1. Jamaican dancehall recording… Read Full Bio ↴There are 2 artists known as Spice:
1. Jamaican dancehall recording artist, singer, and songwriter Grace Latoya Hamilton (born 6 August 1982), known professionally as Spice. Referred to as the "Queen of Dancehall", Spice is recognised as one of the most prominent dancehall artists in the world.
Beginning her career in the early 2000s, Spice had her first major success with the controversial single "Romping Shop" with Vybz Kartel in 2009. She subsequently signed with VP Records, and released her debut EP, So Mi Like It (2014), which was preceded by the single of the same name. In 2018, Spice joined the cast of VH1's reality television series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta in season seven, after appearing as a guest star in season six.
Spice's first full-length project, a mixtape titled Captured (2018), was released independently and debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. It was preceded by the single "Black Hypocrisy", which addresses the issue of colorism in the black community. Captured was released following a dispute with Spice's record label over the release of her long-delayed debut studio album, Ten (2021).
2. L.A. based indie band Spice, formed in 2018 and based across California, each members’ roots are in the North Bay of San Francisco. Comprised of Ross Farrar (vocals) and Jake Casarotti (drums), both of Ceremony, along with Cody Sullivan (bass), Ian Simpson (guitar), and Victoria Skudlarek (violin), Spice’s sound pulls from the sense of melody and drive inherent to Bay Area pedigree, peppered with modernity and awash with an anthemic haze.
3. Spice were a British pop rock and rhythm and blues band featuring David Byron (vocals), Mick Box (guitar), Paul Newton (bass guitar), Alex Napier (drums) and Colin Wood (keyboards). (Napier was a replacement for drummer Nigel Pegrum; Pegrum would later join the folk rock band Steeleye Span).
In late 1969, organist Ken Hensley, formerly of The Gods and Toe Fat joined. The band's last concert was on 21. February 1970 at St Mary's College in Twickenham, supporting Deep Purple - the band changed its name to Uriah Heep shortly after. The first concert as Uriah Heep was on 20 March at the Technical College in Salisbury.
Spice released one single, "What About The Music" (b/w "In Love") in 1968, eventually transforming into Uriah Heep during the recording of their first full-length album. Songs recorded under the Spice name and line-up have surfaced on:
The Lansdowne Tapes (compilation of recordings by Spice, and outtakes from the first three Uriah Heep albums) - Recorded 1968-1971, released 1994
A Time of Revelation (four-disc anthology of Uriah Heep material, including recordings by Spice) - Recorded 1968-1995, released 1996
Spice recordings on these compilations consisted of "Astranaza", "Born In A Trunk" (vocal and instrumental versions), "Celebrate", "I Want You Babe", "In Love", "Magic Lantern", "Schoolgirl", and "What About The Music". Additionally, two of the songs released on the first Uriah Heep album were recorded by the Spice line-up before Hensley's inclusion, with Colin Wood appearing on keyboards ("Come Away Melinda" and "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)").
I DON'T WANNA DIE IN NEW YORK
Spice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said it with my hand over my mouth
So you wouldn't see
That ugly part of me
And I wish I wouldn't break down around
The three weeks I had clean
And I wish I wouldn't break down again
'Cause it's been three long years
But feels more like ten
But I'm going home, oh no
There's an old me there, too
And I don't wanna care anymore
But I feel like I can't
No, I won't, no, I can't
No, I won't, no, I can't, no, no, no
And I wish I wouldn't break down around
The three weeks I had straight
And I wish I wouldn't break down around
The two weeks I had
'Cause I don't wanna die in New York
I don't wanna die in New York
I don't wanna die in New York
I don't wanna die in New York
'Cause I don't wanna die in New York
I don't wanna die in New York
But I feel like I am, no, I won't
No, I can't, no, I won't, no, no, no
'Cause I don't wanna die in New York
I don't wanna die in New York
But I feel like I could, no, I won't
No, I can't, no, I won't, no, no
I don't wanna die in New York
I don't wanna die in New York
I don't wanna die in New York
I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die
The lyrics of Spice's song "I Don't Wanna Die in New York" reflect the artist's fear of relapsing into drug addiction. In the first verse, she uses the metaphor of covering her mouth with her hand to hide her "ugly" side from others, possibly alluding to the shame and guilt associated with drug use. Spice then expresses her frustration with the cycle of breaking down and relapsing even after she's been clean for weeks. The repetition of "no, no" and "no, I won't, no, I can't" underscores her determination to stay sober while acknowledging the difficulty of doing so.
The line "There's an old me there, too" suggests that returning to her hometown holds memories of her previous life as someone dependent on drugs. However, despite this fear, Spice doesn't want to give up and succumb to addiction, as expressed in the refrain "I don't want to die in New York." The repetition of this line emphasizes her desperation to avoid falling back into old habits, although she feels like she could.
Interestingly, the song doesn't solely focus on the artist's fear of relapsing but also touches on the larger societal issue of drug addiction. Spice's lyrics reflect a larger conversation about addiction and its devastating effects on individuals and their communities.
Line by Line Meaning
I said it with my hand
I used a gesture to communicate
I said it with my hand over my mouth
I tried to conceal my communication
So you wouldn't see
I wanted to hide something from you
That ugly part of me
A part of me that I am ashamed of
And I wish I wouldn't break down around
I hope I can stop losing control during
The three weeks I had clean
The period when I managed to stay away from drugs
And I wish I wouldn't break down again
I hope I can avoid falling into bad habits
And again and again, no, no
Repeating the same mistakes over and over again
'Cause it's been three long years
It has been a long period of time
But feels more like ten
The time feels stretched out
But I'm going home, oh no
Returning to where I was previously
There's an old me there, too
I may be confronted with past versions of myself
And I don't wanna care anymore
I am tired of trying to care
But I feel like I can't
I am incapable of letting go
No, I won't, no, I can't
I refuse to move on
No, I won't, no, I can't, no, no, no
I am stuck in the same place
And I wish I wouldn't break down around
I hope I won't lose control during
The three weeks I had straight
The period when I stayed sober
And I wish I wouldn't break down around
I hope I can avoid falling apart during
The two weeks I had
The time when I remained sober for two weeks
'Cause I don't wanna die in New York
I am afraid of dying in New York
But I feel like I am, no, I won't
I am in danger, but I won't give up
No, I can't, no, I won't, no, no, no
I am trying my best to survive
'Cause I don't wanna die in New York
I am afraid of dying while in the city
But I feel like I could, no, I won't
I might be at risk, but I won't give up
No, I can't, no, I won't, no, no
I am determined to stay alive
I don't wanna die in New York
I don't want to die while in New York City
I don't wanna die in New York
I am afraid of dying in NYC
I don't wanna die in New York
I have a fear of dying while in the city
I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die
I do not want to die
Writer(s): Cody Sullivan, Ian Simpson, Jake Casarotti, Ross Farrar, Victoria Skudlarek
Contributed by London S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Spraynard Kruger
As an ex heroin addict, I hope you find the peace we all seek. So refreshing to hear that iconic voice with this style of music again.
cancel me
It sucks, I miss being addicted to pills, but then knowing how much I lost both financially and relationships it kills me. Life is just very difficult, be happy if you have a person who cares about you or a good job. People judge addicts, but its always easy to judge on the other side of life.
Nicholas Licari
can't stop listening to this song, love the video <3
AnonymXXX
JAM!!! When the music hits you. Thank you Spice an Dais <3
ah
This band is gonna be huge.
Taylor
They jus need the exposure, only 21k views is sad, they're too good for such small views
Matter
Love this song. Are there tabs anywhere?
Lena Pernkopf
i love this song sm
Nekkropiate
so fucking good! thia is seriously the best band in years!
PICTURES ON SILENCE
amazing great energy here