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After months of teasing Y2K!, Ice Spice has finally dropped her highly anticipated debut studio album today. The project was distributed to all major DSPs (Digital Streaming Platforms) via Dolo Entertainment, under an exclusive license to UMG Recordings and 10K Projects LLC.
The LP was preceded by several lead singles dropped over the past couple of months that include Phat Butt, Think U The Sh*T (Fart), Gimmie A Light, and her viral collaboration with Central Cee titled Did It First.
Trending
The collaboration was released only a few weeks ago and broke through Billboard's Hot 100 debuting at No.62 on the magazine's music charts. The single was released alongside a music video that has garnered over 12 million views since it was uploaded to YouTube two weeks ago.
The viral nature of this record appeared to stem from "dating rumors" that were spreading online after Cee and Spice were spotted shopping together a few days before Did It First released.
A couple of hours after the album dropped several fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to suggest that Ice potentially dissed Cardi B by alluding to her alleged plastic surgery, on the record titled BB Belt where the rapper states:
"And I'm thick, but I don't got a waist (Damn) / Think she pretty, but changin' her face (Damn) / Fallin' behind like, b---h, pick up your pace / It was funny 'til I took her place"
A Track-by-Track review of Ice Spice's debut studio album 'Y2K!'
Ice Spice's debut studio album has a complete runtime of 23 minutes and features 10 full-length tracks as part of its official tracklist, four of which were released as lead singles during the LP's rollout.
The project also features guest appearances from Travis Scott and Gunna, who appear on the second and fourth tracks and includes production credits to longtime collaborator and producer Riot. Notable themes this project revolves around have been listed below:
- Success
- Fame
- Wealth
- Status
- Relationships
- Unfaithfulness
- Intimacy
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader's discretion is advised.
Phat Butt
(Production Credits: RIOTUSA)
The album opens with her third lead single titled Phat Butt, which was released on June 21, 2024. The track opens with a fast-paced drum sequence and a trap-drill production that has become a staple sound for an Ice Spice record.
The lyricism on Phat Butt, like most of the songs on this LP, isn't deeply intellectual or profound in any manner but is delivered with a bouncy cadence that brings the song's production to life. The hook has a bunch of fun one-liners that credit the artist's work ethic and career when she raps:
"Got these b---hеs copyin' my pose / Got these b---hеs bitin' on my flows / Like ballerinas, keep 'em on they toes / And I really write, like f--k a ghost"
Oh Shhh... (Feat. Travis Scott)
(Production Credits: RIOTUSA x GOLDIN)
Listeners are then introduced to the first collaboration between Spice and Houston-based rapper Travis Scott. The duo first appeared together during an interview on LeBron James' YouTube show "The Shop," back in April, where both artists cited their intention to work together.
On Oh Shhh... Riot teams up with GOLDIN to deliver a heavy bass-fueled trap record with both rappers coming through with assertive bars and exceptionally engineered vocal performances. Notable bars from Travis Scott's verse include lines like:
"T, I'm from TX (Yeah) / Shorty, she come from the BX / Ice and the flame and the Nia (It's lit) / You might get a car and it's keyless / Topless, no V6 (Skrrt, skrrt) / I'm out in New York, I'm in Sei Less (Skrrt, skrrt)"
Popa
(Production Credits: UpMadeIt, Synthetic, and RIOTUSA)
Ice then delivers a solo record titled Popa, which is easily one of the most entertaining tracks on this LP given the anthemic drill production filled with the rapper's aggressive breathy vocal cadence.
Spice opens the track with her hook before delivering a verse filled with interesting vocal inflections and simple bars where she flexes her status as the No.1 female rapper in the game.
"That b---h talkin' s--t, she get poked in (Grrah) / Tell her drop a pin, we ain't bowlin' (Grrah) / Make them b---hes sick, I got motion (Like) / See hеr, I'm like, Grrah, that's the slogan (Like) / Bad b---h, shе my twin like the Olsens (Like)" - Ice raps on 'Popa'.
B*tch I'm Packin' (Feat. Gunna)
(Production Credits: DJH, Ojivolta, and RIOTUSA)
Ice and Gunna team up on their first career collaboration on the track B*tch I'm Packin', which features thick bass drops, slurred vocal performances, heavy drill instrumentals, and atmospheric ad-libs.
Gunna opens with a melodic verse that blends exceptional synths and harmonies into the track, with the Atlanta rapper delivering bars like:
"Yeah, high astrology, every day, I smoke broccoli (Ha) / Racks keep callin' me (Racks), all these boys my protégés (My protégés) / Hot moves in Prada jeans (Yeah), who got stuff I'm tryna see? (Stuff) / You my b---h, don't lie to me, get an AP for my apology (For my apology) / SVJ the Aventador (Slide), my Lambo slide like centipede (Slide)"
Plenty Sun
(Production Credits: RIOTUSA, Synthetic, and UpMadeIt)
Thick repetitive synths and a booming bass introduce listeners to Plenty Sun, where Ice seemingly recounts an intimate relationship with an unknown individual before flexing her attractiveness and wealth on those who criticize her career.
The track has an interesting vocal production and features Spice experimenting with her cadences, as seen on lines like:
"And you munchin' first, n---a, I don't make the rules (Huh, make the rules) / And you ask a lot of s--t, n---a, this ain't class (Huh, this ain't class) / You just gotta know I'm bad with a lot of a-- (Lot of a--) / You just gotta know I'm P with a lot of plaques (Lot of plaques) / And I always come in first, yeah, I'm never last (Never last)"
Did It First (Feat. Central Cee)
(Production Credits: RIOTUSA, Lily Kaplan, and Nico Baran)
Ice Spice and Central Cee's hit collaboration on Did It First appears as the sixth track on Y2K!, reintroducing listeners to their drill record fueled by themes of toxic relationships, infidelity, lies, and intimacy.
The track interestingly suggests both artists live a fast-paced lifestyle, where Ice highlights being unfaithful as a response to her partner "cheating" on her. Cee opens his verse by recounting being caught by his girlfriend, as seen on lines like:
"I'm selective with who I get with / Gyal on my phone tryna see who I slept with / She investigating, detective / Lucky for me, I deleted the message / All along, it was me and a bad b---h / But I told her it was me and my bredrin"
BB Belt
(Production Credits: RIOTUSA)
Listeners are then introduced to the drill-heavy BB Belt, from which bars are currently going viral for fans believing Ice is dissing Cardi B. Many are speculating that Spice was alluding to the Bodak Yellow rapper's alleged plastic and facial reconstruction surgery on her second verse.
Although the line suggested can be directed as a diss, the preceding and follow-up bars do less to confirm that Ice is indeed dissing Cardi B. The track is filled with head-scratching bars and an unenthusiastic delivery that carries throughout the record.
"Truey's on and I BB my belt (Like) / I'm his poopie, but I never smell (Grrah)" - Ice Spice opens on BB Belt's hook.
Think U The Sh*t (Fart)
(Production Credits: RIOTUSA, Synthetic, and Venny)
Listeners are then introduced to Y2K!'s lead single Think U The Sh*t (Fart), which was released back in January. This song is easily one of her most viral singles from the album's rollout, with the track garnering over 88 million streams on Spotify since its release.
Ice dropped Think U The Sh*t (Fart) alongside an official music video which has since gained close to 30 million views on YouTube. The record mostly revolves around Spice asserting her status over her female competitors, delivering viral bars like:
"Think you the s--t, b---h? You not even the fart (Grrah) / I be goin' hard (Grrah) / I'm breakin' they hearts, like / B---hes be quick, but I'm quicker (Like) / B---hes be thick, but I'm thicker (Like) / She could be rich, but I'm richer (Damn)"
Gimmie A Light
(Production Credits: RIOTUSA)
Ice then reintroduces listeners to the album's second lead single, Gimmie A Light, which dropped back in May. The track opens with a pitched-up sample of Jamaican dancehall singer-songwriter Sean Paul's 2002 record Gimme The Light,before delivering an electric trap heavy production.
The track features a memorable hook with Ice flexing her status, wealth, fame, and lifestyle, over bars fueled by an aggressive cadence, as seen on lines like:
"Hotboxin' the V like, Gimme a light (Where it's at?) / Fat a--, so the pants fit tight (Yeah) / Take her man, I'm gettin' him right (Yeah) / Big knock like why would I fight? (x2)"
TTYL
(Production Credits: RIOTUSA)
Ice Spice closes out her debut studio album with a track titled TTYL, an abbreviation for "Talk To You Later". Riot comes through with an extremely violent production that fits perfectly into the rapper's assertive delivery and vocal inflections.
This track is a perfect closer for the album as Ice revisits themes of success and fame while talking down to those who constantly criticize her life and status in rap. Some of the best bars from this record include lines like:
"Shakin' that s--t so he just wanna grab it (Grrah) / I tell his b---h to go play in some traffic (Word) / Five stars when I'm lunchin' (Lunchin') / Bad b---h, so he munchin' (Munchin') / Shoot a movie at Dunkin' / I'm a brand, it's nothin' (Nothin')"
Over the course of 10 records, although fans don't see Ice Spice deviating too far from materialistic bars, to introduce fresh themes into her records, she delivers a bouncy debut one would expect the artist to drop at the height of her success.
Ice Spice and Riot bring forward assertive, aggressive, and at times violent compositions that highlight her rise to success. It's unclear whether Ice was dissing Cardi on this album, however, that being said, she did deliver a project filled with lines that flex an accomplished career.
