Ice Spice Channels Her Love of Animation in Starry Super Bowl Ad: 'I Will Watch Cartoons Forever' (Exclusive)
The Bronx native, who takes center stage in Starry's Super Bowl commercial, spoke with PEOPLE about the inspiration behind the ad
Ice Spice's career has been intertwined with animation since her 2022 breakthrough — from the cartoon version of herself she wears as a pendant to her admiration of all things SpongeBob Squarepants. Her latest collaboration, however, sees animation literally enter her world.
Teaming up with Starry for the PepsiCo brand's 2024 Super Bowl commercial, the 24-year-old Grammy-nominated artist connected with animated characters in a blended world, à la Bob Hoskins in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
"I love animation. I'm not going to lie," Ice Spice, (whose real name is Isis Naija Gaston), tells PEOPLE. "I'm that type of person who will watch cartoons forever no matter how old I am."
The clip, which Ice Spice teased as her "second time acting ever," features her at a club getting kisses from Lem and Lime, two smooth-talking animated fruits from the Starry universe. She then runs into an "ex-boyfriend," un-affectionately referred to as simply "lemon lime soda." After Ice Spice explains that she wanted something "more refreshing and more crisp," her ex declares his love for her as she bats an eye and watches him cry.
"Starry is a vibe. So I'm excited to be a part of this. And it's my first Super Bowl commercial," she says of the silly spot. "I'm just blessed and grateful for this whole experience and life in general. It's really exciting."
When asked what roles she would like to be casted in next, Ice Spice says she's not picky.
"This is my second time acting ever, so wherever the wind takes me for real," she adds.
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While she hasn't revealed any acting plans in the near future, Ice Spice is more focused on delivering her new music. Earlier this week, she announced plans to release her debut album, Y2K, at some point in 2024. The album, which is titled as a nod to her birthday of Jan. 1, 2000, will feature a "crazy collaboration" that she previously teased to TODAY, and more than likely some new production from her go-to producer RIOT.
As Ice Spice tells PEOPLE, she wouldn't be opposed to hearing her friend Taylor Swift — who she collaborated with in 2023 for their "Karma" remix — on a RIOT beat, too. "I would love to hear that," she says. "That would be so fun."
Ice Spice adds that she's "really excited" for fans to hear the new material, and has "been having a really fun time recording it and filming videos."
Remaining somewhat tight-lipped about her upcoming album, one influence that has popped up in Ice Spice's new music — specifically her latest single, "Think U The S--- (Fart)" — has been internet memes.
Her latest track, inspired by a years-old meme of Super Mario, was actually a product of her friend, fellow musician Clip, sending the image directly to her. "I think Clip sent it to me a couple of months ago and ever since I seen it, I just thought that s--- was so funny," Ice Spice says. "That's where it came from."
"Memes are a big thing for me in general, just as a person," she adds. "I love memes. I like laughing a lot. So TikTok's my favorite app right now."
Related: Ice Spice Announces Her Debut Album and the Special Connection She Has to Its Title
While the song itself features the lyrics "Think you the s---, b----? You not even the fart," Ice Spice explains that being "the s---" isn't as difficult as it may seem.
"Key characteristics for being the s--- is having confidence," she says. "That's the most important one."
And to Ice Spice, being "the s---" also must mean being a SpongeBob fan, as she reveals her favorite episode to PEOPLE: 2001's "The Secret Box."
"One of my favorite, favorite ones is when SpongeBob is not letting Patrick see what's inside his box," she says of the series that inspired her hit, "Bikini Bottom."
Starry's Super Bowl commercial is set to air during the big game on Feb 11. The Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers will face off in Super Bowl LVIII, airing on CBS at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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