The online battle between rappers Ice Spice and Cleotrapa continues to captivate audiences. The feud began when Cleotrapa alleged poor treatment from Ice Spice during their time on the Y2K! tour. The rivalry has since escalated, with Cleotrapa recently accusing Ice Spice of misrepresenting her father’s ethnicity, claiming he is Hispanic, not as previously stated.
In a direct response to these claims, Joseph Gaston, Cleotrapa’s father, took to social media to set the record straight and distance himself from the controversy. Gaston refuted the allegations, stating, “We met twice in the green room. We barely spoke, who said I’m Hispanic?” He further clarified his identity, saying, “Ken I’m gonna dead this right here. I’m a black man. Born and raised in the BX. Keep me out this bulls***.”
Gaston also shared details from an ancestry test he had taken, noting his heritage includes Ghanaian, Ivorian, Senegalese, Malian, Cameroonian, and Taino roots. While he acknowledged having Latino family members, he emphasized his Black identity.
Despite the heated exchanges, Cleotrapa’s statements were partially accurate but not fully correct. This follows a trend of her making provocative claims that often spark debate. Meanwhile, Ice Spice has chosen not to engage deeply with the colorism discussions surrounding her fame. In a Teen Vogue interview for their June cover, she addressed the topic by saying, “I try not to feed into negativity because I also see that when people are trying to make that point, it’s not out of a good place.” Ice Spice prefers to keep the focus on her music rather than the criticisms that accompany her rising star, maintaining her emphasis on her talent over controversies.