Ice Spice had an impressive rookie campaign backed by her debut EP Like..?, working with Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift, appearing on the Barbie soundtrack, and earning four Grammy nominations. The next step was carrying that momentum into 2024 and releasing a debut album to cement her status as one of music’s next big stars. Well, that time has come, as the 24-year-old has finally released her introductory LP Y2K!
It is poetic that she was born on the day many thought the world as they knew it would change forever (January 1, 2000). They were right; we’ve never heard a song like her breakthrough 2022 record “Munch (Feelin’ U)” before, and we’ve never listened to a rapper so intent on bars related to bowel movements. So, did Spice achieve her mission of “sh*tting on bi**hes” on her debut album?
The 10-song, 23-minute effort has some highs but overall shows that she has had a rough go in expanding her sound in the two years she has been a known act. Her attempts at different vocals or flows are rigid, but she shines when paired with another rapper or bigger star. Given her stardom, it would be ignorant to say she will fade into the abyss after this album. Thus, our interest in whether she will level up remains intact.
Here are the five best songs from Ice Spice’s Y2K!, courtesy of VIBE.
“Phat Butt”
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Ice Spice sets the album off with her third promotional single “Phat Butt” and it’s a strong forecast of the energy she brought throughout the album. There is no doubting her confidence in her artistry, success, or the asset that many men have come to love her for. The flow is an obvious nod to her mentor, Nicki Minaj, and she does a solid job replicating it on a type of beat that the Queens artist would have soared over.
RIOTUSA deserves a huge nod for the frantic beat he created her. It is primed for twerking, getting sturdy, or any other dance someone may want to do. The track also doesn’t overstay its welcome, clocking in at just 9 seconds over two minutes. There is nothing to get mad at here. “Phat Butt” is a winner.
“Oh Shhh…” Feat. Travis Scott
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“Oh Shhh…” featuring Travis Scott feels like a replica of “Princess Diana” but with more synths on the production and, obviously, a different feature artist. That said, since “Princess Diana” was a good song, we’ll allow this one, too. Ice Spice unfortunately uses her yelling delivery here on the verses, which slightly takes away from the listening experience. However, the Houston artist is a welcome sonic change.
He shouts out the Bronx, the popular restaurant Sei Less, and even boldly requests that James Dolan sell him the New York Knicks. NYC inhabitants may not like that last part, but this may mark the first time Jalen Brunson has been shouted out on a song, which should balance out their frustration. In any event, “Oh Shhh…” likely has the biggest trajectory of any song on this project, even if there are better ones. So, that’s a net positive for Ice and a great way for Scott to gain some momentum.
“Popa”
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“Popa” is a standout track from Y2K! because it marks a new vocal inflection for Spice. She uses a more brooding tone and debuts a somewhat new flow! The production elevates the effort with triumphant horns and a slightly different drum pattern. Though the content doesn’t veer away from what she normally says about dismissing men or living a lavish life, there is a sonic variation that is enough to properly credit Ice for evolving a bit. We can throw “Popa” in the W column.
“Bi**h I’m Packin'” Feat. Gunna
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“Bi**h I’m Packin’” is undoubtedly the best song on this project. It combines a new delivery and flow from Ice, Gunna’s exceptional shapeshifting bars, a catchy hook, and a great beat. This track sounds like it would have been ideal for an artist like Playboi Carti or Lil Uzi Vert, but the Atlanta rapper is more than welcome, too. Somehow, this track sounds like something that can be raged to, but Spice’s exasperated whisper makes it slightly sensual. This is the track that should unite the men and women when it plays at the function, and you can’t ask for more. In Spice’s words, we’re “jackin’” this record.
“Did It First” Feat. Central Cee
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“Did It First” featuring Central Cee is the only song competing with the Gunna-assisted “Bi**h I’m Packin’” for the label of the best song on Y2K! This is arguably RIOTUSA’s best production on the album and Ice Spice and Cench understood the assignment. It is another song that will unite men and women. On the women’s side, it is all about getting back at a partner who did them wrong.
On the men’s side, it is an admission that they are doing the wrong thing, but they excel at getting away with it. “Did It First” is very reflective of this current dating scene which is all about people “getting their lick back.” It may be toxic, it may be immature, but it is what the people want.
A strong hook from Spice and another great verse from Cee do a great job in capturing that unfortunate reality. And the vocal sample on the house-influenced drill beat is an undeniable earworm.
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