If you’ve been anywhere on the internet over the past month, you’ll have seen Ice Spice - even if you don’t know who Ice Spice is. Those ubiquitous ginger curls have been more present on Twitter than Elon Musk, her face seems automatically engineered to work with the TikTok algorithm, and her newest collaboration with PinkPantheress spawned a viral music video and earned the number three spot on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Aside from social media, she’s also been dominating the media media, inspiring articles with headlines like “Why Rapper Ice Spice Is Suddenly Everywhere” (TIME Magazine) and “Ice Spice, Hip Hop’s New Princess, Is Just Warming Up” (The New York Times).

And if the TIME Magazine and New York Times pieces aren’t enough proof that Ice Spice is blowing up, this will sure confirm it: as of yesterday, rumours started flying that the rapper is dating none other than Pete Davidson. It’s not so much about the rumours being true - Davidson is far more likely to be dating Bodies Bodies Bodies co-star Chase Sui Wonders given that the pair were papped kissing just last week - it’s more that securing the Pete Davidson dating rumour means you’ve really made it. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it’s 2023 and that’s just how things are.

So what do you need to know about Ice Spice other than her non-existent tryst with Davidson? A hell of a lot - here’s a speedy rundown.

23-year-old Isis Gaston is a Bronx born rapper living in New Jersey who attended Purchase College (in full: State University of New York at Purchase), a liberal arts college in New York. Her fellow famous alumni include Mistki, Regina Spektor and the guy who designed the Demigorgon in Stranger Things (it’s a strange school).

She moved to New Jersey after she found herself getting recognised too often in New York, telling The Cut, “I get recognized less here, especially when I'm hiding.” We can only assume this means wearing some kind of hat because that hair is everywhere right now.

This all came after Ice Spice blew up in 2022, following the release of her singles Munch (Feelin U) and Bikini Bottom. She was already pretty big on TikTok before this too thanks to her regular posting, and participation in challenges like the Erica Banks Buss It challenge (which has since resurfaced). As for the name Ice Spice? She got the name it from her first name and love of spicy food, and used it as her finsta username before converting it into her rap persona.

Her famous fans include Drake (who recently refollowed her on Instagram, cue eyes emoji), SZA, Kehlani and Beyonce, who just selected Ice Spice as the face of her latest Ivy Park collection, as well as Lil Nas X, who dressed up in her outfit from the Munch video last Halloween.

Ice Spice reached a new peak of fame - which why you’ve seen her everywhere over the past month - thanks to her mega successful collaboration with English singer songwriter PinkPantheress, entitled Boy’s a liar part 2.

She’s even admitted to noticing her hairstyle take a hold, telling The New York Times: “The hair is definitely iconic. When I was in high school, I was straightening my hair, trying to be something that I’m not. Now it’s flattering seeing a wave of Afros. I enjoy that. I feel like that’s great for Black women especially, making Afros more like just a normal staple look, you know?”

She’s also happy to concede her faults. After a poorly recieved Rolling Loud performance in September which drove criticism on Twitter (including a tweet saying “I’m not a hater I want everyone to win I really do… Soooooo can someone please get Ice Spice some stage presence coaching & breath control training please,” which Ice Spice herself reacted to) she’s said she was “just happy they were talking about me, really.”

But Ice Spice has come a long way since last September, and it’s only looking up from here.