Ice Prince

Self styled rapper, Ice Prince, is becoming Nigeria's hottest rapper. SAMUEL ABULUDE writes on his increasing fame and wealth

Since his first single 'Oleku' was released, Ice Prince's fame has been on the rise. He is becoming a force to reckon with in the rap genre of music and his colleagues in the music industry are beginning to see the humble young man as someone who indeed has more to offer.

To prove that he has come of age in the dynamic music industry, Ice Prince won the Best African Act category of the Black Entertainment BET Awards held last Sunday in the United States. This feat is more resounding in the sense that he competed against African star acts and an established star like Tu Face Idibia arguably the most popular and award winning African and Nigerian hip hop star. For an industry that hasn't until most recently paid attention to the Hip-Hop genre (the Western-originated culture falls fifth place to more favourable genres like Pop, Highlife, Fuji and RnB), Hip-Hop artistes have done impressively well to stay afloat.

According to Tony Doe, former rapper and OAP, Hip Hop has never been seen as our culture, that's why it's been hard for Hip-Hop acts to make a mark.

For years, pioneers struggled to make a mark but were faced with constant rejection up until 2009 when the likes of M.I and Naeto C started to break bank.

It would be in tune to say Panshak 'Ice Prince' Zamani is currently Nigeria's hottest rapper. The Minna-born and Jos Town-bred Chocolate City Records artiste is soaring high and achieving all that Nigerian Hip-Hop artistes have ever longed for: recognition, fame and most importantly, growing wealth.

In 2006, veteran rappers Modnine and Terry thaRapman were discussing on how to shoot a video for their classic duet 'Spazmodic'. Then, unknown upcoming rappers M.I, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince were told they could appear in the video, Zamani goes down on his knees, thanking God, Modey and Terry for what he considered as a breakthrough.

Jesse Jagz' appeal in the Northern part of Nigeria may have gradually faded as the Pop singer has switched from Pop to dancehall/reggae music and is battling his other demons. Ice Prince has been made a perfect replacement, once again regaining the love from the North. How do you think he came about his Northern-themed single 'Aboki' and the follow up 'VIP'? He has won the hearts of the rich, influential Northern Nigerian elites, including Ministers, Governors and members of the Royal family. If he isn't having lunch with a senator in Kaduna today, he's having dinner with the Gombe State Governor tomorrow.

Ice Prince's asking price for a show now topples into the millions something only an M.I and Naeto C can brag about. Ice Prince however has more following from the teens, a large percentage that makes up the music fan base in Nigeria.

Fame has transcended into fortune of course; the rapper who drives a Range Rover SUV is said to have relocated from his apartment in Palm Groove estate to a more spacious crib in Ogudu area of Lagos. He has also completed a mansion back at home for his siblings (Ice lost his father a Police Officer in 1999 and his mum in May 2011).

Making deals with Smirnoff Ice and LG Electronics, the endorsement has started knocking.

The rapper's buzz is getting bigger by the day, some big that he's making appearances in Nollywood movies. In March 2013, he featured alongside Majid Michael in Yvonne Nelson's 'House of Gold' movie.

A proud father of a son, Ice has begun to build his own crew. In 2011, he relocated his long time J Town music friends GRIP Boiz (three artistes - J Milla, Yung L, Endia and a producer Chopstix) to Lagos. He works with two managers, a business associate, Tobi Sanni-Daniel and road manager, Bishmang Nanle.

In a space of barely four years, the growth and appeal have been astronomical. And even though we'd love to give another buzzing rapper Olamide a lot of props, nothing, for now, can be compared with the Fire of Zamani.

More on This
Nigeria Rap Music - Fading in Fame
Nigeria's fastest growing hip hop artiste, Ice Prince, recently won BET award. It's been noticed that those who were a … see more »
- All Africa

Self styled rapper, Ice Prince, is becoming Nigeria's hottest rapper. SAMUEL ABULUDE writes on his increasing fame and wealth

Since his first single 'Oleku' was released, Ice Prince's fame has been on the rise. He is becoming a force to reckon with in the rap genre of music and his colleagues in the music industry are beginning to see the humble young man as someone who indeed has more to offer.

To prove that he has come of age in the dynamic music industry, Ice Prince won the Best African Act category of the Black Entertainment BET Awards held last Sunday in the United States. This feat is more resounding in the sense that he competed against African star acts and an established star like Tu Face Idibia arguably the most popular and award winning African and Nigerian hip hop star. For an industry that hasn't until most recently paid attention to the Hip-Hop genre (the Western-originated culture falls fifth place to more favourable genres like Pop, Highlife, Fuji and RnB), Hip-Hop artistes have done impressively well to stay afloat.

According to Tony Doe, former rapper and OAP, Hip Hop has never been seen as our culture, that's why it's been hard for Hip-Hop acts to make a mark.

For years, pioneers struggled to make a mark but were faced with constant rejection up until 2009 when the likes of M.I and Naeto C started to break bank.

It would be in tune to say Panshak 'Ice Prince' Zamani is currently Nigeria's hottest rapper. The Minna-born and Jos Town-bred Chocolate City Records artiste is soaring high and achieving all that Nigerian Hip-Hop artistes have ever longed for: recognition, fame and most importantly, growing wealth.

In 2006, veteran rappers Modnine and Terry thaRapman were discussing on how to shoot a video for their classic duet 'Spazmodic'. Then, unknown upcoming rappers M.I, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince were told they could appear in the video, Zamani goes down on his knees, thanking God, Modey and Terry for what he considered as a breakthrough.

Jesse Jagz' appeal in the Northern part of Nigeria may have gradually faded as the Pop singer has switched from Pop to dancehall/reggae music and is battling his other demons. Ice Prince has been made a perfect replacement, once again regaining the love from the North. How do you think he came about his Northern-themed single 'Aboki' and the follow up 'VIP'? He has won the hearts of the rich, influential Northern Nigerian elites, including Ministers, Governors and members of the Royal family. If he isn't having lunch with a senator in Kaduna today, he's having dinner with the Gombe State Governor tomorrow.

Ice Prince's asking price for a show now topples into the millions something only an M.I and Naeto C can brag about. Ice Prince however has more following from the teens, a large percentage that makes up the music fan base in Nigeria.

Fame has transcended into fortune of course; the rapper who drives a Range Rover SUV is said to have relocated from his apartment in Palm Groove estate to a more spacious crib in Ogudu area of Lagos. He has also completed a mansion back at home for his siblings (Ice lost his father a Police Officer in 1999 and his mum in May 2011).

Making deals with Smirnoff Ice and LG Electronics, the endorsement has started knocking.

The rapper's buzz is getting bigger by the day, some big that he's making appearances in Nollywood movies. In March 2013, he featured alongside Majid Michael in Yvonne Nelson's 'House of Gold' movie.

A proud father of a son, Ice has begun to build his own crew. In 2011, he relocated his long time J Town music friends GRIP Boiz (three artistes - J Milla, Yung L, Endia and a producer Chopstix) to Lagos. He works with two managers, a business associate, Tobi Sanni-Daniel and road manager, Bishmang Nanle.

In a space of barely four years, the growth and appeal have been astronomical. And even though we'd love to give another buzzing rapper Olamide a lot of props, nothing, for now, can be compared with the Fire of Zamani.

More on This
Nigeria Rap Music - Fading in Fame
Nigeria's fastest growing hip hop artiste, Ice Prince, recently won BET award. It's been noticed that those who were a … see more »
- All Africa

You’d find it near enough impossible to switch on any African music channel and not hear the voice of this cool, calm and self-assured twenty-something-year-old blasting out of your speakers. His song, 'Oleku', has propelled him into the spotlight - joining the likes of D’Banj, 2Face and P-Square as one of Africa’s most sought-after artists...

Ice Prince is a Nigerian rapper who has shaken up the Afrobeats scene in recent months, and The Wrap Up’s resident Afrobeats columnist, Nonny Orakwue, hung out with the Nigerian star after his sell out gig at the Indigo O2 to discuss his UK radio success, the challenges of being an African artist trying to make it in a technologically connected world, collaborations, and more.

The Wrap Up: What kick-started your music career?

Ice Prince: It started when I went to secondary school in the late 90s. I started performing at social events at school and I would mime along to 2Pac to B.I.G songs, and that’s when I fell in love with rap. A few years later, I joined the choir in my church.

TWU: How would you describe a typical day in the life of Ice Prince?

Ice Prince: A typical day for Ice Prince would be to wake up, shower and, if I’m not performing that day, head straight up to the studio. I have a studio in my house. I go to the studio and listen to music that I made the day before and I just try to create new stuff. After that, I reply to my emails, get on Twitter to talk to a few girls and then go back in the studio. If I have a visitor, I go and chill with them and then I jump straight back in the studio.

TWU: You’re one of the first Afrobeats artists to be playlisted on mainstream UK radio stations like BBC 1Xtra, where the likes of Tim Westwood has really been supporting your hit, ‘Oleku’. Why do you think they’re taking more notice of artists like yourself?

Ice Prince: I think it’s our time. Well, that’s what I tell everybody. I think it’s time for Afrobeats and African music to get in. Like I always say, ‘UK music and American music has been everywhere.’ Jamaican music is big all over the world right now and I think it is time for Afrobeats as well. We have good music, we have a good sound and we have something special to offer the world. I think it’s time for the world to listen.

TWU: How did 'Oleku' come about and were you surprised about the storm it’s created?

Ice Prince: ‘Oleku’ was one of those songs that came during one of my recording sessions. I came up with the chorus first, then I called Brymo in and we did it together – I don’t really have a good singing voice. Jesse Jagz produced that track also. So, we finished the song and then I sent it to my record label and they weren’t really excited about it enough to put it out. They wanted us to touch up the song some more –add this, add that – but I was persistent and wanted to put the song out as soon as possible. They eventually got tired of my stubbornness and we’re like, ‘Cool! Just put the song out on the Internet and see how it goes.’ We did that and the rest, as they say, is history. I’m really, really surprised because I didn’t expect it to go this far. Like, I didn’t expect it to reach Tim Westwood. That’s really big! From that one song, I’ve performed all over the world.



TWU: African artists operate in essentially the same way as independent UK urban artists, in that they both have no major label backing. How do Nigerian artists get their music to consumers?

Ice Prince: I’m on a label called Chocolate City and, because they’re based in Nigeria, they understand what the market is like and they work with the structure that they have. They may not necessarily operate like the big record labels in the Western world, but they know how to handle it in their own environment – something they do very well. The music even finds its way outside of the country and the continent. If you’re big back home, then you’re big. How you get big over there is by putting your song out on radio and if people like it, then they like it.

TWU: It can be said that the surge of mobile technology and Internet use across Africa has really helped to export African music to the fans worldwide. From an artist perspective, how has it affected you?

Ice Prince: The Internet has really, really been a useful tool to push the music. I can put up a link of a new song on my Twitter now and, with my 100,000 followers, I can be sure that my song will spread easily and fast. The African music blogs that we have out there have been really helpful also. We, as African artists, are really excited that there are blogs like this really putting the music out there. To be honest, they’re the reason why we get heard outside of the continent.

TWU: You were one of the featured artists on the Nigerian cipher for the BET Hip-Hop Awards last year. How did that come about?

Ice Prince: I got an email a day before the recording. I actually wasn’t meant to be part of it. It was meant to be Sauce - MTV Wrap UP

You’d find it near enough impossible to switch on any African music channel and not hear the voice of this cool, calm and self-assured twenty-something-year-old blasting out of your speakers. His song, 'Oleku', has propelled him into the spotlight - joining the likes of D’Banj, 2Face and P-Square as one of Africa’s most sought-after artists...

Ice Prince is a Nigerian rapper who has shaken up the Afrobeats scene in recent months, and The Wrap Up’s resident Afrobeats columnist, Nonny Orakwue, hung out with the Nigerian star after his sell out gig at the Indigo O2 to discuss his UK radio success, the challenges of being an African artist trying to make it in a technologically connected world, collaborations, and more.

The Wrap Up: What kick-started your music career?

Ice Prince: It started when I went to secondary school in the late 90s. I started performing at social events at school and I would mime along to 2Pac to B.I.G songs, and that’s when I fell in love with rap. A few years later, I joined the choir in my church.

TWU: How would you describe a typical day in the life of Ice Prince?

Ice Prince: A typical day for Ice Prince would be to wake up, shower and, if I’m not performing that day, head straight up to the studio. I have a studio in my house. I go to the studio and listen to music that I made the day before and I just try to create new stuff. After that, I reply to my emails, get on Twitter to talk to a few girls and then go back in the studio. If I have a visitor, I go and chill with them and then I jump straight back in the studio.

TWU: You’re one of the first Afrobeats artists to be playlisted on mainstream UK radio stations like BBC 1Xtra, where the likes of Tim Westwood has really been supporting your hit, ‘Oleku’. Why do you think they’re taking more notice of artists like yourself?

Ice Prince: I think it’s our time. Well, that’s what I tell everybody. I think it’s time for Afrobeats and African music to get in. Like I always say, ‘UK music and American music has been everywhere.’ Jamaican music is big all over the world right now and I think it is time for Afrobeats as well. We have good music, we have a good sound and we have something special to offer the world. I think it’s time for the world to listen.

TWU: How did 'Oleku' come about and were you surprised about the storm it’s created?

Ice Prince: ‘Oleku’ was one of those songs that came during one of my recording sessions. I came up with the chorus first, then I called Brymo in and we did it together – I don’t really have a good singing voice. Jesse Jagz produced that track also. So, we finished the song and then I sent it to my record label and they weren’t really excited about it enough to put it out. They wanted us to touch up the song some more –add this, add that – but I was persistent and wanted to put the song out as soon as possible. They eventually got tired of my stubbornness and we’re like, ‘Cool! Just put the song out on the Internet and see how it goes.’ We did that and the rest, as they say, is history. I’m really, really surprised because I didn’t expect it to go this far. Like, I didn’t expect it to reach Tim Westwood. That’s really big! From that one song, I’ve performed all over the world.



TWU: African artists operate in essentially the same way as independent UK urban artists, in that they both have no major label backing. How do Nigerian artists get their music to consumers?

Ice Prince: I’m on a label called Chocolate City and, because they’re based in Nigeria, they understand what the market is like and they work with the structure that they have. They may not necessarily operate like the big record labels in the Western world, but they know how to handle it in their own environment – something they do very well. The music even finds its way outside of the country and the continent. If you’re big back home, then you’re big. How you get big over there is by putting your song out on radio and if people like it, then they like it.

TWU: It can be said that the surge of mobile technology and Internet use across Africa has really helped to export African music to the fans worldwide. From an artist perspective, how has it affected you?

Ice Prince: The Internet has really, really been a useful tool to push the music. I can put up a link of a new song on my Twitter now and, with my 100,000 followers, I can be sure that my song will spread easily and fast. The African music blogs that we have out there have been really helpful also. We, as African artists, are really excited that there are blogs like this really putting the music out there. To be honest, they’re the reason why we get heard outside of the continent.

TWU: You were one of the featured artists on the Nigerian cipher for the BET Hip-Hop Awards last year. How did that come about?

Ice Prince: I got an email a day before the recording. I actually wasn’t meant to be part of it. It was meant to be Sauce - MTV Wrap UP