WOW....Ice Prince becomes Nigeria’s hottest rapper

Panshak ‘Ice Prince’ Zamani. Photo: Instagram

No doubt, the Nigerian entertainment industry is getting bigger and bigger with Nollywood and music leading the way. Gone are the days where some of our top entertainers were only known for being on TV, broke and struggling to pay their house rent. It’s 2013; things have changed, if you are a ‘big’ entertainer, you ‘must’ be smiling to the bank.

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

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.

Of course there are now a number of other rappers who have risen to A list status – one of them is Panshak ‘Ice Prince’ Zamani and he is currently Nigeria’s hottest rapper; the Minna-born, 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.

FLASHBACK

It is 2006; veteran rappers Modenine and Terry tha Rapman are discussing on how to shoot a video for their classic duet ‘Spazmodic‘, unknown upcoming rappers M.I, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince are told they can appear in the video, Zamani goes down on his knees, thanking God, Modey and Terry for what he considered as a breakthrough.

Jesse Jagz, the late Dagrin, Ice Prince, M.I at the HipHopWorld office, February 2009. Photo: The Headies

That’s how it all began for the Ice Prince – every stage of his career has been a breakthrough; meeting up with M.I and Jesse Jagz, forming Loopy Music and following a hopeful M.I to Lagos in 2009 in search of greener pastures. From squatting in Djinee’s house to having friends drop him off with their cars, Ice Prince placed all hope in the Abaga brothers. Luckily for Ice, they didn’t let him down.

Ice Prince and Brymo performing Oleku at the Big Brother eviction party in 2011. Photo: MNET

OLEKU

The infectious single did more than Ice Prince expected; arguably the biggest rap single ever from Nigeria, ‘Oleku’ opened doors Ice never knew existed, taking him around the country and overseas. As his fan base increased so did his earnings, following the line of M.I and Jesse, Mr Zamani began to smile to the bank…

Everybody Loves Ice Prince album cover art. Photo: Chocolate City

EVERYBODY LOVES ICE PRINCE

His debut album dropped in 2011 with the first ever rap album concert held at the Eko Hotels and Suites; more and more money kept rolling in. Right now Ice Prince has more international recognition than any other rapper other than ‘bigger bro’ M.I. Add two BET Awards nominations to his C.V too.

Last year alone, he performed at over 40 fee-paying shows in Nigeria, US, UK and over five African countries. This boy is raking in cash by the minute and interestingly being quite humble about it too!

The evolution of Aboki. Photo: Chocolate City

Jesse Jagz’ appeal in the Northern part of Nigeria has 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 and Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo in December 2012. Photo: Instagram

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.

Ice Prince poses with his Range Rover SUV in 2011. Photo: Twitter

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 Smirnoff Ice and LG Electronics, the endorsement deals will soon start knocking – he reportedly turned down an endorsement deal with Globacom because the telecoms company couldn’t meet his asking price of $1m (Ice Prince and his reps have publicly denied this).

Actress Yvonne Nelson and Ice Prince in 2013. Photo: Instagram

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.

Endia, Ice Prince, Chopstix, Yung L on set of ‘Aboki’ videoi shoot, 2013. Photo: Anuel Photography

BUILDING HIS LITTLE EMPIRE

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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