Spice (musician)

Spice made her debut when she was given the opportunity to perform at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. It was her first major appearance on a stage show, where she earned several encores from the crowd.[7] During this early stage of her career, Spice went on to gain a reputation for her performing abilities, despite not having any hit record.

While on tour in the UK, Spice earned the attention of Baby Cham, who later introduced her to renowned record producer Dave Kelly. From there, she released her first single for Kelly's Madhouse Records label entitled "Complain", then followed by her singles on the Bad Gal riddim, "Right There" with Toi and "Hype". At that time, she was featured on Jimmy Cliff's "I Want I Do I Get" from his album Black Magic (2004) and on Beenie Man's "Hot" from his album Concept of Life (2006). For her first hit single, Spice used the popular Eighty Five riddim to create "Fight Over Man", which became popular in the dancehall scene. In 2007, she went on a hiatus due to the birth of her son, but soon returned to performing.[8]

In late 2008, Spice collaborated with fellow dancehall artist Vybz Kartel on the single "Romping Shop", which samples "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo.[9] The song quickly achieved international recognition, receiving immense rotation on mainstream urban stations in the US. "Romping Shop" spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 76.[10] Shortly after its release, the song was banned by the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation due to its explicit lyrical content.[11] "Romping Shop" was ranked at number 9 on both Pitchfork's list of the 50 Best Dancehall Songs of All Time[12] and Billboard's 12 Best Dancehall & Reggaeton Choruses of the 21st Century.[13]

At the 2009 Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Awards, Spice received the award for "Female Deejay of the Year". At the Youth View Awards in Jamaica, she won three awards: "Best Female Performer", "Favourite Local Female Artiste" and "Young, Hot & Hype Female".[14] In July 2009, she signed a recording contract with VP Records.[15] She again received the "Female Deejay of the Year" award at the 2010 EME Awards.[16] That year she also released her single "Jim Screechie". In 2011, Spice was featured on Gappy Ranks's "Whatever We Like", released as a bonus track on his album Thanks & Praise. She later released a remix for her song "Fun" featuring rapper Missy Elliott[17][18][19] and collaborated with Mýa on the single "Take Him Out" from Mýa's sixth album K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple). Spice also performed the song with Mýa at Reggae Sumfest that year. A music video for "Take Him Out" was released in 2012.[20][21]

Spice performing at Reggae Sumfest 2013

In April 2013, Spice released her first project as a producer, the Gal Click riddim, featuring female dancehall artists such as Macka Diamond, Tiana, Stacious and many others.[22] She gained further recognition with her single "So Mi Like It", which was released later that year. The accompanying music video, released in January 2014, became the most viewed music video by a female Jamaican artist.[23] A remix of "So Mi Like It" featuring rapper Busta Rhymes was later released on his mixtape Catastrophic 2.[24]

Spice starred as Candy in her first theatrical feature film "Destiny", which was released on 2 April 2014.[25][26][27] She also recorded the song "No Push Over" for the film's soundtrack. Her debut EP So Mi Like It, named after the single of the same name, was released on 2 December 2014. It debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.[28] The EP features five songs, including "So Mi Like It" and "Conjugal Visit" featuring Vybz Kartel.[29][30] The music video for "Conjugal Visit" garnered over 2 million views on WorldStarHipHop within one day.[31] The same month, she was featured along with soca artist Bunji Garlin on rapper ASAP Ferg's song "Jolly" from his mixtape Ferg Forever.[32]

In May 2015, Spice released "Needle Eye", a single inspired by Shabba Ranks's 1987 single of the same name.[33] In May 2016, she was featured alongside Jeremih on Kid Ink's single "Nasty".[34] The following month, she released her single "Indicator", based on a dance move of the same name. For 2016's Red Bull Culture Clash, she joined forces with Mixpak and won the clash over Wiz Khalifa & Taylor Gang and others. At the MOBO Awards, Spice was the only female nominated for "Best Reggae Act" and the first female dancehall artist ever nominated in this category.

In April 2017, Spice released her single "Sheet". In June, she appeared on a remix of Jax Jones's "You Don't Know Me". In August 2017, she was featured alongside Sean Kingston and Lady Leshurr on Charlie Sloth's "I Can Do" from his album The Plug. After making a guest appearance in season six of VH1's reality TV show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, Spice joined the show as a cast member in season seven.[35]

In May 2018, Spice revealed that she is in a legal dispute with VP Records over the release of her long-delayed debut album.[36] Spice eventually released a mixtape titled Captured, which marks her first full-length release, on 2 November 2018 under her own independent record label Spice Official Entertainment.[37] The same day, she released the music video for her single "Under Fire", which is featured on the mixtape. Captured debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.[38] Its lead single "Black Hypocrisy", which addresses the issue of colorism,[39] also debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Digital Song Sales chart.[40]

In October 2019, Spice appeared with Sean Paul on the remix of Stylo G's "Dumpling", which peaked at number three on the Billboard Reggae Digital Song Sales chart.[41] The same month, she released her single "Tables Turn".[42] In November, she was featured on Krept and Konan's track "First Time" alongside Tory Lanez.[43] "First Time" became her first entry on the UK Singles Chart, where it debuted at number 63.[44]

In February 2020, Spice released her first solo song of 2020, a single titled "Rolling".[45] In August 2020, she released her single "Inches", which was featured on VP Records' Reggae Gold 2020 compilation album, along with an accompanied music video. In December, her single "Frenz" was released. She is currently working on her debut album,[46] which is set to be released in March 2021 under the executive production of Shaggy.[47]

Besides music, Spice has ventured into other businesses and industries. In 2009, she opened her clothing boutique Spicey Couture in Kingston.[48] The boutique later expanded by opening further branches across the island.

In 2010, Spice opened a beauty salon called Spicey Salon in Kingston. She also opened a sports bar and lounge called 8 Ball in her hometown of Portmore.[49]

In May 2019, Spice launched Faces & Laces, an online beauty store that initially offered a line of wigs.[50] Later that year, cosmetic products were added to the beauty line.[51]

In October 2020, Spice launched her clothing line called Graci Noir.[52]

In 2018, Spice founded the Grace Hamilton Women Empowerment Foundation (GHWEF) in Jamaica. The foundation was set up in order to "uplift young women and groom them towards success".[53] The foundation aims to enrich women through business and entrepreneurship.