In a candid interview with Forbes Talks, dancehall sensation Spice, opens up about her incredible journey from a challenging upbringing to achieving generational wealth. The Love and Hip-Hop: Atlanta star discussed her past struggles, her meteoric rise to stardom, and her commitment to securing a prosperous future.
From the “humble beginnings” of Portmore, Jamaica to Millionaire US Tv Star, Spice’s childhood was marked by financial hardship she has said repeatedly in the interview. Spice spoke about walking to school and how she also experienced homelessness after her home was destroyed by fire.
“I lost my house to fire and I have nothing, I come from zero dollars and I have nothing, I know what its like to look in my bank account and there is nothing there, and now I am a millionaire,” she told Rosemarie Miller.
Today, as a self professed millionaire, she said she is focused on breaking the cycle of poverty and creating generational wealth for her loved ones.
Spice, real name Grace Hamilton revealed that she trusts only her mother, the sole name on her main bank account, with her new found wealth. This level of success often attracts jealousy and betrayal, which Spice experienced when she bought her first house and car, leading to the loss of some old friends.
Spice’s journey into the world of music began at a young age, as she started performing at just 14 years old. She never had a traditional 9-5 job, with her talent propelling her to stardom quickly.“I’m a businesswoman so the first thing I do when I make a lot of money, I try to find [a] new business, another stream of income to add to the [existing] streams of income that I have. So, I’m kind of big on that,”
The Queen Of Dancehall emphasized the importance of not just making money but also retaining it through saving and investing although she revealed that her guilty pleasure is shopping.
“I’m addicted to shopping because I like nice clothes and shoes and bags. I feel like my biggest splurge is just going [to] the mall and just…” Spice paused, eyeing the interviewer, admitting that she is reluctant to say the figure before casually adding, “…blowing a couple hundred thousand, you know.”
Like a her Dancehall Queen predecessor Lady Saw, Spice differentiates her on stage persona from her real life saying,“When the saucy side come out, that’s Spice but when I’m more calm and laid back, that’s Grace Hamilton.”
Rising above controversy, Spice addressed a recent controversy with Erica Mena, where Mena called her a ‘Blue Monkey’ in an argument after Spice made referenced to her oldest son on MTV’s Love & Hip Hop. Spice stressed that others’ opinions do not define her and that she remains steadfast in promoting self-love and acceptance among melanated women.
She insisted that she does have her peace of mind and it will not be taken from her. “Not because someone thinks something of me, that doesn’t mean that’s who I am. I’m the person that came out with colorism (“Black Hypocrisy”) a few years ago. I’m black and beautiful and mi nah bleach. Proud a mi color. I’ve been done it, said it all, always reminding my melanated women how beautiful they are, to love themselves [for] who they are. Someone can’t come and say few words and that’s gonna get me into a mood like… No, that doesn’t define me, I know who I am.”
Spice wins Female Dancehall Artist Of The Year at the inaugural Caribbean Music Awards on Thursday August 31.
The “Suh Mi Like It”deejay was presented with the award by “Next To Me” singer ToniAnn Singh at the King’s Theatre Brooklyn New York.
Other nominees in the category included global dancehall hitmaker Stefflon Don, Shenseea, Shaniel Muir, Jada Kingdom and Hood Celebrity.
In her acceptance speech the 41 yearold dancehall star said, “Look at God over yahsuh, goodnight besties, first me half big up fawda God who is the head of my life me never do nuts without him. I have been in the business for 20 years, it’s not an overnight success. I want to dedicate this to my bestie them cause me have the best fans in the world. This is not a small this this is a very big thing.”
The Queen Of The Dancehall took the proverbial crown uncontested when Lady Saw entered gospel music and changed her stage name to Marion Hall. Her fellow nominees Shenseea who recently earned a RIAA Gold certification for Pure Souls and Stefflon Don have both expressed that they have no interest in becoming a Dancehall Queen.
