ICE SPICE // BARROWLAND BALLROOM, GLASGOW
Ice Spice – How to tour the world while making anyone aged 25 and older cringe.
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
ICE SPICE PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S BARROWLANDS
PHOTOCREDIT: CALUM BUCHAN
Ice Spice’s style and persona can feel “cringy” to some people, but it’s often a matter of her embracing a confident, playful, and sometimes exaggerated approach that isn't to everyone’s taste. There are a few reasons why some find her style polarizing; she taps into meme culture, slang, and viral content, which can feel like she’s catering heavily to internet trends; and her unconventional rap style often sounds disinterested, monotonous, awkward and even amateurish.
Ice Spice is part of a newer wave of rap that blends “low-energy” rap and heavy internet aesthetics, which doesn’t resonate with traditional rap fans. But her approach is also exactly what endears her to many of her fans, especially younger ones who appreciate her fun, carefree vibe. Ultimately, it's about the balance between confidence and relatability, and the way she embraces the current wave of online trends—love it or cringe at it!
Where you listen with delight or despair, Ice Spice, real name Isis Naija Gaston, is a 24 year-old rapper who is doing what most artists can only dream about. The Bronx-born rapper, shot to fame in 2022 and is a testament to the power of social media, specifically TikTok, where her catchy lyrics and unique style quickly caught on, particularly with Gen Z listeners. As her popularity grew, celebrities like Drake and Cardi B also took notice, helping amplify her reach. Drake even co-signed her by sharing her music on his Instagram, and rumours of him inviting her to his shows added to the buzz. Ice Spice’s distinct look—signature curly hair and bold fashion—also made her instantly recognizable, further cementing her image as a new icon in the rap industry.
So what happens when Ice Spice opens the UK leg of her world tour in Glasgow’s iconic Barrowlands Ballroom?
Well, to start with the atmosphere in this half full venue is deflated and stale by 9pm. The crowd, heavily youthful, feel on-edge and uptight and there is virtually no queue for the bar at any time – likely down to the average age in building. Nothing was inherently wrong with the crowd but there were a lot of wiped out faces before the night’s main event had even started, and their new generation Spice Girl was running late.
Better late than never, but a 40-minute set finishing before 10pm was the real sore spot. In the short set, Ice Spice managed to fit in a lot. She and her team of dancers and rappers did everything they could to keep the energy high with hits like ‘Munch’, ‘Bikini Bottom’ and ‘Deli’ which all got big reactions from the small crowd. Her PinkPantheress cover of ‘Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2’ is definitely the most fun part of the night and, quite comically, a bit of emotional depth. More under-the-radar tracks like ‘Phatt Butt’ and ‘B**** I’m Packin’’ continue to show that self-indulgent glory that Ice Spice nourishes. The cheeky ‘Think You the S***’ finishes the night and with no encore the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it set is over.
Ice Spice became one of the most talked-about new rappers almost overnight and is under intense pressure to stay current and relevant. Though she has been the subject of controversy, Ice Spice’s unfiltered confidence and hyped up, viral catchphrases have won her a place in musical history. Though she is notice to touring, she leans into her persona without apology, which can seem cringy to people who prefer a more laid-back or subtle style but ultimately have won over fans around the world and that a hell of an achievement.