The Taylor Swift, Ice Spice love fest continues. In a statement to Variety for her “Karma” collaborator’s recent cover story, the pop star opened up about the long list of reasons why she thinks the young rapper is one of the most impressive artists in the game.
“I relate to Ice in many ways, but I think her dedication and focus is what blew me away from the very start,” Swift told the publication via email. “She’s extremely professional without being cold. Playful and fun without ever taking her eye off the prize. She knows what is and isn’t ‘her’ and sets those boundaries with grace.”
“She studies the industry and other artists’ careers but is very clear about charting her own definitive, original path,” added the “Anti-Hero” singer. “It’s her ability to carefully find that balance that impresses the hell out of me.”
Swift also recalled how meticulous the “Munch” rapper was while the pair was working on their “Karma” remix, which dropped in May as part of her Midnights (The Til Dawn Edition). “Working with someone new in the studio, you immediately get a window into their creative process,” she wrote. “[Ice] showed up with her verse not only written but had recorded and sent me a vocal pass beforehand just to make sure we were on the same page. Recording, she was quick and laser focused, but intuitive and decisive and knew when she had it nailed.”
The 12-time Grammy winner has proudly championed Ice since for months, inviting her to perform at several Eras Tour shows and at one point calling her “THE ONE to watch.” The two women even sat next to each other at this year’s VMAs, something Ice points to as a big sister moment with Swift.
“That’s my sis,” the Bronx native told Variety. “We was talking about a bunch of things. She’s so funny. We was sipping on a little something something. Just chatting, vibing.”
Adding that she wants to model Swift’s tendency to keep her list of collaborators, including Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, short, Ice also commended the “Bejeweled” artist’s 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana: “What I took away from Taylor’s documentary is you really do need to work hard, and not everything is going to be as easy as it seems.”
