Reading Time: 2 min read

3.5 out of 5 stars

Ice Spice & Central Cee, Did It First [📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Dolo Entertainment, Inc. / UMG Recordings, Inc. / 10K Projects, LLC; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]Grammy-nominated rapper Ice Spice taps fellow drill rapper, Central Cee, for the brief but entertaining “Did It First.”

“If he cheatin’, I’m doin’ him worse.” Oh, snap! Grammy-nominated rapper Ice Spice (Isis Gaston) doesn’t advocate cheating on “Did It First”. This sub-two-minute single is the sixth track on her highly anticipated debut LP, Y2K!.  “Did It First” was produced by Spice’s ‘partner in crime,’ RIOTUSA alongside Lily Kaplan and Nico Baran.  “Did It First” samples vocals and lyrics from “Bumpy Johnson” by British rapper, Central Cee (Oakley Caesar-Su).  Speaking of Central Cee, he is the featured guest on the bite-sized single.

Ice Spice, Y2K! [📷: Dolo Entertainment, Inc. / UMG Recordings, Inc. / 10K Projects]“Did It First” plays true to the Ice Spice script.  It’s brief and features a quick-paced flow. The cadence is familiar – tried-and-true. “I’m a baddie, he fuck with my tats (like) / Big boobs and it come with a jatt,” she asserts in the first verse, continuing, “Say he don’t want me, I know he a cap (cap) / Oh, you cheatin’? Then I’m cheatin’ back.” Word. Central Cee matches Spice’s energy with his quick-paced flow.  His accent adds to his charm. “I might take the risk DMin’ / But I don’t know ‘cause these chicks be telllin’,” he spits in the second verse, concluding, “At the minute, I’m hittin’ some risky women / I clearly ain’t learn my lesson.” For some context, Cench’s ex, Madeline Argy, has accused him of cheating, and guess with who?  Ice Spice, of course! Oh, snap! Messy!  Focusing merely on “Did It First” as a song, it’s enjoyable. Is it innovative? Nah, but Ice Spice and Central Cee are compelling rappers.

3.5 out of 5 stars


Ice Spice // Y2K! // Dolo Entertainment, Inc. / UMG Recordings, Inc. / 10K Projects, LLC // 7.26.24

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Dolo Entertainment, Inc. / UMG Recordings, Inc. / 10K Projects, LLC; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]


the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.