Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Live Nation
Rain is always a thing in New York – the air in the train stations becomes heavy and humid, there are many accidents on the commuter train and dodging the flood of umbrellas becomes an Olympic event in itself. On August 7, however, the energy was sparkling with excitement. Ice Spices Year 2000 Tour has reached her hometown with a new album and almost the entire Bronx flocked to Hell’s Kitchen to celebrate her homecoming.
The show was originally supposed to take place on the rooftop at Pier 17, where the scenic skyline views over the East River would have given their debut an even more cinematic feel. When the weather thwarted that plan, the team quickly moved the party to Terminal 5, where fans surrounded the block in anticipation of the performance. New Yorkers from all walks of life flocked to the venue, expecting not only a great set from Ice Spice, but also looking forward to performances from their longtime friend Cleo, their production partner Riot, and rising Bronx icon Cash Cobain.
Internet conversations often convey a myopic view of New York, filtered through viral moments and exaggerated stereotypes. Bodega this, Timberland boots that, chopped cheese and influencer style moments — these are cheap gimmicks that dilute the power of what really makes the city tick. Nearly two weeks ago, rapper, producer and Drake attaché Lil Yachty went viral for dismissing New York’s style legacy. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with New York fashion,” Yachty insisted to Cash Cobain, appearing on his podcast platform A Safe Space. “Soho is a different kind of nigga… Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, those three boroughs don’t compare to Manhattan at all.”
Lost in Yachty’s train of thought is the realization that the New York style he fetishizes is born on the runways of the outer boroughs, where cultures interact and fuse their acquired sensibilities from the South, Latin America, the Caribbean and the African continent into something unique. The New York street influences were clearly on display as fans waded into Terminal 5’s massive arena: grills, slicked-back hair, iridescent fishnet, platform boots, peek-a-boo thongs and patent leather bustiers galore, all camera-ready and excited to celebrate the city that built them along with Fordham Road’s newest starlet. Here, you’ll see just as many snow-white Air Force 1s (affectionately referred to as “Uptowns”) as you will frayed, worn-out shoes that define contemporary LES style. And it wasn’t just New Yorkers in the building. As I walked through the building’s dizzying three-story structure, two young fans excitedly told their neighbors that they had traveled from Canada that morning to see their favorite artist perform live.
Fans at Ice Spice’s Year 2000 Tour. From left: Photo: Shamira IbrahimPhoto: Shamira Ibrahim
Fans at Ice Spice’s Year 2000 Tour. From above: Photo: Shamira IbrahimPhoto: Shamira Ibrahim
When Riot took the stage for his DJ set, the energy in the room was at an all-time high. The Nuyorican producer played a full range of New York classics, old and new – 41, Kyle Richh and Jenn Carter’s “Bent,” Kay Flock’s relentless local hit “Is Ya Ready,” Pop Smoke’s “Foreigner,” Bobby Shmurda’s infectious classic “Hot Nigga” – to enthusiastic responses. Then when he took to the mic and asked, “Who’s here from the Bronx?”, screams echoed through the room. It was a perfect warm-up before Cash Cobain launched into his patented sexy drill vibe.
Cash Cobain’s signature sound has dominated New York’s airspace this year. Parties, barbecues and Uber rides have been flooded with his seductive, sensual melodies and hi-hat drum patterns. The leisurely BPM gives Cash Cobain and frequent collaborator Chow Lee the space to experiment with playful samples and cheeky wordplay, greeting the crowd ecstatically. “My voice is gone for Ice Spice,” a guest next to me shouted hoarsely. She had been busy shouting along word for word to Cash Cobain’s songs: “Dunk Contest,” “Rump Punch,” the viral Don Tolliver and Charlie Wilson collaboration “Attitude,” and arguably his most successful single, “Fisherr.” The set was a nice introduction to New York’s new talent school, and it was as much a coming out party for him as it was for Ice Spice. His planned Slizzyfest at Irving Plaza was canceled at the last minute and this moment represents a long overdue climax to his achievements. “Yerrrrr,” he shouted to the crowd, drawing deafening applause.
The audience at Ice Spice’s Year 2000 Tour. From left: Photo: Shamira IbrahimPhoto: Shamira Ibrahim
The audience at Ice Spice’s Year 2000 Tour. From above: Photo: Shamira IbrahimPhoto: Shamira Ibrahim
I strolled through the concert in the quiet after Cash Cobain left the stage. Fans were getting restless in the 25 minutes between his performance and Ice Spice’s headlining performance, and a confusing mix of commercials played in the background, from the trailer to M. Night Shyamalan’s Catch to an ad for Lilly Lashes. “Where’s Ice Spice?” the crowd chanted at random intervals. Parents sat on benches next to their teenage children, impatiently awaiting the moment when their children’s favorite rapper would grace the venue; couples smooched in quiet corners, ready to enjoy the experience together. Anticipation reached its peak but did not give way to frustration; vapes and joints were plentiful, and fans expressed excitement rather than annoyance. A stage production crew came onstage to inflate a giant puppet in Ice Spice’s likeness, causing the crowd to go wild.
Finally, her patience was rewarded and Ice Spice took the stage, but not without a dizzying video intro that highlighted powerful snippets from the Y2K era: Collages overlaid with dizzying neon word art fonts, stacks of vintage Nokia phones, MS-DOS command screens and the clunky original Internet Explorer browser format led to a dizzying light show as Ice Spice glided onto the stage. To the cheers of the crowd, she opened with “Popa,” a standout song from Year 2000 that was directly inspired by Chief Keef’s heyday: infectious bass line, staggered verses and carefree demeanor. The work she’s put into improving her stage performance since she burst onto the scene a few years ago is clear. Her movements were crisper; her interaction with the crowd was more natural and confident. “The Bronx is in the building!” she shouted, taking in the admiration of her fans.
Scenes from Ice Spice’s Year 2000 Tour of Terminal 5.
Photo: Shamira Ibrahim
Since the album is only 23 minutes long, I was curious how Ice Spice could turn her discography into a headlining set that typically lasts an hour. Her solution was simple: She turned the set into a celebration of her hometown and gave the space to artists she admired and grew up listening to. After singing two songs and introducing her dancers, the 24-year-old left the stage, causing confusion in the crowd. But it quickly dissipated when Brooklyn drill legend Sleepy Hallow appeared and rapped the viral “Deep End Freestyle.” Brooklyn rappers Sheff G and Fivio Foreign soon joined in, and as “Big Drip” blared through the room, the second-story balcony began to shake. “This is for all my bitches that say ‘period’ after every sentence,” shouted an audience member next to me.
The palpable excitement built each time Ice Spice returned to the stage to perform a few more of her big hits and album songs. Lights flickered throughout the hall as her techno-futuristic New York aesthetic graced her backdrop, which shifted from glittering skyscrapers to winding tunnels. “Gimme The Light,” a single featuring a famous Sean Paul sample that was widely panned upon release, took on new life in this milieu. In front of 1,500 fans, the song transformed Ice Spice into the host, commentating on a classic early 2000s house party where audience members hooted and rubbed against each other as she pumped up the crowd. When PartyNextDoor, the only non-New Yorker in the group, snuck on stage in a Pelle Pelle jacket and started singing “Break from Toronto,” the atmosphere was almost wild and the fans screamed along to every word.
While PartyNextDoor was arguably the biggest guest in attendance, the surprise that drew the loudest crowd roar was clearly Bronx local hero A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. He marched out while singing local favorite “Look Back at It,” and fans seemed to go into a frenzy, fervently singing along with the man responsible for many of their late 2010s summer memories.
The show was less of a traditional tour headliner and more of a celebration of New York culture. It was a statement of what the city’s working class and outskirts continue to produce despite being vilified for their influence on the city and the world. The culture has never left the concrete jungle, and Ice Spice used her big moment to highlight that, earning a rapturous response from the city that supported her meteoric rise to almost instant fame. While I look forward to the moment Ice Spice dominates a concert by claiming the spotlight for herself, I can’t help but be delighted by the significance of the moment. It was a defiant performance by New Yorkers, with no remorse for New Yorkers and anyone else lucky enough to be there.
New York pride is many things—relentless, brash, and a little bit obnoxious—but it also stems from a passionate admiration for our ability to bring our own magic to any environment, no matter the circumstances. With 24 hours’ notice, Ice Spice successfully transformed their planned outdoor festival into a vibrant house party, preserving the energy long lost in New York culture’s most viral celebrations. It’s a chest-puffing moment that reminds you why we’re so proud to have grown up here and never hesitate to shout out where we’re from. “You’re from Harlem? Educated here?” asked a gorgeous young woman as I photographed her; she was delighted when I told her yes. “Yes, we’re still out here!” Ice Spice didn’t just return home. She reminded her fans and the world that the city she built deserves to be celebrated.
