Jamaican singer Spice reveals how she went from church choir to making NSFW hits – and the sexist comments she still receives

JAMAICAN singer Spice doesn’t really know how she became the Queen of Dancehall after growing up in a strictly Christian home.

The Grammy-nominated singer was just a teenager when she began performing in Jamaica.

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Grace Hamilton, better known as Spice, has accumulated more than 300 million streams on Spotify and received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album in 2022.

During her 25 years in the music industry, she has worked with artists including Vybz Kartel, Nicki Minaj and, most recently, Busta Rhymes.

The mother of two, who also juggles reality show Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta, is set to release a new album called Mirror 25 on August 9.

Speaking to The US Sun, she revealed that her method for creating “generational wealth” defied her religious upbringing.

DADDY’S GIRL

Spice grew up in Portmore, Jamaica, in a home where her Rastafarian father played music by reggae icons like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Professor Nuts.

She was just six years old when she decided she wanted to be a singer.

“I know most of Professor Nuts’ songs because I was singing them as early as six years old,” she said.

“My dad would always take them around the house and bribe me with extra food on my plate if I sang them.

“My dad always told me, ‘Wow, you’re going to be a great singer.’

“Nobody in my family did music professionally, but I was always told that my grandmother had a beautiful voice.

“I never had the opportunity to meet her.

“I think my father’s love for me singing came from the fact that his mother was a great singer.”

‘I WAS PROPOSED TO BE A CHRISTIAN’

Spice revealed that not being able to choose the music played in the house also contributed to her love for popular artists in the Golden Age of Reggae.

In addition to listening to everything her father played, she sang at the local church.

“In Jamaica, most children always have to go to Sunday school,” she said.

“I grew up in church and used to sing in the choir and participate in JCDC (Jamaica Cultural Development Commission) festivals in the Caribbean.

“My voice was always so loud when I was a little girl.”

I don’t waste my time [vulgar] songs around my mother and I don’t play them around my children either.

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Spice joked about now being known for her sassy dancehall lyrics.

“I started in church, I tell people all the time I don’t know what happened along the way because I was determined to be a Christian,” she said.

“Actually, gospel is my favorite genre and a lot of people don’t know that.

“I am a God-fearing woman.

“I still go to church every Sunday and believe strongly in God.”

‘NO HOME FOR GREATNESS’

Spice said it was “very difficult” for her mother when her father died when she was nine.

She now lives by the slogan “from homelessness to greatness”, referring to her humble beginnings.

“I remember my five brothers and I used to sleep together in the same bed,” she said.

My mother has always been very supportive of me, but she preferred that I do gospel songs because she is Christian.

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“And it was just a one-bedroom house, so that was the level of poverty we faced.

“There were times when we didn’t even have anything to eat and I walked to school.

“At one point I was homeless because my house burned down.”

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Amidst the struggles, Spice had the opportunity to move to England to live with her maternal grandfather.

She said the cold was a “culture shock” and despite being enrolled in school, she was constantly crying to return to Jamaica.

Two years after she lived in Finsbury Park, north London, her grandfather “put an end” to her crying and sent her home.

‘NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR THIS’

Bounty Killer and Ninja Man were among the dancehall artists she met when she returned to Jamaica.

“But I couldn’t play them in my house. I used to have to hide and do this,” she said.

“And even today, I don’t take my time off [vulgar] songs around my mother and I don’t play them around my children either.

People started asking to see this little girl who would tear up the crowd and freestyle on stage.

“My mother has always been very supportive of me, but she preferred that I do gospel songs because she is Christian.

“She was always behind me saying, ‘You must sing clean songs, you must sing clean lyrics.

“And it was really fun for me to say, ‘Mom, no one wants to hear this.’”

COURAGEOUS START

Spice’s lyrical talent and persistence earned her the opportunity to perform at festivals and shows with notable Jamaican DJs.

“Bounty Killer was the first one who handed me a microphone when I was 17 or 18,” she said.

It was at a community event and he told everyone to get off the stage.

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“I got on stage when I was a teenager and he said, ‘Who is that?’” she recalled.

“I was never shy or nervous on stage. I was hungry for it.”

Spice said she has always been a “very confident artist” and has never looked back after a big event.

GET THAT GIRL WHO IS FREE

Despite having no money, she began walking around looking for any opportunity where she could perform and was grateful when Ninja Man offered to pay for any taxi.

News of her performances chose her to tour with Baby Cham and Ward 21 in England.

“People started asking to see this little girl who was going to rock the crowd and freestyle on stage,” she said.

“Baby Cham was the one who said you have to record, you have to get a hit.”

His debut song, Fight Over Man, has thousands of views on YouTube.

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Spice said male artists have been “very receptive” to her in the industry.

She then reached a global fan base by teaming up with her friend Vybz Kartel.

She admits that she was initially hesitant about doing the famous song Ramping Shop, released in 2009.

People still talk about women making a lot of sexual content without even realizing that men are making the same sexual content.

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“At the time he was very lyrical and had this quick flow of delivery,” she said.

“When he introduced me to the rhythm, I thought, ‘Why are we making this song so slow?’

“But he was so talented, so I trusted his leadership in making the song.

“And when I tell you, it literally took 24 hours to explode, it literally only took 24 hours to explode.”

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The song currently has nearly 9 million views on YouTube.

“Cause me haffi wine pon di c***y like dis,” she sings. “Kartel spins me around like a satellite dish.”

“Treat your chest like it’s an Irish crush,” Kartel responds. “Spice, I never love pussy like this.”

Spice lost her voice celebrating the release of Vybz Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, when he was released from prison after 13 years on July 31, 2024.

SEXIST DOUBLE STANDARDS

Spice said sexism in the industry hasn’t improved in her 25 years of making dirty music.

She argued that men make more sexually explicit music than women, but are not criticized for doing so.

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“People still say that women make a lot of sexual content, without even realizing that men are making the same sexual content,” she said.

“In fact, men do this more than we do.

“But people act like they think it’s only women who do this. I feel like it’s very hypocritical.”

MONEY SPEAKS LOUDER

Spice still lives in Jamaica, but spends up to 10 months a year in the US filming Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta.

She said there was a language barrier when she started spending time in the US, with people unable to understand her Caribbean accent.

A country influence can be heard on her new album, but she makes a point of remaining authentic to her Jamaican roots.

Spice said her fans will be surprised by the subjects of her new album, as she likened it to “a diary”.

She’s getting help from her mom and sister with her kids while she tours and promotes her new music.

“The proudest moment in my life is being the first to bring generational wealth to my family,” she said.

“I am an entrepreneur.

“I have a clothing brand called Graci Noir and I recently launched my book called The Navigational Business Planner.

“I have a foundation called Grace Hamilton Women Empowerment, which was created to enrich women through education and entrepreneurship.

“The last thing I did was donate $5 million to get kids back to school.”

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