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.
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