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For nearly two decades, Grammy nominated artist Spice, has been dancehall’s undisputed queen — a commanding performer whose charisma, theatre and cultural fidelity have taken her from Kingston dancehalls to international arenas. But 2025 marked a different milestone. World Music Views did not simply name her Dancehall Performer of the Year — she was crowned Performer of the Year across all genres.
She describes the news as humbling.
“I’m humbled. I’m grateful. There are so many talented performers out there globally. For World Music Views to look at me — that’s a great accomplishment,” she says.
Born Grace Hamilton, Spice is known less for spectacle than for an almost physical connection with audiences — a performance style rooted in presence and fearlessness. She is conscious of the effort required simply to attend a show.
“People walk in the cold, pay for babysitters, buy clothes, buy tickets… I always think about the effort they make to see me. So I have to deliver,” she says.
A Royal Reunion
One of the defining cultural moments of 2025 came when Spice reunited with Vybz Kartel on stage for the first time in 13 years — reviving one of dancehall’s most potent pairings. During the first show on April 11, Kartel temporarily lost his voice in front of 20,000 people. Spice stepped forward, shifting the room’s energy.
Vybz Kartel and Spice at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 14, 2025. Photo by World Music Views“When Kartel sees me out there, it brings back that energy. I’m just that force — I bring good vibes. King and Queen — that moment was cultural history,” she says.
Refusing to Dilute
The So Mi Like It singer is one of the few Caribbean artists to appear on US television — Love & Hip Hop among the most visible — without softening her dialect or reshaping herself for international comfort. She insists on cultural clarity.
“I like to stand out,” she says. “I don’t water down who I am. Anywhere I go, they must know I am a Jamaican woman — the Queen of Dancehall.”
Even the sharper language of Jamaican culture is, to her, inseparable from identity.
“People all over the world beg me to teach them Jamaican bad words,” she says. “It’s part of our culture — how we express ourselves.”
Giving Back — From Experience
When Hurricane Melissa devastated parts of Jamaica, Spice did not remain a distant observer. She visited communities repeatedly, organising support and lifting morale.
“I was once homeless after a fire,” she says. “So when I went down there and saw people sleeping outside… it broke me. I know that pain.”
Her philanthropy predates the disaster. She has long supported students financially, usually without publicity.
“There is no Spice without Jamaica,” she says.
A Woman in a Male Arena
Dancehall remains male-dominated, and Spice does not downplay the challenge.
“It’s harder for women,” she says. “Men get more respect. That’s why I speak up. Plenty of men are afraid to perform after me — big stage or small. We deserve that respect.”
She also advocates for younger women in the industry — naming Jada Kingdom — and encourages fans to support artists tangibly. Spice’s debut album ’10’ is inching towards 500 million streams on Spotify, the highest for any female Jamaican act in history. The album re-entered the Billboard reggae chart in 2025, four years after its release, powered by the lead single Go Down Deh featuring Shaggy and Sean Paul.
Streaming once felt peripheral to her, but no longer.
“We’re in a streaming era whether we like it or not,” she says. “Going into 2026, I’m paying way more attention to how I release music.”
The coming year Spice describes as one focused on output and legacy. She announced via Instagram, that the new emoji for her fans is a butterfly and she will be stopping outside of her signature blue. Fashion, meanwhile, remains part of her creative language. She hints at ambitions to expand further into high-fashion arenas.
As for who she sees as the next dancehall star? Spice highlights Valiant as a standout new act and maintains a personal top-five list grounded in cultural influence: Ninja Man, Bounty Killer, Shaggy, Baby Cham and Vybz Kartel.
“Dancehall Is Not Underground Anymore”
She rejects suggestions that dancehall is fading.
“People said dancehall is dead — but look at the festivals. Look at the crowds. Dancehall is global. It’s not underground anymore,” she says.
To see her live is to understand why. Her performances are not simply song recitals — they are cultural transmissions: rhythm, theatre, defiance and joy rendered into movement.
Her message to fans — her “Besties” — is simple.
“Thank you for riding with me,” she says. “This year, I’m dropping a lot of music. I’m excited — and I’m doing it for you.”
The queen remains enthroned — still performing as though the crown must be earned nightly.
See full interview with Spice below:
English (US) ·