Ice Spice's debut album feels like a far cry from the energy and charm that made her such a notable name in the drill scene. Far from living up to her spicy persona, this album falls flat in almost every area, leaving listeners with an underwhelming and lackluster experience. It’s almost as if Ice Spice herself doesn’t even want to be on this album — the fun, carefree energy that defined her earlier work feels completely absent. She’s traded her distinct drill rap style for a more bland, monotone delivery that lacks the punch and enthusiasm we’ve come to expect from her.

Throughout much of the album, Ice Spice sounds disengaged, as if she's simply going through the motions of being a rapper because she feels obligated to. The signature ad-libs, the “riots” and “baddie” catchphrases that made her a unique voice in the rap scene, are repeated endlessly, yet they fail to land with the same fire. Her usual energy just isn’t there, and it’s noticeable. Instead of commanding attention, she drifts through the tracks with a sense of indifference, leaving little for listeners to latch onto.

The production on the album does little to elevate her performance. Most of the beats are uninspiring and don't offer anything fresh or exciting to the table. The only track that stands out in terms of its instrumental is one that uses a sample from Sean Paul — a nod to her New York roots, but even this feels like a fleeting moment of life in an otherwise flat album. The rest of the beats feel deflated and lack the vibrancy and creativity that helped make Ice Spice's earlier work so appealing.

Lyrically, the album doesn’t fare any better. While it’s not a bad album per se, it’s hard to find anything engaging or compelling. The bars are mediocre at best, and they don’t do much to differentiate Ice Spice from other rappers in the genre. There’s nothing memorable to grab your attention, and nothing off-putting to make you turn it off either. It’s an album that doesn’t offer much of anything — just a lot of dullness and missed potential.

In comparison to her previous releases, this album is a huge step down and doesn’t live up to the hype. It feels forgettable, lacking the spark that initially made Ice Spice stand out in the crowded rap scene. It’s unfortunate, as there was so much promise in her earlier work, but this debut doesn’t showcase the same energy or charisma. It may be easy to move on from this album, hoping that her next project brings back the spice we’ve all been missing.