If you asked anyone to name a new rapper taking over the music industry, you're bound to hear Ice Spice's name in the conversation.
But what happens when the validity of your success is questioned because of your skin color? Ice Spice was the topic of internet discourse as soon as she blew up with her viral hit "Munch (Feelin' U)," and many wondered if she got to the level of success she's at now based on talent or because she's pretty and light-skinned.
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Well, during a recent interview with Teen Vogue, Ice Spice — whose real name is Isis Naija Gaston — responded to the criticism and explained why she doesn't take it personally.
“I have seen those opinions," Ice Spice told Teen Vogue. "I feel like that’s not something personal to me."
"I feel like that’s been the conversation for generations and forever, since the beginning of time."
The Bronx native admitted that she doesn't really "feed into negativity" because when people do try to use that argument against her, it's not really coming from a constructive or positive place. And, ultimately, they end up putting people down.
Fame is not something she feels someone could have ever fully prepared her for. Ice Spice revealed she's just learning as she goes. And despite all the conversations surrounding her career, she's proud that she was able to stay grounded and true to who she truly is.
"A lot of people be trying to compare me to people that’s way older than me or people that been in this sh*t way longer than me," she added. "I feel like I know who I am."
"I’m really that bitch, and I tell myself that all the time because I learned that I have to know who I am, because everybody else gon’ try to tell me who I am. So I got to know first.”
It's beautiful to see that she's tuning out the negativity and focusing on herself!
To learn more about Ice Spice, be sure to read her full interview with Teen Vogue.