Ice Prince Emerges As Nigeria’s Hottest Rapper

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.