In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Ice Spice, whose real name is Isis Gaston, expressed her frustration over the perception that her friendship with Taylor Swift is merely a publicity stunt. The rapper, known for her hit “Deli,” described it as “rude” that people would think her collaboration with the pop superstar on the “Karma” remix was motivated by clout.
“Why would she not want to be my friend?” Ice Spice questioned. “Taylor f—s with me. She’s so funny. I think our personalities mesh really well.”
The 24-year-old artist reminisced about the moment she learned that Swift wanted her to join the remix of “Karma,” a track from Swift’s album, Midnights. At the time, Ice Spice was in her first apartment in New Jersey, working with her producer, RiotUSA. When her manager called, she initially feared it was bad news since he usually communicated via text.
“He’s like, ‘Taylor Swift has a record for you to get on from her album.’ I’m playing it cool on the phone. I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s cool. Super cool.’ And then I hang up the phone and I’m hysterically crying,” she recalled. “I’m in my walk-in closet, and I’m like, ‘Bro, this is not real life.’ Riot definitely filmed it. That’ll probably be in a documentary one day.”
Swift also shared her admiration for Ice Spice in the same interview. She praised the rapper for her keen interest in understanding the music industry beyond just creating music. “I love when I meet a new artist who takes a keen interest in not just the music, but the music industry and how it works,” Swift said. “Seeing Ice lean into the strategic, financial, and business aspects of her career is really exciting for me.”
Swift emphasized the importance of artists taking control of their careers, stating, “The more artists learn about the inner workings of the music industry, the more power they can have in their creative world.” She noted that Ice Spice’s questions and observations indicated her desire to be proactive in her career rather than just a passive participant.
The friendship between Ice Spice and Swift has come under scrutiny, especially after Swift was linked to Matty Healy, the frontman of The 1975. Comments made by Healy during a podcast resurfaced, leading to backlash. Although Healy did not make the derogatory comments himself, he laughed along as the host mocked Ice Spice. He later apologized to her during a concert in New Zealand but downplayed the controversy in an interview with The New Yorker.
Ice Spice admitted she was unaware of the situation at the time, saying, “I didn’t know about it until like a month after or something like that. He apologized multiple times, but I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was to other people. I feel like people just wanted something to be mad about, I guess. I wasn’t angry or sad or anything. I was just kind of confused. I never really cared about that.”
In her conversation with Rolling Stone, Ice Spice reiterated her belief that the friendship with Swift is genuine. She dismissed the notion that it was a calculated move for publicity, emphasizing the authenticity of their bond.
As Ice Spice prepares for the release of her debut album, Y2K!, she hinted at potential collaborations but remained coy about whether Swift would be involved. “I think she did me the favor,” Ice said regarding Swift’s contribution to the “Karma” remix. “But I don’t know. Let’s see, let’s see, let’s see.”
The friendship between Ice Spice and Taylor Swift continues to evolve, with both artists expressing mutual respect and admiration for each other’s work. As they navigate the complexities of the music industry, their bond appears to be rooted in genuine connection rather than superficial motives.
Source: Rolling Stone, Entertainment Tonight
