Ice Spice just stepped off the mic and onto the big screen, making her acting debut in the highly anticipated film Highest 2 Lowest alongside Hollywood legend Denzel Washington. The Bronx-born rapper, known for her chart-topping drill hits like Munch (Feelin’ U) and Barbie World, is proving she’s more than a music star. At just 25, Isis Naija Gaston, better known as Ice Spice, takes on the role of Marisol Cepeda in this Spike Lee-directed neo-noir thriller, marking a bold new chapter in her career.
In Highest 2 Lowest, a modern reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low, Ice Spice plays a young aspiring musician whose emotional performance becomes a turning point in the story. Her character, Marisol, delivers a soulful song in the film’s final act, backed by a simple piano, contrasting the flashy tracks of another character, Yung Felon, played by A$AP Rocky. This brief but powerful cameo resonates with the journey of Denzel Washington’s character, David King, a music executive grappling with ambition and authenticity in New York’s cutthroat industry.
Filmed over three months in New York City, Highest 2 Lowest blends gritty noir vibes with Spike Lee’s signature style. The film, produced by A24 and Apple Original Films, premiered at Cannes in May 2025 and hit U.S. theaters on August 15, 2025. It’s set to stream on Apple TV+ starting September 5, 2025. The cast also includes heavyweights like Jeffrey Wright and Ilfenesh Hadera, making Ice Spice’s debut among such talent even more impressive.
Ice Spice shared that working with Denzel Washington was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. She described his presence as powerful but said his encouragement helped ease her into the role. Her scene, where Marisol meets David King, captures a moment of connection, with dialogue like “You can call me David” and “It’s okay to be nervous” highlighting the film’s themes of mentorship and raw talent.
Already a Grammy-nominated artist with a debut album, Y2K, under her belt, Ice Spice is now a triple threat: rapper, singer, and actress. Her role in Highest 2 Lowest follows a small acting stint in a 2023 Dunkin’ commercial, but this film cements her as a rising star in Hollywood. With Spike Lee’s track record of launching careers and Ice Spice’s natural charisma, fans are buzzing about what’s next for the Bronx native.
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