Spice (musician)

Early life

Grace Latoya Hamilton was born on August 6, 1982 in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Jamaica and raised in Portmore. As a child, she used to attend her church regularly and lead the choir. While a student in St. Catherine High School, she frequently participated the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) festival in the music category and earned several medals throughout the years. Although she wanted to become a chartered accountant, she decided to pursue a music career. Following that, she enrolled at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts to study music and drama. She then began experimenting with dancehall music and soon after generated interest in her community with her deejaying ability at local stage shows.

2000–07: Career beginnings

Spice cites Professor Nuts as the person who inspired her to get started in the music business. After graduating from high school, she was discovered by promoter Junior "Heavy-D" Fraser, who gave her the opportunity to perform at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. It was her first major appearance on a stage show and she earned several encores from the crowd. At the time, she was managed by Mr. Lexx's former manager Earlton Clarke for two years.

In 2002, Spice toured England with Ward 21 and Baby Cham. Impressed by her performance, Cham introduced Spice to producer Dave Kelly after returning to Jamaica. From there, she released her first single "Complain (Mi Gone)" under Kelly's record label Madhouse Records. She was later featured on Jimmy Cliff's song "I Want I Do I Get" from his album Black Magic (2004). She was also featured on Beenie Man's "Hot" from his album Concept of Life (2006).

For her first major hit single, she versioned the popular Eighty Five riddim to create "Fight Over Man", which became popular in the dancehall.

2008–13: Growing popularity

In 2008, Spice toured across Europe as part of the Madhouse Tour, alongside her former label mates Baby Cham and Pinchers. She later toured Guyana for a show with fellow dancehall artist Vybz Kartel. After returning to Jamaica, the two decided to do several collaborations together, including "Romping Shop" which samples "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo. The song quickly achieved international recognition, debuting on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was also played on mainstream urban stations, including HOT 97, Power 105.1 and more. In early 2009, the song was banned by the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation due to its explicit lyrical content. Pitchfork ranked "Romping Shop" at number 9 on its list of the "50 Best Dancehall Songs of All Time".

In 2009, Spice received the Excellence in Music and Entertainment (EME) Award for "Female Deejay of the Year". At the Youth View Awards, she won three awards: “Best Female Performer”, “Favourite Local Female Artiste” and "Young, Hot & Hype Female”. The same year, she signed to VP Records for a multi-album deal.

Spice again received the "Female Deejay of the Year" award at the 2010 EME Awards. Her single "Slim vs. Fluffy" featuring dancehall artist Pamputtae peaked at number 1 on the Canadian Dancehall/Reggae Singles charts. 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 single "Fun" featuring rapper Missy Elliott and collaborated with Mýa on "Take Him Out" from Mýa's sixth album K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple). Spice also performed alongside Mýa at Reggae Sumfest that year.

In late 2013, Spice released her single "So Mi Like It", which garnered worldwide popularity. She later released a remix of the song featuring rapper Busta Rhymes. The song was included in the Ragga Ragga Ragga 2014 compilation album, alongside her single "Go Go" and her collaboration "All The Way" with Elephant Man.

2014–present: So Mi Like It

Spice's debut extended play entitled So Mi Like It was released through VP Records in December 2014, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. The EP features five songs, including her singles "So Mi Like It" and "Conjugal Visit" featuring Vybz Kartel. The music video for "Conjugal Visit" garnered over 2 million views on WorldStarHipHop within one day. She was also featured along with soca artist Bunji Garlin on rapper ASAP Ferg's song "Jolly" from his mixtape Ferg Forever.

Spice starred as Candy in her first theatrical feature film "Destiny", which was released in 2014. She also recorded the song "No Push Over" for the film's soundtrack.

Spice received the award for "Best Female Deejay" at the 34th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA). At the 2015 Youth View Awards, Spice was nominated for eight awards: "Favourite Dancehall Artiste", "Favourite Local Music Video" for "So Mi Like It", "Favourite Female Local Artiste", "Hottest Summer Song" for "So Mi Like It", "Favourite Musical Collaboration" for "Only Thing Mi Want" featuring Alkaline and "Conjugal Visit" featuring Vybz Kartel, "Female Fashion Icon" and "Young, Hot & Hype Female". She eventually won one award for "Favorite Female Local Artiste". At the Star Awards, she won three awards: "Female Deejay of the Year", "Performer of the Year" and "Music Video of the Year" for "So Mi Like It".

In early 2015, Spice released her first reggae project, a song titled "Baby I Love You". She then released her single "Needle Eye", which serves as a tribute to Shabba Ranks's 1987 single "Needle Eye Pum Pum". She was also featured alongside Jeremih on Kid Ink's single, "Nasty", which was released in May 2016.

For 2016's Red Bull Culture Clash, Spice 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. She also received the award for "Best Female Dancehall Artist" at the 35th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA).

In March 2017, Spice released her single "Fifty Shadez", inspired by the erotic romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey.

In an interview, Spice revealed that Spice It Up, her debut album, is scheduled to be released in August 2017.

Musical style

Spice describes her music as "authentic dancehall". Dazed described her as the "contemporary queen of dancehall". She is known for delivering sexually explicit lyrics in her music, known as "slackness". Following the banning of "Romping Shop" alongside Vybz Kartel in Jamaica due to the song's provocative lyrics, Spice insisted that "these [explicit] songs are not the things that are getting the kids in Jamaica corrupted. It's the poverty that we are facing," she continues. "Everybody is trying to take the spotlight away from the poverty that is happening in Jamaica".

Over the years, Spice conducted risqué stage performances along with her dancers, which included audience participation on stage. In her early career, it was her performing ability that allowed her to tour overseas. Recalling a tour in the UK in 2002 alongside Baby Cham, she stated, "I was doing that tour without a hit song, I was getting booked for shows because of my craft on stage."

Business

In 2009, Spice opened her clothing boutique "Spicey Couture" in Kingston. She later opened a branch in May Pen, Clarendon and in other locations in Jamaica. The brand offers shipping to the US, UK and Canada through its website. She later opened a beauty salon called “Spicey Salon” in Kingston.

In June 2010, she opened a sports bar and lounge called “8 Ball”, located in her hometown Portmore.

In 2015, Spice launched a clothing line as part of the promotion of her single "Needle Eye". The line features T-shirts and underwear printed with the title of the single.