Harper's Bazaar: The Playlist by Ice Spice

“I’m still growing up,” says 23-year-old rapper Ice Spice, “so I feel like I’m constantly evolving while still staying true to myself.” In January, the Bronx native (born Isis Gaston) released her debut EP, Like..?, which features tracks that have become viral hits thanks to their unabashedly cocky lyrics about confidence and self-love, such as “Munch (Feelin’ U)” and “Bikini Bottom”. “I’ve always been a baddie, and I’ve always been infatuated with other baddies,” says Spice, “so I wanted to emulate that and make other people feel that way too.” As one of few women in drill, a subgenre of hip-hop that combines trap-influenced beats and gangsta-style lyrics, Spice is adamant about pushing boundaries. “I feel like I’m bringing a fun and refreshing new sound to people that they haven’t really heard before,” she says. “The response to my EP has been like a big warm hug from everybody that’s consuming the project.” For this issue, she curated a playlist with the theme of reinvention, choosing artists whose creativity and vision she admires. Along with Azealia Banks’ energy-boosting “F**k Up the Fun”, she included her favourite feel-good shower song, “Shirt” by SZA, along with “Make Me Proud” by Drake and Nicki Minaj. “It’s a classic for me,” she says of the latter track. “I grew up listening to them, and they’re huge inspirations.”