She’s on to bigger things.
Jamaican dancehall artist Spice is making her reality television show debut on the seventh season of VH1’s hit show “Love and Hip-Hop: Atlanta,” which airs on March 19. The singer made a brief appearance on the show last season during an episode that was filmed in Jamaica. But as a avid-watcher of the series and now a cast member, the singer says this is the first step in one of many career goals she is aiming for.
“I had always been fan of show and it’s always been my dream to become an actress and do movies and shows,” she said. “So when they came to Jamaica, that inspired me to become a member and when they had an open slot — I went for it.”
Having always had an interest in branching into hip-hop music, Spice says this next chapter is a chance for her to reach a wider audience. And she adds that while some fans are critical about her being on the show, which is often lambasted for its portrayal of black women, it has upsides in boosting careers.
“I think the show is a huge platform and I see it as an opportunity,” said Spice. “Even though the show has its critiques, you have to look at how it helped Cardi B as well.”
As one of Jamaica’s biggest female artists, Spice explains she has reached the highest level of stardom to create for herself in her native country. Her move into the American music industry is a newer and bigger market that will redirect her musical career and the show will familiarize people with who she is.
“I personally think I outgrew Jamaican artists, and I don’t think I can be any bigger than I already am in my country,” said Spice. “I’ve always been thinking of ways to branch out in America and I came up with the grand idea to be on “Love and Hip-Hop” as way to breakout, and I think reality television is the new thing right now.”
The artist assures that she is not abandoning her dancehall roots, such as in her recent single “Duffle Bag,” where she performs dancehall lyrics over a hip-hop beat. Instead, she is incorporating dancehall into hip-hop, with what she calls “dance-hop” — a portmanteau of the two genres.
While Spice has been called the Queen of Dancehall, she is not aiming for the competitive title and evidently just wants to bring dancehall to the globe and help pave a way for other Jamaican female artists, just as men have before them.
“I’m not working for title — it’s something that is given to me and it’s a huge title I must say, but I want to be bigger than that,” she said. “I want to do greater things, and I’m hoping to bring that as a woman just as Shaggy and Sean Paul have done.”
