Spice (musician)
Grace Latoya Hamilton (born 6 August 1982),[1] known professionally as Spice, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay and singer. Known as the Queen of Dancehall, Spice is recognised as one of the most prominent dancehall artists in the world.[2][3] She is known for her aggressive flow, musical versatility and outspoken lyrics. Spice first gained recognition after performing at the annual dancehall festival Sting in 2000. She released her first single "Complain" for record producer Dave Kelly's Madhouse Records in 2003. She continued to release the singles "Right There" and "Hype", even being featured on songs with Jimmy Cliff and Beenie Man in 2004 and 2006, respectively.
Spice
- Deejay
- singer
- songwriter
- record producer
2000–present
- Nicholas Lall (2006–2016; ex-fiancé)
- Justin Budd (2020–2022)
2
Vocals
- VP
- Spice Official
Spice had her first major success with the controversial single "Romping Shop" with Vybz Kartel in 2009. She subsequently signed with VP Records and released her debut EP, So Mi Like It (2014), which was preceded by a single of the same name. During the 2016 MOBO Awards, Spice became the first woman dancehall artist to ever be nominated for Best Reggae Act, as well as the only woman to be nominated for the category overall. She appeared as a regular cast member on VH1's reality television series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, which depicts her pursuit of reaching an international level in her music career and juggling her professional life with her personal life.
Spice's first full-length project, a mixtape titled Captured (2018), was released independently and debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. Her long-delayed debut studio album, 10 (2021), was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 64th Grammy Awards in 2022. Following her departure from VP, she independently released her second studio album, Emancipated (2022), under her own label, Spice Official Entertainment, from which she also released the deluxe version of her 2022 album in September 2023.
Early life[edit]
Grace Latoya Hamilton was born on August 6, 1982, in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Jamaica, and raised in Portmore.[4] Her father died when she was nine years old.[5] As a child, she used to attend her church regularly and lead the choir. She spent part of her childhood living with her grandparents in Finsbury Park, London, where she also attended school before returning to Jamaica.[6] While a student at St. Catherine High School, she frequently participated in 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.[7] Following that, she enrolled at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts to study music and drama.[8] She then began experimenting with dancehall music and soon after generated interest in her community and its environs with her deejaying abilities at local stage shows.
Career[edit]
2000–2007: Career beginnings[edit]
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.[9] During this early stage of her career, Spice went on to gain a reputation for her performing abilities, despite not having a 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 was released in 2005 and 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.[10]
2008–2012: Breakthrough and continued success[edit]
In late 2008, Spice collaborated with fellow dancehall artist Vybz Kartel on the single "Romping Shop", which samples "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo.[11] 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.[12] Shortly after its release, the song was banned by the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation due to its explicit lyrical content.[13] "Romping Shop" was ranked number 9 on both Pitchfork's list of the 50 Best Dancehall Songs of All Time[14] and Billboard's 12 Best Dancehall & Reggaeton Choruses of the 21st Century.[15]
In July 2009, Spice signed a recording contract with VP Records.[16] In 2010, she released the song "Jim Screechie". In 2011, she released a remix for her single "Fun" featuring American rapper Missy Elliott[17][18][19] and collaborated with Mýa on the single "Take Him Out" from Mýa's sixth studio album K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple). Spice went on to perform the song with Mýa during that year's annual Reggae Sumfest. A music video for "Take Him Out," directed by Ras Kassa, was released in 2012.[20][21]
Business ventures[edit]
In 2009, Spice launched her clothing boutique chain Spicey Couture in Jamaica.[85] The chain had branches in Kingston, May Pen and Montego Bay. As of 2020, the chain is no longer active.[86]
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.[87]
In May 2019, Spice launched Faces & Laces, an online beauty store that initially offered a line of wigs.[88] Later that year, cosmetic products were added to the beauty line.[89]
In October 2020, Spice launched her clothing line called Graci Noir.[90]
Philanthropy[edit]
In 2016, Spice launched a back-to-school sponsorship competition via Instagram. Fans were asked to remix one of Spice's songs in an educational way for a chance to earn an all-expense-paid scholarship. The scholarship included fully paid tuition, a fully covered book list, uniforms, and school supplies. The winner was selected based on the highest number of likes for the remix.[91]
In 2018, Spice founded the Grace Hamilton Women Empowerment Foundation (GHWEF), which aims to enrich women through education, business, and entrepreneurship.[92] In August 2019, Spice hosted a back-to-school giveaway in Kingston through the foundation, providing school supplies to more than 500 children.[93]
Personal life[edit]
In 2009, Spice became engaged to her boyfriend Nicholas Lall,[94] whom she had been dating since 2006.[95] The couple called off the engagement and ended their relationship in 2016.[96][97] They have two children, a son born in 2007, and a daughter born in 2011.[98]
In 2020, Spice began dating American cinematographer Justin Budd, whom she met in Atlanta.[99] The couple ended their relationship in 2022.[100]
Studio albums