ICE PRINCE OPENS UP ON GROWING UP, MUSIC AND BABES

Says: Even Dangote is an aboki

From humble beginnings in Jos, Plateau State, Chocolate City sign on, Ice Prince (Panshak Zamani), has grown to be one of the hottest and most respected rappers in the country. Thanks to his victory at Hennessey Artistry 2009 where he came tops. And while it may all look rosy on the outside, Ice Prince has revealed that it’s not been easy street all his life stating that just like any kid on the streets, he’s had his own fair share of ups and downs and so fans should not be carried away by the glitz and glamour which has become his trade mark today.

Though born to upper middle class parents, the Oleku singer insists he was not born with a silver spoon though he says he and his siblings had all they desired. That was until his soldier dad passed on in 1999 and life took a sudden dramatic turn!

“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon,” Ice Prince told SB Weekend in an exclusive chat, backstage, during the eighth edition of Julius Agwu’s comedy show, Crack Ya Ribs, which was held at the Nicon Hilton, Abuja, recently.

Dressed in all white, he was clad in a designer T shirt and pants with a white     muffler dangling around his neck, his eyes peering at you from behind designer glasses crested with a pik cap giving him that clean cut look of an American marine but for his goatee.

“My dad was not a billionaire, neither was he a pauper,” he said arching his bushy eyebrows to drive home his point, “he sent us to good schools and we had vacations outside the country; we were okay but in 1999 we lost him!

“It was a big loss for me and my family. I was 13 and the eldest kid; I had a mum and two younger sisters to look out for and so I had to grow up overnight; thank God for family support.”

Recounting the person of his late dad who was a soldier in the Nigerian Army, Ice Prince described him as a great source of inspiration and like every son would say, his father was a great dad. He says dad went the extra mile to make sure he and his siblings had all they wanted.

“He was a soldier,” he says in his characteristics cool and calm voice, “he taught me everything I know today. My mum was very supportive but she died in 2011 so right now I am an orphan.”

How does it feel losing both parents early on: “It feels lonely? We were three kids; a boy and two girls and I am the eldest? I became the man of the house after my dad passed on and that’s given me a sense of responsibility. It made me grow up overnight!

“I am 27 years old but my responsibilities are more than that of a 27 year old. I have to take care of my sisters. I thank God for elevating me. I guess I was called to do this (music).”

Ice Prince says he would ever be grateful for the lessons he learnt from his parents which have gone a long way in shaping him today. He says that while his dad taught him to be responsible right from an early age, he reveals his mum taught him to respect women.

In the beginning…

From a tender age, music has always been this aboki’s passion. Unknown to many, in 2002, Ice Prince and a couple of his friends founded the Ecomog Squad. In 2004, he met the crew that would play a central role alongside himself in making Chocolate City one of the biggest labels in the country when he met M.I. and Jesse Jagz and together they founded the Loopy Crew.

Earlier that same year he dropped his debut single entitled Extraordinary however; recording success was still a long way off. In 2009 the sun finally shone on Ice Prince when he participated in the Hennessy Artistry competition. The Oleku singer trashed the likes of Bez, Mo'Cheddah, Blaise and Jimmy Flames to clinch the ultimate prize with his single, Badman.

That culminated in the 2010 official release of his debut Chocolate City single entitled Oleku. Overnight he became the most sought after act as he did collabos with A listers including Banky W,  eLDee and Naeto C, Dekunle Fuji, Kel, Gino, Terry Tha Rapman, Sauce Kid, Djinee, Mo Cheddah and Wizkid among others. The release of his debut album, Everyone Loves Brymo, sealed his place as the new act to beat!

And the act has not been without his controversies. From being touted as better than MI to pictures of him popping up on instagram with fashion designer, Yvonne Nwosu in bed. The act has enjoyed media attention as he seems poised to take his game to the next level

Zamani On Fire

Consequently, following the success of his debut album Every One Likes Ice Prince, the rap sensation revealed that plans have reached fever pitch for the release of his sophomore effort entitled Zamani On Fire.

 “What’s new about me is that I just did a song featuring French Montana entitled I swear. And French Montana is a bad boy artiste with PDD. It’s an international collabo and there’s also my album coming out entitled The Fire of Zamani .

“Expect magic,” he says with emphasis, “expect a blend of everything. I have three international collabos on that album and I ‘m also featuring some Nigerian legends. There’s Wale, there’s Fresh Montana, there’s Sony Neji, Sound Sultan and Wizkid. The album was officially released on October 15th.”

Oleku

How did he get the inspiration for Oleku?

“It just didn’t come from me alone. It came from God. It came from Jezze who made the beat, it came from Brymo who did the hook. God inspired us to make that song. We were just kids in the studio trying to make good music and then Oleku just happened! We can only thank God. Oleku was the song that made me.”

Did he believe Oleku would be that great?

He waves his head as he responds: “I never did. You never know what song’s going to be big. I just felt it was an okay song and we pushed it and bingo! Before we knew it we were very where.”

Aboki swag

Lately, Ice Prince has been obsessed with a new project, reorienting Nigerians about the meaning of the word aboki. He actually put his money where his mouth is when he released his single, Aboki, in 2012. Ironically, in some quarters, the word aboki is considered derogatory. What gave him the inspiration?

 “Aboki means friend. It’s a representation of where I’m from. I was born in Jos and I grew up in Minna so this means me representing my roots. Aboki means friend but it’s also a name for indigent Hausa people like gatemen and those those who do menial jobs so I wanted to change that perception and let them know that there’s more to aboki. I am a Jos boy; an aboki to the core. The same way the guy selling cigarettes outside Eko Hotel is an aboki is the same way Dangote is an aboki,” he adds with a proud smile.

Romance

With success come women. Who is the woman in his life? He smiles as he responds, a mischievous look in his eyes: “That’s private stuff I don’t want in the papers.”