As Ice Spice has grown into one of many greatest breakout stars of 2023, the rise has been simultaneous for her go-to co-writer and producer, RIOTUSA. After assembly as college students at SUNY Buy, the 2 Bronx natives quickly turned common collaborators, resulting in RIOT producing each monitor on Ice’s debut EP Like..?, together with breakout hits “Munch (Feelin’ U),” “In Ha Temper” and “Princess Diana.”
“The very first thing she despatched me was on a drill beat,” the 22-year-old (born Ephrem Lopez Jr.) says of Ice Spice. “I used to be like, ‘Not solely do I not know any rappers which are feminine, however that is anyone who’s doing it on a complete completely different form of beat … This might be one thing.’ ”
That “one thing” has became a trio of Sizzling 100 prime 10 hit collaborations between RIOT and Ice. The most recent of these, the No. 7-debuting “Barbie World,” is the tip credit tune for the worldwide field workplace smash Barbie — and in addition consists of each rap celebrity Nicki Minaj and Aqua, the Danish pop outfit behind the ‘90s traditional “Barbie Lady,” which “World” prominently samples.
Whereas that tune continues its chart run, RIOT is at present engaged on materials for rap hitmakers Ken Carson and Lil Yachty — and naturally, on Ice Spice’s debut album. “We wanna take the time, and dive deep on exploring completely different sounds,” he says of the pair’s work on the much-anticipated full-length. “I’m excited for the following couple of months.”
Billboard spoke with RIOT about making “Barbie World,” working with Minaj (once more) and the way it feels to deliver drill to Barbie.
Might you inform that Ice Spice had a star high quality fairly rapidly?
Yeah. At first, we weren’t making music, we have been simply people who have been launched via school — taking communication programs or crossing paths. It simply so occurred that everyone that was round us had a ardour for music, so we ended up connecting on that. After I did discover out that she did music, I positively noticed one thing and heard one thing.
Your producer tag, “Cease enjoying with ‘em RIOT” — the place did that come from?
I initially had [a] tag that was recorded by me, and I put a pair results on it. However I outgrew it, and I used to be on the lookout for one thing new and contemporary. I used to be like, “Why not ask Ice to document me a tag?” — and I didn’t inform her what to say. The very first thing that she had despatched me again was “Cease enjoying with ‘em RIOT.” I took it, pitched it a little bit bit, I threw in some reverb, and the remainder is historical past.
What have been the primary discussions of you and Ice getting concerned with the Barbie soundtrack?
Truthfully, it got here out of nowhere. My supervisor mentioned, “Hey, [the] Barbie [team] reached out to Ice for the soundtrack. Might you make a beat for it?” I’m like, “Hell yeah!” So I pulled up the “Barbie [Girl]” pattern ’trigger after I consider Barbie, I’m considering [that] pattern, proper off the bat. I made a beat in like quarter-hour on FL Studio, and it wasn’t even a full beat. It was the identical basis of what it’s now. I despatched it to examine the temperature from the studio, and I heard the movie [team] liked it.
Have been you anxious that you just wouldn’t be capable to get it cleared?
Oh, after all! [But] the truth that it’s from the Barbie movie, I knew that it had to get cleared. It’s such an iconic pattern, and it made a lot sense. For me, it’s a nostalgic tune. It got here out earlier than I used to be born, so to have the ability to revamp it and take it to a brand new place was actually thrilling.
Have you ever heard something about what Aqua thinks about it?
I learn one thing on [X fka Twitter] that they loved it, which is cool. I haven’t spoken to them myself, however shout out to Aqua, they made such a cool tune.
Was it all the time clear that it was gonna be Ice and Nicki?
At first, to my information, it was only for Ice. That’s why it was drill, at first. Then I added the Jersey [club] swap on it. Once we bought the OK from the studio, [Ice] did the hook in half-hour, tops. “Princess Diana” had simply been made, and we’re like, “D–n, Nicki’s a Barbie. Why don’t we ship it to her and see what she thinks?”
I actually didn’t suppose she was gonna get on it ’trigger we had simply labored on one thing. However she despatched her verse again fast, and as soon as we heard [it], we instantly completed it ’trigger we have been so excited — and Ice killed it. So blessed and grateful for everyone concerned.
Was it arduous to reinvent it? As a result of the unique’s form of simple 4/4 dance music. I think about it wasn’t essentially the best factor to suit it into that form of drill sound as an alternative.
Really for me, it felt like the alternative. I’m not gonna say “straightforward,” however moreso I knew what I might do to the pattern. In Bronx tradition, there’s pattern drill, in order that’s already one thing that we’ve been doing. If something, I [said], “This is without doubt one of the final pattern drill songs that might ever exist.” And to let it’s part of a film? From the place we come from, that’s loopy.
I needed to maintain the pattern genuine to the unique, however I needed so as to add its personal aptitude. That’s why on the second half of the verses, I attempted to play with the phrases, “For those who say, I’m all the time yours.” Often, everyone simply makes use of the hook; that’s essentially the most recognizable half. However I needed to point out like to different components of the tune.
Basically, your songs with Ice Spice are fairly brief to start with, however to get the pattern, to get Nicki, to get Ice — to do every part that you could do within the tune in that brief a time frame, was it powerful? Did you consider making it longer?
Truthfully, no. That tune is brief and candy. That’s often how we construction lots of our songs proper now — the place it’s a pleasant, catchy hook, a verse, one other hook, second verse. I really feel like that construction was cool. The hook was distinctive in itself as a result of they was in a position to shuttle. And the entire tune is 1:49 — I like songs which have lots of replay worth. You get hooked on it. We might’ve prolonged it, for certain, however I really feel prefer it was simply sufficient to make you wanna re-listen time and again.
Not solely is that this virtually the default theme to the most important film of the 12 months, however it’s nonetheless a drill tune. It’s nonetheless the form of music you and Ice are making anyway. Does that make it much more rewarding?
Precisely. The place we come from, our borough is usually “judged” — individuals have lots of combined opinions on it. So to have the ability to have such an iconic tune with the kind of style that comes from the place we’re from is superior. [We] get to shed new mild on the style and produce it to a much bigger place. I bear in mind when individuals was telling me that drill was going nowhere, drill was useless, drill is only a development. However I all the time had a much bigger imaginative and prescient for it, and this was the right instance of the place I used to be attempting to deliver it. It’s so cool that ceaselessly, on the finish of that film, persons are gonna be capable to dance to that tune and luxuriate in [it]. I’m actual completely happy about that.
Have you ever heard the tune on Sizzling 97 but?
Yeah! I heard it on Sizzling, however I additionally heard it on Sirius XM. You already know the place else I heard it too? On the aircraft! I’m like, “Wow, that’s how you realize it’s successful!” That was hearth.
Have you ever seen the film?
No! I’ve been attempting to go see it, however I’ve been actual busy. I noticed glimpses of it earlier than it got here out.
A model of this story initially appeared within the Aug. 5, 2023, challenge of Billboard.
Supply hyperlink