Ice Spice - Like..? Review
Overall, Like..? is a promising debut from an artist who has shown her capability in making viral hits, with a lot of potential for future endeavors.
Like..? is the debut EP by Ice Spice, a rising artist who has already made a splash in the music industry with her incredibly viral 2022 hit single “Much (Feelin’ U)”. Ice Spice’s debut EP is a collection of six tracks, including “Munch”, that aimed to capitalize off her virality. With obvious influence from fellow New York drill artists like the late Pop Smoke, Like..? keeps it short and sweet, with varied and well-made instrumentals that compliment Ice Spice’s signature smoky delivery.
The aforementioned “Munch” infected the airwaves and internet and even brought the word into regular use during conversations, so much so that it had music outlets writing entire articles explaining the word and related New York drill slang. Ice Spice’s sassy, yet calm and collected delivery brings this single to life and coupled with themes of feeling like a “baddie” makes it a party song with attitude.
The instrumentals on Like..? feature a lot of plucked guitars, similar in sound to lap steel guitars, like on the second song on the EP, “Princess Diana”. This track shows off its instrumental versatility, as it effortlessly switches between trap and drill while Ice Spice’s flow seamlessly bridges the two hip-hop subgenres.
Her second single, “Bikini Bottom” features similar guitars, this time at a quick strumming rate. This sound and style are reminiscent of the instrumentals played in the cartoon “Spongebob Squarepants”, and with Bikini Bottom being the place where most of the cartoon takes place, the song is very self-aware. This carefree attitude is plastered throughout the EP, as it seems like Ice Spice isn’t here to be the most lyrically gifted rapper or provide insightful social commentary, but rather to provide viral party hits and have fun doing so. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, which works to her benefit as it provides an enjoyable and lighthearted listening experience.
The only feature on the EP comes from fellow Bronx rapper Lil Tjay on the standout “Gangsta Boo”. The sample from Diddy’s “I Need a Girl” played between blown-out bass notes creates the perfect opportunity for the pair to showcase their flows. Lil Tjay brings some much-needed versatility to the EP, and the chemistry between the two artists is apparent, likely aided by their similar hometowns.
While Like..? is a solid debut, it isn’t without its flaws. The EP could benefit from more variety in terms of style, tempo, and themes, as some of the tracks tend to blend sonically and thematically. Additionally, while Ice Spice's vocals are undoubtedly unique and sassy, there are many times when her voice feels too repetitive and monotone, which sucks a lot of emotion out of the tracks. However, the EP’s short length helps keep the lack of variation from getting too repetitive.
Overall, Like..? is a promising debut from an artist who has shown her capability in making viral hits, with a lot of potential for future endeavors. While the EP may be pretty one-dimensional, it is certainly fun-filled and catchy, and it will be exciting to see where Ice Spice goes from here.