Podcast Summary: "Baddie Baddie" from the Bronx with Ice Spice

Podcast: Baby, This is Keke Palmer
Host: Keke Palmer
Guest: Ice Spice
Release Date: September 16, 2025
Platform: Wondery

Brief Overview

This episode of "Baby, This is Keke Palmer" dives deep into the life, artistry, and personality of Bronx-bred rap sensation Ice Spice. Keke Palmer sits down with the rapper for a lively, honest conversation covering Ice Spice’s roots, rise to fame, process, family, resilience, collaborations, and identity. The two connect over their shared love of music, unique upbringings, and being relentless in their pursuit of authenticity and joy. The episode seamlessly transitions from lighthearted games and vulnerable reflections to discussions on career milestones, leaving listeners with a multifaceted portrait of one of hip hop’s most compelling new stars.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Ice Spice’s Early Life & Family Influence

• The Family Dynamic
  • Ice Spice (Isis Nyjah Gaston) grew up in the Bronx with a Dominican mom (Sharina) and a rapper father (Joseph Gaston), both of whom had her at a young age.
  • Quote [07:18]: “Because she had me so young... it gives sisters.” – Ice Spice
  • Parents divorced early but lived close enough for her to move easily between the two homes.
  • She’s the eldest of several siblings, often feeling responsible and building leadership skills through caregiving.
• Artistic Inspiration
  • Early exposure to her father's music and his behind-the-scenes promo work sparked her interest in music and performance.
  • Started writing “little liners” and poetry at age 7; didn’t record in the studio until age 20.
  • Heavily influenced by Nicki Minaj, “the first female rapper I ever seen.” She also cites Lil Kim, Fabulous, Jadakiss, and a general “NY blend” of hip hop.

School and Childhood

• Educational Background
  • Attended Catholic school, which she describes as “uptight” but formative, and then SUNY Purchase (“an artsy college”).
  • Relished club activities and volleyball, which helped her socialize and develop a collaborative spirit.
  • Quote [12:38]: “I always like to be involved. I feel like that’s important.” – Ice Spice

The Come Up: Finding Her Voice & Stage Name

• Start in Music
  • Her producer, Riot, became a key collaborator after meeting at SUNY Purchase.
  • The name “Ice Spice” originated as a Finsta handle at age 14, co-created by her best friend Lucy.
  • “Munch” was released independently, initially with little expectation, but viral momentum and direct label interest followed.
  • Quote [21:15]: “I had no idea Munch was gonna do anything.” – Ice Spice
• Viral Moments and Major Collabs
  • Big moments include:
    • “Munch” viral moment (Drake co-sign)
    • “Boys a Liar Pt. 2” with PinkPantheress (“one of the fastest verses I did,” [22:31])
    • Multiple collaborations with Nicki Minaj (“It was insane, crazy, crazy.” [24:04])
    • Quality focus on every deal and project (“I wanted to get some more traction before signing just to feel like I did it first.” [20:31])

Navigating Fame & Self-Discovery

• Dealing with Public Perception
  • Reflects on public scrutiny and the cycles of love/hate in the industry – compares it to being “the new girl in school.”
  • Maintains mental health by disengaging from negativity:
    • Quote [50:42]: “The second my heart starts beating fast, I lock my phone. I’m not doing that.”
  • Credits her family and a close-knit circle of confidants as emotional anchors.
• Resilience and Rest
  • Open about needing time off for herself (“I was resting, taking a little nap… I need my beauty sleep.” [05:49])
  • Lesson: Values “take a break when you need it. Don’t burn out.” [52:31]

The Craft: Music, Collaboration, and Creativity

• Songwriting and Studio Process
  • Emphasizes beat selection and the collaborative process between artist and producer.
  • Likes music people can work out or dance to, and wants impact from the initial beat drop.
  • Enjoys when fans use her music as “hype” – “I like when people say they work out to my music.” [28:13]
• Musical Versatility
  • Embraces pop, hip hop, and genre blending, taking influence from the NYC soundscape.
  • Not afraid to “dabble in pop,” mentioning love for Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and her connection with Taylor Swift.
  • On collaborations: prefers never forcing a “dream collab,” focusing on what feels natural and sounds good ([33:36], [34:54]):
    • “I care more that it like sounds good.”

Fashion, Brand, and Image

• Personal Style
  • Childhood uniform restrictions led to later fashion exploration, especially after high school.
  • Known for signature ginger curls but now experimenting, “I really got attached to my ginger hair… Now I want to switch it up” [49:27]
  • Sees fashion as branding: “I wanted you to be able to tell right away, ‘It’s me.’ Because by the ginger.” [49:45]

Relationships & Sexuality

• Openness and Boundaries
  • Publicly identifies as bisexual but acknowledges her private approach to relationships “I try to keep it private… but then I’m at the grocery store and now it’s not private.” [36:09]
  • Shares reflections on dating NFL player Sauce Gardner (“He’s cute and he had a good job. Love that.” [37:55])
• Self-Care in Love
  • At this stage, prioritizes herself: “Right now I’m just really focused on, like, me. So I always put me first. That’s what it’s like dating me.” [39:19]

Major Moments & Milestones

• Accolades & Firsts
  • Grammy nominations (validated for industry impact and artistry)
  • “Barbie” soundtrack with Nicki Minaj
  • First performance at Coachella (“I was processing it during Coachella because I was like, whoa, there’s a lot of people here, girl.” [45:19])
  • International surprises, like Paris crowd energy: “I would redo that show if I could.” [42:43]
  • Handling adversity, like onstage booing in Vienna – responded with grace, not realizing it in real-time ([44:00])

Acting & Expanding Her Brand

• Film Debut
  • Cast in Spike Lee’s "Highest To Lowest" alongside Denzel Washington: “I just was gagging that whole time… From the moment I got the call.” [47:50]
  • Acting piqued her interest, but music remains the main focus.

Looking Ahead: The Next Era

• New Releases & Era
  • Recently dropped "Baddie Baddie" as a personal and artistic statement, signaling new music and collaborations (including with Latto).
  • Fresh creative direction (“It grew on me, though. At first I was like, I don’t know, but then now I like it.” [29:46])
  • Keeps fans at the center—though fans “will tell you the opposite. They will tell you I never speak to them.” [31:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fame Cycles:

  • “You get there, you’re like the new girl, and then it’s like everyone’s obsessed… then when you’re doing good, they start hating…” – Ice Spice [26:29]

• On Career Motivation:

  • “It is the best job I ever had, for sure. And it’s also so fun… like a dream.” – Ice Spice [27:02]

• On Industry Success:

  • “For mine specifically, I think it was a mixture of just, like, faith, trust and pixie dust. For real.” – Ice Spice [34:54]

• On Boundaries and Rest:

  • “I learned that it’s very important to take a break when you need it. Don’t burn out.” – Ice Spice [52:31]

• On Authenticity:

  • “Whatever happens for you naturally is what you should just go with.” – Ice Spice [32:38]

• On Handling Negativity:

  • “Why would I sit there and let my heart beat fast when I could just lock my phone?” – Ice Spice [50:42]

Important Timestamps

• Early Vibes & Collaborations: Ice Spice details her connection with Latto and how “Get” came about – [01:47]
• Family & Roots: Growing up with young parents, feeling more like “sisters” with her mom – [06:46 – 07:23]
• Music Start & Inspirations: Early freestyles and poetry, meeting Riot, and Nicki Minaj influence – [13:10 – 15:00]
• Going Viral & Deal-Making: The birth of “Munch” and managing record label deals – [20:31]
• Dealing with Fame: Learning from cycles of attention and critique – [25:57 – 26:58]
• Working with Nicki Minaj: How their collaborations came together, and why signing didn’t work out – [24:24 – 25:19]
• Pop Culture Crossover: Thoughts on collaborating with Taylor Swift and pop influences – [32:14 – 33:12]
• Touring & International Fame: Surprises on tour, especially in Paris – [42:16]
• Handling Public Moments (Vienna): How she handled being booed during a performance – [44:00]
• Brand & Style (Ginger Hair): Attachment and intentionality of her look – [49:12 – 50:01]
• Rest & Self-Care: Importance of taking breaks to avoid burnout – [52:31]
• Bodega Game: Lighthearted borough-themed game reveals her New York roots and food favorites – [53:17]

Tone & Atmosphere

Keke Palmer and Ice Spice bring playful, candid, and real energy to the conversation. The tone is a blend of big-sister banter, deep reflection, and celebration of growing up and coming into one’s own—mirroring both hosts' and guest’s authentic personalities. There’s a strong current of humor (occasional side jokes, Bronx pride, candid reactions to memes and celebrity culture), but also moments of genuine wisdom and insight for young artists, fans of hip hop, and those navigating the tension between public visibility and personal boundaries.

Recap

If you want to truly “meet” Ice Spice, this episode delivers: from the story behind her viral success to her wellness routines, family bonds, music philosophy, challenges in the public eye, and aspirations in and outside of hip hop. Listeners hear candid anecdotes, advice for young dreamers, and behind-the-scenes details of star moments and tough lessons alike.
It’s a portrait in ambition, resilience, and fun—that classic NYC blend—served up by two dynamic cultural icons.

Summary by PodcastGPT
All timestamps in MM:SS format. All insights derived from direct episode transcript and original host/guest language.