Ice Spice may be ascending the ladder of global rap superstardom, yet her Bronx, New York roots remain deeply ingrained in her heart. Born on January 1, 2000, to parents Charina Almanzar and Joseph Gaston, Isis Naija Gaston, aka Spice, boasts a lineage that traverses Dominican and Nigerian heritage. She stands as the eldest among five siblings, each holding a special place in her heart.
In a candid conversation with Apple Music's Zane Lowe in July, the "Munch" rapper divulged the pros and cons of fame, expressing her gratitude for the opportunities it has unlocked for her family. "Ultimately, it's opened doors for me," she shared. "It's allowed me to support my family, empower myself, and transform my lifestyle for the better."
It seems fate had a hand in Spice's journey to rap stardom. In an interview with British GQ, she joked, "I've been a diva since birth. My parents even tell me that. I was the only baby to give them the eye-roll as a literal infant."
Spice has also shed light on her upbringing, revealing to The Cut in early 2023 that she grew up in a home where her parents were separated. Recently, she's embarked on a new journey of living independently, having previously split her time between her mother's and father's homes. She explained, "I'm just discovering so much about myself — like how much I love being alone."
It's evident that Spice holds her family, especially her parents, in the highest regard, acknowledging their pivotal role in her burgeoning career success. Let's delve deeper into the influential figures that have shaped her life.
Spice credits her mother, Almanzar, for instilling in her all the "bad b*tch-isms" that have become her trademark. In an October 2022 interview with Billboard, the rapper revealed, "My mom's a bad b*tch and she raised me to be just like her. You know Latina girls have that sass. I remember she always had her nails done, and that rubbed off on me. She always looked so good. I was that kid in class who had the good-looking mom."
When it comes to looks, Spice undoubtedly inherits her beauty from her mother. The two are practically twins! In fact, Spice's mom went viral in August when she posted a since-deleted snippet of herself lip-syncing and dancing along to her daughter's hit song "Deli." This prompted social media users to dig up photos of the strikingly similar mother-daughter duo (and search for Spice's mom's social media handles).
If rap hadn't been Spice's calling, she might have pursued acting, as she confessed to Teen Vogue that she always felt drawn to it growing up. She even harbored a desire to attend a high school that offered programs in film or performing arts, but her mother vetoed the idea. "I wasn't allowed to, for some reason," she explained. "I was mad salty about that for years."
Yet, despite the disappointment, Spice's mother remains one of her staunchest supporters, having backed her musical talent since childhood. Spice told Billboard that her mother would record videos of her singing. "What's funny is my mom sent me a video the other day — and I don't even remember this, of course, because I was like four," she said. "But in the video, I'm singing. And I've never seen this video my whole life. I was shocked by that."
According to Spice, her father, Gaston, deserves much credit for her thriving rap career. "He undoubtedly sparked my desire to record," she reminisced to Paper Magazine earlier this year. "I recall spending time in the studio with him, probably when I was still a toddler. Those fleeting memories, not every intricate detail but those little snippets, left a lasting impression on me. Subconsciously, I ended up pursuing a career as an artist because I had witnessed my father's journey as one firsthand."
Although much remains unknown about Gaston, Spice describes him as a "private person." Nevertheless, we do know that he once held a reign as an underground rapper. However, Spice clarified to Variety that "that's no longer his lifestyle," as he now works in the real estate industry. During her upbringing, he introduced Spice to hometown icons like JAY-Z, 50 Cent, and Jadakiss, broadening her horizons and inspiring her musically.
When speaking to Elle in January, Spice shared some of her earliest memories of her father, which were deeply rooted in hip-hop. She recounted, "He would freestyle constantly around the house, always challenging me to 'let him hear something' and putting me on the spot." These interactions not only honed her rap skills but also deepened their bond.
When it comes to supporting Spice, both in her career and beyond, the rapper knows she can rely on her dad for anything. When asked by British GQ who she would call first if she were ever in trouble, Spice answered without hesitation, "My father. He would always come to my rescue."
