down the line in mind

20:46

where you're like, okay, there's an achievement I need to reach?

20:48

Well, I would love financial freedom.

20:50

You know, I feel like everybody would. Respect that. So. 100%.

20:53

Like, of course we're human beings.

20:56

My goal in life is to just sit on an island

20:59

and,

21:00

you know, drink fruity drinks.

21:02

Just because it never seemed like that

21:04

was a possibility. Growing up like

21:06

that, you know what I'm saying? Like, I never thought

21:09

it would. I've always dreamt of it, but I never thought

21:11

it was like

21:12

gonna happen. Like, especially like

21:15

so young. You know what I'm saying? So that's,

21:17

it's just like crazy to me, but. But

21:19

when you dreamt of it, did you feel it? Was it vivid

21:21

to you when you were dreaming of like success and

21:23

what you thought you could achieve with your life? Well,

21:25

I had to make it vivid.

21:27

I had to like really convince

21:29

myself that it would happen. And like, I

21:31

would constantly remind myself, like, it's gonna happen.

21:34

Like, if it could happen for other people, it's gonna

21:36

happen for me. Like, and just keep going

21:38

and going and going. And like, I'm super into like

21:40

just speaking it into the world.

21:42

Manifestation. You're mastering

21:44

manifestation. Yeah, but you know what's funny? I learned

21:46

about that when I was like 11. So I know

21:48

it's super trendy and cool now. And like people

21:50

are over the word manifestation, but.

21:52

Are they? They're not manifesting it. Yeah,

21:54

I know. But

21:56

yeah, I'm super into that. And like, I'm real spiritual

21:59

and I believe in God. that up just pre all the time

22:01

and like yeah it works. Let's talk about

22:03

the idea of manifestation into personal relationships

22:05

because I'm fascinated by that in particular in the arts

22:07

and in the performance industry people can be obsessed

22:10

with people they inspire them they create something inside

22:12

of them that makes them feel like anything is possible

22:14

for you that's the kiminage.

22:27

There you are together working on stuff. I know.

22:30

That must be a moment for you as someone who recognizes

22:32

manifestation doesn't just look at it as curious

22:34

luck. Yeah. As a moment where you go it

22:36

works.

22:37

It does work and you know

22:39

that's why it's so crazy. So when I

22:41

met Nikki right for the first time in person

22:43

I was like at her studio and she was

22:45

like doing her glam and stuff and then I

22:48

was nervous but I was like chilling.

22:51

I was like nervous to get there once I got there I

22:53

was like okay I'm chilling but then I heard her like

22:55

say something and then I got nervous and then

22:57

she started she came out right and

23:00

I was fine but she came out and she looked

23:02

at like my manager James

23:04

and like Riot and stuff and my photographer and everything

23:07

and then she came at me and when

23:09

she came to me and she hugged me

23:11

I started crying because it just felt like I

23:14

cried but I walked away like I didn't say anything to her I

23:17

was just like

23:18

and I just walked away because I was

23:20

just like bro like

23:22

just the journey like you know I

23:24

love Nikki and like meeting her was great and everything but

23:26

for me it also just mostly felt like this

23:29

is a full circle moment like this is crazy

23:31

like I'm really here like you know what

23:33

I'm saying like little me is screaming

23:36

that

23:36

kid who listened to music and felt that music

23:38

and made you realize anything was possible you

23:41

reached one of your destinations yes

23:43

and it just it felt like such an like an

23:45

accomplishment meeting her like in a

23:48

way you know what I'm saying yeah because of course

23:50

so many girls look up to her and want to do

23:52

that but it's just like for you to do it it's just

23:54

crazy

23:55

yeah but you felt it in a moment and

23:57

turned it into something tangible I

23:59

keep saying this

23:59

but it's a great story that someone told me about an artist

24:02

who walked into a room and an artist they admired

24:04

was playing their music as they walked into the room.

24:07

And the way they described it was that

24:09

that person heard, okay, so I'll

24:12

put it in your context, Nicki Minaj

24:14

hears in you and sees in you

24:17

herself, which is why she's drawn

24:19

to you because you reflect the

24:21

best qualities of herself back at her because

24:23

you were that fan who felt it and saw it. Does that make sense?

24:25

Yeah, of course. I feel like in a way,

24:27

yeah, that is true because since

24:29

I'm so inspired by her and like so many other

24:32

girls are and boys too,

24:33

like when you grow

24:35

up listening to somebody and like looking

24:38

up to them and like

24:39

practically studying them, like if I'm

24:41

going home every day after school watching music

24:43

videos and I'm watching mad Nicki

24:45

videos and mad, like whatever, you

24:48

know what I'm saying? So you pick up on mannerisms

24:51

and like without even realizing it and then

24:53

one day you're an adult and like you act just like

24:55

the person you grew up watching.

24:56

Yeah, exactly. In your own way and unique and

24:58

individual way. So there's elements that just brought

25:00

joy together and next thing you know she's standing in front of

25:02

you going, Oh, facts and doing those amazing

25:04

things she does. Yeah, I love

25:06

her. She's the best. She's

25:09

the best and you got her in a British bag as well

25:11

on your song, which is where she came out. Hello,

25:14

darling. She's

25:16

awesome at that. How's that friendship to evolve

25:18

now? Because it's like one features fine multiples

25:21

and then and then experiences and

25:23

it's it's clear that there's a kinship between

25:25

the two of your friendship between the two of you that's developing.

25:28

You know, how does that change the whole experience

25:30

for you? Are you absorbing her advice?

25:33

Is it a different experience now?

25:34

I feel like I am like absorbing

25:37

advice from her and like learning from her and stuff. And she'll

25:39

tell me like, you know, learn from my

25:41

mistake, like, you know, do this or like,

25:43

don't do that or whatever. And I just really pay attention to what

25:45

she's saying because if there's anyone I'm

25:47

gonna listen to,

25:48

it's the Queen. Yeah, I mean, you need mentors in

25:50

this space. Exactly. Yeah. There

25:52

is anybody else that you've kind of adopted as a mentor

25:54

that you listened to that you really admire? I would

25:56

say Drake. Yeah, we talk

25:59

all the time.

25:59

And like, he's always like, we're always like just

26:02

laughing about

26:03

some things that like go on and

26:05

like, I'll ask him What should I do with this

26:07

or like how'd you go about this or like

26:09

did you ever experience that and like hell?

26:12

I'm not gonna give real examples, but Yeah,

26:16

and it'll tell me like I did this and

26:18

like you should do that too because you can't yeah

26:20

And I'll be like you're right like I

26:22

feel like he's good. He gives

26:24

great mental energy. Yeah I know he really

26:26

does it's like coach vibes Yeah

26:28

Because also he came from a place where he

26:30

was we we all we again

26:33

with the week which can painful for me Cuz

26:35

I'd love Drake from dot but the we

26:37

got it wrong

26:39

with him for a long time

26:41

I feel like everyone was ready for him.

26:44

I see what you're saying. Yeah, you know, I feel

26:46

like that's the case still though I feel like all

26:48

like the like the biggest artists

26:50

and like not only artists actress

26:52

and just anybody in any industry

26:55

I feel like when you're like huge and

26:57

people just gonna want you to fall, you know

26:59

what I'm saying? Yeah,

27:00

but even if it's someone like yourself who

27:02

self admittedly doesn't give it it How

27:05

do you process the inevitability

27:07

of that? Because I want you to keep

27:09

making music as a fan of your music

27:11

And I think if you do you're gonna end up in

27:13

those same places in your own way that they are

27:16

So in a way you're on it like it's

27:18

in motion that that's gonna happen to you as

27:20

well Does it the success

27:23

but also the scrutiny all

27:25

that that comes with it the weirdness of being

27:27

a standout in a world full of The same species.

27:29

Do you think about that or you just try to forget about it?

27:31

Right,

27:36

um, no, I mean like back

27:39

to that I don't give a part Yeah, it's like that

27:41

still, you know and also the hate

27:43

never went away I just think that there's so much

27:45

love coming in now that it kind of like overshadows

27:48

the hate But it's just like it's still

27:50

there like the people that was hating like they're

27:52

very much there

27:53

Well, can I ask you this then? Um, what

27:55

was it for you that kind of gave you this

27:57

this desire or this ability to

27:59

be able to just

27:59

Shut it down.

28:00

It's like such a mixture of so many things, I

28:02

would say. It's like being from the Bronx, having

28:05

strong-minded parents in general. Both of my parents are

28:07

very strong-minded and they're very confident

28:10

people. And I feel like that rubs off on me.

28:12

And also just being so protective because

28:14

I have so many younger siblings that

28:17

I am very protective. So I always

28:19

been the type that I'm like, I can't take it

28:21

because they can't take it. You know what I'm saying?

28:23

So like when me and all my sisters was in school, I remember

28:26

they would like talk about, oh, this girl

28:28

is bullying me or this girl is bothering me. And I'm like,

28:30

f*** that bit. So

28:33

I had to always stay on my ground because I had to set the example,

28:36

stand your f***ing ground. You having fun?

28:43

I'm having a great time talking with you. I am. You're

28:46

so fun to talk to. When

28:49

I was hanging out a few months back in my house, it

28:52

was becoming this proper

28:55

problem that at least once,

28:57

twice, three times a day, one of my family,

28:59

my wife, our two kids would walk around going, that boy's

29:02

a liar. That boy's a liar.

29:04

Just nonstop in the air.

29:08

In the end, it was like we need to just do an amnesty

29:10

on that song for 24 hours because we

29:12

couldn't shake it. None of us could shake it.

29:14

I play that song every day. It's

29:17

so catchy and so sick.

29:20

And I feel like you and Pink Pantherists,

29:22

again, I think it says

29:25

something to your ability to collaborate. I

29:27

feel like you're a really generous collaborator because

29:30

you fit so well into that experience with her. How

29:32

was

29:33

that moment? It was so fun. I recorded

29:35

it on my birthday actually. Really?

29:38

The first, yeah. Sick. And

29:40

I sent it back to her. That's some Capricorn s*** by the way. Yeah, it really is. That's

29:43

some Capricorn s***. That's

29:44

the workaholic at play. Exactly. And so

29:46

it was so fun, so easy. When I sent

29:48

it to her, she didn't have anything

29:51

to say. She was like, I love it. It's perfect.

29:53

We're ready to go. And I'm like, bet. So

29:56

I'm not going to lie. That was the easiest collaboration I've ever

29:58

had.

30:06

I got to talk to you about someone who I've

30:08

met and spoken with many times and who I admire

30:11

greatly as one of the greatest songwriters of this generation

30:13

or any and that's Taylor.

30:15

I thought that the fact that she worked with you was

30:18

just another classic and inspired example of her just

30:20

knowing what works. What works for her, what

30:23

would work for you. She's just very

30:26

dialed in beyond just the writing

30:28

and everything else. She's very across it. Where

30:30

were you when you got the call for that? How did that information

30:32

present itself? Because that is rare.

30:34

I was home and my manager

30:36

called me and was like, oh,

30:39

Taylor wants you on a record.

30:40

And I'm like, Taylor. Hold up. Your manager's

30:42

over there. So I got to ask you for one second. When you got that

30:44

information, you're making that phone call. What

30:46

were you thinking, bro?

30:49

He texted me, oh, call

30:51

me. I have to tell you something or

30:53

whatever. And he usually would just text me

30:56

anything. So

30:59

I was having a really bad day also. I

31:01

would like to say that I was having a terrible day.

31:03

I was crying all morning because I was just so mad

31:06

at something. And then

31:08

he called me with that news. And then I cried more

31:10

because it was good news.

31:12

This roller coaster of a life I can't

31:14

keep up. I was like, my life is

31:16

a roller coaster. Like how I started the

31:18

day crying and I ended it crying, but for

31:20

different

31:21

reasons. Yeah. And then

31:23

to go out there and to present it to the people. Again,

31:25

this idea of this feature mentality

31:28

of like your audience meets my audience and we can all get

31:30

paid. I get it. It's a great hustle,

31:32

right? It's a great hustle and it makes for great

31:35

music for fans. But what's awesome about that is

31:37

that when you and Taylor presented it, you presented

31:39

it together.

31:40

How was that experience? It's one thing

31:42

to jump on a song. It's another thing to find

31:45

a way to work together. Yeah.

31:47

How was that? It was amazing. Like

31:49

we went to the studio and

31:51

she's so humble and so

31:54

nice. I can't do not. I pulled

31:56

up to the studio and she outside waiting for

31:58

me. I'm like, why is Taylor Swift?

31:59

outside like Taylor

32:02

what are you doing here? So we went inside.

32:07

She parked your car for you and stuff. She's like Taylor

32:09

I got you. She's

32:12

great like she's so funny we text all the time

32:14

like she is hilarious. She's

32:16

funny. I'm not gonna lie

32:17

she's the funniest person ever. She's also brilliantly unfiltered and that's

32:19

all we'll say about that but when you get her in a space

32:22

where she's comfortable she'll

32:23

go in. After the show because

32:25

you know she, shout out to her, she brought me out to

32:27

her her stadium shows.

32:30

Can you believe that? I did a stadium show before an

32:32

arena. I know it's crazy. That was nuts. I'm

32:34

not gonna lie but it's crazy because you hear like all

32:36

this like

32:37

the roar that you hear

32:40

in a Taylor Swift show is like unmatched

32:42

like I don't think I've ever heard that and there's

32:44

so many like so I try to watch the show

32:46

sorry I'm jumping everywhere I'm just so excited about this

32:48

experience but I tried to watch the

32:51

show and I was like no

32:53

one's gonna notice me they're paying attention to whatever

32:55

right so I'm like standing there trying to be low key and

32:57

then like this one little seven-year-old girl like screams

32:59

my name from the front row um no

33:02

I was like chilling in the side oh wow

33:04

yeah like just trying to watch it in the crowd

33:06

yeah but she was the girl was in the front she was like passing

33:08

by with like popcorn or something

33:10

and she was like um I said she

33:12

was like boy's a liar in her

33:15

mood and I'm like oh my god

33:17

she's so cute and then a bunch

33:19

of other little girls like just

33:21

appeared and they just like was like trying to take pictures

33:23

and I was like all right child let me go back to the um dressing

33:25

room and wait till it is my turn to come out yeah

33:28

um but her show was amazing and

33:31

I'm just so grateful like 200,000 people I

33:34

think we performed for

33:35

wow over the course of those nights that's crazy

33:37

that's insane

33:44

you got this doge cat tour coming up yes I'm

33:46

so excited yes

33:48

I wish she announced that and who was rolling out

33:51

I was like okay that might be the tour

33:53

of the year um for you to be going

33:55

out there and playing on a stage like that with someone who

33:57

I feel had in her own way a similar

33:59

experience. She came out and she

34:02

was really counted out. People didn't really understand

34:04

the level of talent, the level of commitment, of hard work,

34:06

of discipline. She's proven that time and time

34:09

again. Now no one doubts it anymore. It's like

34:11

she's lived three lives in one life. So

34:14

what's your sort of relationship with her at this point? Are

34:16

you both just mutual fans of each other? Have you connected?

34:18

Have you been able to share with these experiences? Yeah,

34:20

we met at like party or something like that.

34:22

And she's real,

34:24

real, real sweet. She's real nice. And

34:27

we need to chill some more, you know what I'm

34:29

saying? To really vibe a little more. But

34:32

I love her down. I'm really a fan

34:34

of her. My little sister put me onto her in 2018.

34:38

And I remember watching her right before she actually

34:40

blew up like crazy. And I

34:42

was watching her tour and

34:44

she did a mini tour in Europe or something.

34:47

And I was so inspired by her. And just

34:49

watching

34:50

her, I was like, wow. I just know she's going to be

34:52

big. And then like later that year, she was

34:54

like the biggest thing. Crazy, crazy. And

34:56

then the scrutiny comes and that's it. I think that she's developed

34:58

a pretty strong don't give a attitude as well. Yeah,

35:01

I think she's better than me at that. I don't

35:03

know. You seem pretty good. What

35:06

about Europe and the rest of the world and everything else? I

35:08

mean, watching with the BT Awards, you

35:10

know, back when it was, I said to you before

35:12

we got started, it was amazing how ready it just feels.

35:14

It feels like a show. You and Riot just feel like you've

35:16

got this incredible back and forth going on. And

35:19

I just feel like, it's rare for artists

35:21

to come out after a very quick period of time

35:23

and look so arena ready. Is

35:25

the idea of touring exciting to you? Traveling

35:27

a lot exciting? I'm so, so,

35:30

so excited. If you would have asked me this like three

35:32

months ago, I probably would have been like, no, I'm not ready.

35:34

Why? Because I just, I needed,

35:36

I

35:37

needed time. Like I said,

35:39

I did a stadium with Taylor. So

35:41

now I feel like in arena, I'll

35:43

be like, okay, like we got this period. And

35:45

plus the deluxe will be out by then. So

35:47

there's more music and like, I

35:49

just, I love my music and I just really,

35:52

I'm starting to love performing because I'm more

35:54

comfortable and building a stronger

35:56

like armor around myself. Or I'm like, I

35:58

truly don't care.

35:59

anymore. Before when I would read performance

36:02

reviews, I would be like, oh my

36:04

God, they're chewing me bad.

36:06

You know what I'm saying? And now it's

36:08

like when they say, I'm like, girl, bye.

36:11

These are bops. This

36:14

is for the baddies. If you're not into it,

36:16

then... What's this baddy thing about? Go

36:18

on. I know this is about the last time you were going to ask

36:20

this question, but give me a new answer if you can.

36:22

Where did it come from, truly? What's the

36:24

idea behind it, really, in terms of how it relates to your

36:26

personality? It's

36:27

just confidence. When

36:29

I say baddy, I'm thinking confidence. That's

36:32

what it is. When

36:34

it comes to influencing people with that

36:36

baddy attitude, who are you most trying to appeal to?

36:39

Who are you most trying to inspire?

36:40

Honestly, small people. Little

36:43

people,

36:44

young people.

36:46

I have so many fans in high school and

36:49

in middle school and even babies. I love

36:51

seeing little babies dance to my music and stuff

36:54

like that. And just my siblings

36:56

and just myself. My music inspires

36:59

myself. I'm not going to lie.

37:00

And also that idea of being able to, like you say, manifest

37:02

something into action. How do you think

37:04

you're going to feel when an artist comes up to you and

37:06

looks at you the way you looked at Nicki? I

37:09

feel like that's going to be crazy,

37:11

but I'm not going to lie. Some people kind of

37:13

do that now. Really? A little bit. Yeah.

37:16

Especially when I meet such young fans and

37:18

stuff. When I met Northwest, she was screaming

37:20

at the top of her lungs. And I was like,

37:23

girl, you're more famous than me. I know. But

37:26

the thing

37:28

is, this is so complicated. I couldn't even possibly

37:30

put myself into the mindset of a young person. Let alone

37:32

a young person who lives that life. But

37:35

she wants to live a normal kid's

37:37

life. And that means that she's going

37:39

to hear your music and be a

37:41

fan. Like just be a fan.

37:44

Yeah. She's great though. Like, oh,

37:46

she's so cute. But those are like, those are

37:49

the fans and that is Jekoopa and stuff like

37:51

that, that I really want to inspire because they're

37:53

so like, they're so innocent and they're

37:55

so cute. And they just want to have

37:57

fun and they enjoy fun. I feel like.

37:59

I'm not even going

38:02

to put it in a category because a lot of older

38:04

people do for my music, but I feel

38:06

like people

38:09

become more judgmental as they grow.

38:20

Where does it go from here for you? Like...

38:25

Only raise up. Yeah. Yeah. I

38:28

mean, I don't know. So everything

38:30

up until this point has been literally going with the

38:32

flow. In the sense of letting it happen.

38:35

Just letting it happen and just doing me and

38:37

just trying to

38:39

not pay attention to the noise and da-da-da,

38:41

but yeah, just going with it. Yeah.

38:44

Is there an album on the horizon? Like an album apart

38:47

from a deluxe project?

38:48

There's an album on my mind,

38:50

but it's not in

38:53

the studio yet. It's not out or

38:55

in my phone or anything. I'm just thinking

38:57

about it and I'm really excited to

39:00

do my album and start working on it. I

39:02

feel like I'm going to go to a pretty

39:04

country and stuff

39:06

and try to get inspired and record somewhere

39:09

else. Yes. Why wouldn't

39:12

you? Why wouldn't you go to Italy and make music?

39:14

I love Italy. Why wouldn't you do that? I

39:16

love Italy. You must be excited about this too.

39:18

I mean, obviously, it's great that you two get to connect

39:20

on the road and continue to work on the road

39:22

and that it really is the two of you. I know it's

39:24

moved into creative collaboration and direction

39:27

and there's a real partnership here. But the

39:29

idea of being able to just take a month out from

39:31

tour, where are we? I don't know,

39:33

Germany? Should we go to Italy for three weeks?

39:37

Say no to everything? Make some beats? Make

39:39

some beats? Yeah. That's

39:41

what we're going to do. That's the dream, right? Yeah. I

39:44

feel like you are getting to the era of no really

39:47

fast. Oh yeah.

39:48

I feel like you're getting to the era of like, what

39:50

I say no to? What I

39:52

say no to is way more important than what I say

39:54

yes to. Can you elaborate on how you feel about

39:56

that? That's always been the case though. I'm not going to lie. Like,

39:59

I've always...

39:59

had that a little bit. You know what I'm

40:02

trying to say? Like less is more for me in a lot of different

40:04

ways I've realized. Like you can

40:06

be everywhere at once so like you do gotta say no

40:08

a lot.

40:08

Who do you look up to in that regard? Who do you think gets it right?

40:11

Rihanna. She gets it so

40:13

right. Because when she shows up

40:16

she's full Rihanna and you get the full

40:18

experience and she wants to be there. Yeah exactly.

40:21

Well I don't even want you to come into the studio when you want to be here. I

40:23

don't want you and I know that's the cat that will already be the case.

40:26

I'm really really glad that we got a chance to meet at

40:28

this point. It's so early.

40:31

You've got so much music to

40:33

make and so many miles to travel and so much

40:35

to achieve. I'm really excited we're gonna see

40:37

and hear it all unfold and I'm really

40:39

really glad that you're here making the music you make.

40:42

I think now everyone's trying to get it right. Everyone's

40:44

figuring out who you really are.

40:45

Thank you. Catching

40:48

up with I Spyce at what is a really essential moment

40:50

in her journey. The start of something very very

40:52

big and the future is so so bright. Thanks for

40:54

checking out another conversation on the interview series.

40:56

Always appreciate the fact you take the time to do so. Next

40:59

week we catch up with Russ who's made the deepest

41:01

arm of his career and it reflects in the conversation.

41:03

Catch you then.