From Bronx Roots to Pop Royalty: How Ice Spice Earned Friendship with Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj

Rising star Ice Spice has quickly found herself rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in music. Variety recently profiled how the Bronx rapper befriended pop icon Taylor Swift and legendary hip-hop artist Nicki Minaj over the past year, cementing her status in the industry.

Ice Spice first took notice of Swift after watching her Netflix documentary Miss Americana in 2020. Inspired by Taylor’s dedication to her craft, her manager later reached out and the two began collaborating. Their remix of Ice Spice’s song “Karma” released in May 2022 helped catapult the newcomer into the mainstream spotlight. The rapper now considers Swift her “sis” and enjoys their budding friendship, which took social media by storm.

Nicki Minaj was also someone Ice Spice had connected with previously. Their collaboration “Princess Diana” topped Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart, a major accomplishment for the rising star. She looks up to Minaj’s authenticity and draws inspiration from her impactful lyrics and success. “Sometimes I just wake up and I’m like, ‘I’ma text Taylor’ or ‘I’ma text Nicki.’ And then they be answering and I’m like, ‘Wow, that really makes me feel like that girl, for real,’” Ice Spice remarked.

While Ice Spice’s start in the industry was gradual, working with icons like Swift and Minaj helped amplify her profile and unique style. Her catchy lyrics that spread across social media also boosted her popularity. Remarkably, she maintains ownership of her music rights despite industry pressures. Fans look forward to seeing what’s next as Ice Spice continues her meteoric rise.