Ice Prince

This article is about the Nigerian musician. For the ship also called "Ice Prince zamani", see MV Ice Prince.
Ice Prince Zamani

Ice Prince (right) with his mentor and label mate M.I (left)
Background information
Birth name Panshak Henry Zamani
Born (1986-10-23) 23 October 1986[1]
Minna, Nigeria
Origin Jos, Plateau State
Genres Hip hop
Occupation(s)
Years active 2004–present
Labels Chocolate City, Super Cool Cats
Associated acts

Panshak Zamani (born 23 October 1986), better known by his stage name Ice Prince, is a Nigerian hip hop recording artist and actor. He rose to fame after releasing "Oleku", one of Nigeria's most remixed songs of all time.[2] He won the 2009 Hennessy Artistry Club Tour.[3][4] His achievements include one BET Award, one Ghana Music Award, three The Headies Awards, two Nigeria Entertainment Awards and two Channel O Music Video Awards. Ice Prince is currently signed to Chocolate City.[5] His debut studio album, Everybody Loves Ice Prince, was released in 2011. It was supported by the singles "Oleku", "Superstar", "Juju" and "Magician". In 2013, Ice Prince released Fire of Zamani as his second studio album. The album contained the singles "Aboki", "More", "Gimme Dat" and "I Swear". On 1 July 2015, Ice Prince was announced as the new Vice Chairman of the Chocolate City.[6][7]

Early life and music career

Ice Prince was born Panshak Henri Zamani in the city of Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. At age two, he moved with his family to the mining city of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. While residing in Jos, he attended St. Murumba College. He also attended the Science Tutorial College in Jos.[8]

In 1999, he began writing Rap songs and started performing them at social events held at his school. It was not until 2001 that he began going to studios to record. In 2002, he got together with a couple of friends and formed a group called the "Ecomog Squad". They had few performances as a group and split a year later. In 2004, he connected with M.I, Jesse Jagz, Ruby, Lindsey, Eve, Taz, and together they became what is now known today as the "Loopy Crew".[8] During an interview with Adeola Adeyemo, Ice Prince was asked to summarise his story. He said "I started out in Jos in a group called ECOMOG squad. We used to rap and sing together. The group split up after a few years and after that, I joined the choir in my church and started singing Tenor. That was about the time MI moved back to Nigeria and we became friends, we became family, we started living together, started making music together. I had a song that made it to Number 1 in Jos, that was when I started getting more attention. Then I got admitted into University of Jos to study Zoology but then I couldn't really continue because of some financial constraint at the time."[9] Ice Prince also opened up about the passing of his parents and the challenges he faced early on. He said:

"Life was not that rosy. When my dad was alive, life was pretty much rosy but I lost my Dad in 1999 and it was my Mum that was taking care of me up until she died too. So it was kinda hard to get by, really. I dropped out of school in my 100Level to focus on my music.I moved to Abuja and started living with MI and Jesse Jagz. We were making music, doing some small small shows just to get money. Then we moved to Lagos, we got a chance to chill at Djinee’s house. Djinee gave us some space in his house to sleep. Djinee is like my Jesus. He came through for us. We lived in his house and made it very uncomfortable for him but he took all the pain and accommodated us. This was in 2008. Gradually, there was steady growth. We got our own place, started making music. In 2008, I hosted Sprite Triple Slam. We did 30 shows, 15 in Lagos, 15 in the East. I got some small money off that to buy some new jeans and shoes so that girls would, you know, say hi to me when they see me." [9]

In 2004, Ice Prince released his debut single "Extraordinary". "Rewind", another single he released, received radio airplay in Lagos and Abuja. It charted on Rhythm Fm's "Top 7 chart", NotJustOk's "Hype", Unilag FM, Zain Central Station, Inspiration Fm, Top FM’s "Top of the Morning", Cosmo FM's "Top Hits", Africa Connect Chat Show, and Kiss' "Top 20 Africa". Moreover, it charted at number 1 on Cool FM and Vision FM in Abuja.

Chocolate City contract

During the aforementioned interview, Ice Prince shed some light on his record deal with Chocolate City, saying: "My record deal with Chocolate City came off of my affiliation with MI and Jesse Jagz. We are pretty much brothers, we’ve always lived together, always been together. But then Chocolate City signed MI first. It was like they did it in order of our age. Then they signed Jesse Jagz. Jesse was obviously more ready than I was at that time. Then they saw that I was getting ready as well and they signed me too."[9]

2009: Hennessy Artistry

In 2009, Ice Prince participated in the Hennessy Artistry competition, a competition organised by the Hennessy brand which supports urban and contemporary music. The competition featured the likes of Bez, Mo'Cheddah, Blaise, and Jimmy Flames; Ice Prince came out 1st with his lead single "Badman" at the end of the competition.[3]

2010–2011: Everybody Loves Ice Prince

During the aforementioned interview, Ice Prince opened up about why he chose to name his debut album, Everybody Loves Ice Prince. He said "What made me give my album that name was when I lost my Mum, really. There was so much love, so much care from all around the world. People really showed me love and it was after that incident that I came back to record my album and I thought what better name to call my album than Everybody Loves Ice Prince because I was shown love.[9]

"Oleku", Ice Prince's first single off his debut album was met with great reception throughout Nigeria. The song was released under Chocolate City. Ice Prince's 'rap resume' has a long list of songs he's been featured on. He was featured on Taikoon's "Respect My Hustle" with Banky W,[10] DJ Neptune's "This Gbedu Reloaded" with YQ & Shank,[11] Bez's "Super Sun (Remix)" with ELDee & Eva Alordiah,[12] YQ's "Efimile (Remix)" with Naeto C, M.I, Banky W, & ELDee,[13] Pherowshuz's "Korrect (remix)" with M.I & Terry Tha Rapman,[14] Dekunle Fuji's "Funmilayo" with Jesse Jagz, Jamix's "My Party" with Wizkid & Kel,[15] Reminisce's "2 Mussh [Remix]" with Sauce Kid,[16] and Knighthouse's "Make it Better" with Mo'Cheddah, Funbi, & Mobie,[17] among others.

2012–2013 :Fire of Zamani

Main article: Fire of Zamani

In 2012, he began frequent collaborations with Grip Boiz City producer Chopstix, releasing "Aboki" in the summer of 2012. An accompanying music video was released alongside it. "Aboki" peaked at number 92 on Afribiz's Top 100 chart.[18]

On 28 August 2012, Ice Prince released "More" as the second single from the album. The song was also produced by Chopstix. The music video for "More" was shot and directed in London by Moe Musa. It stars Lola Rae, a British Nigerian recording artist known for her single "Watch My Ting Go". The video premiered at the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards.[19][20][21]

On 25 January 2013, Ice Prince released "Aboki (Remix)"; he described the song as the "biggest African collision ever".[22] The song features Sarkodie, Mercy Johnson, Wizkid, M.I and Khuli Chana.[23][24] On 24 April 2013, Ice Prince and Chocolate City released "Gimme Dat" and "V.I.P" simultaneously. The former made the album's final track-listing, while the latter didn't.[25][26]

Musical influences

Ice Prince cited Notorious B.I.G., Rakim, Jay-Z, Common, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Lauryn Hill, M.I and Jesse Jagz as his key musical influences.[8] Commenting on his relationship with label mate M.I, Ice Prince said: "He is my brother, he is my friend, my mentor. He is someone that if 200 people tell me no and MI tells me yes, I would do the yes. That is how loyal I am to him, that is how I respect him, how much I look up to him. He never gives me bad advice, he wishes me well and he’s always happy when I succeed."[9]

Personal life

Ice Prince has a son named Jamal with Bimbo Babatunde. In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, the rapper said he dated Eva Alordiah when he first relocated to Lagos.[27]

Discography and filmography

Studio albums
EPs
Compilation albums

Film and television

Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2013 House of Gold Tony Supporting role [28]
Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2013 Shuga (Season 3) Guest appearance [29]

Videography

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Title Album Director Ref
2011 Oleku
(Featuring Brymo)
Everybody Loves Ice Prince Mex Films [30]
Superstar Katung Aduwak [31]
2012 More Fire Of Zamani Moe Musa [32]
Aboki Phil Lee [33]
2013 I Swear
(featuring French Montana)
JR Saint [34]
2014 Jambo Sesan [35]
Whiskey
(Featuring Sunny Nneji)
AJE Filmworks [36]
Shots On Shots (with Sarkodie) NULL Nana Kofi Asihene [37]
That Could Be Us NULL Uprooted Media [38]
2015 One Day Trash Can EP Moe Musa [39]
Mutumina Mex Films [40]
Yawa Go Dey (Featuring Robbie Celeste) Cloud 9 Virals [41]
2015 Salute As a featured artiste N/A N/A [42]

Awards and nominations

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Event Prize Recipient Result Ref
2014 Ben Tv Awards Best Male Hip Hop Artist Himself Won [43]
The Future Africa Awards Prize in Entertainment Nominated [44]
2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Rap Act of the Year Won [45]
City People Entertainment Awards Rap Artiste of the Year Nominated [46]
Rap Album of the Year Fire of Zamani Nominated
MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 Best Hip Hop Himself Nominated [47]
World Music Awards World's Best Male Artist Nominated [48]
World's Best Live Act Nominated
World's Best Entertainer of the Year Nominated
2013 The Headies 2013 Artiste of the Year Nominated [49][50]
Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted African West Video "Aboki" Nominated [51]
Most Gifted Video of the Year Nominated
4syte Music Video Awards Best African Act Video Nominated [52]
Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) Best Hip Hop Video "V.I.P" Won [53]
Best Use of Visual Effects Nominated
MOBO Awards Best African Act Himself Nominated [54]
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Rap Act of the Year Won [55]
BET Awards 2013 Best International Act: Africa Won [56]
City People Entertainment Awards Best Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year Won [57]
Musician of the Year (Male) Nominated [58]
Best Rap Artiste of the Year Nominated
2012 Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Hip-hop Video of the Year "Superstar" Won [59]
Most Gifted Reggae Video of the Year "Juju" Nominated [60]
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Best Album of the Year Everybody Loves Ice Prince Nominated [61]
Best Rap Act of the Year Himself Nominated
BET Awards Best International Act: Africa Nominated [62]
The Headies 2012 Album of the Year Everybody Loves Ice Prince Nominated [63]
Best Rap Album Won
Artist of the Year Himself Nominated
Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year Nominated
Ghana Music Awards African Artist of the Year Won [64]
2011 The Headies 2011 Best Rap Single "Oleku"
(featuring Brymo)
Won [65]
Song of the Year Won
Best Collabo Nominated [66]
"Joor Oh (Remix)"
(Jahbless featuring Ice Prince, Durella, Reminisce, and eLDee)
Nominated
Best Street-Hop Artiste Nominated
Next Rated Ice Prince for "Oleku" Nominated
Lyricist on the Roll Nominated
Channel O Music Video Awards Most Gifted Newcomer Video "Oleku"
(featuring Brymo)
Won [67]
Most Gifted Hip Hop Video "Nobody Test Me"
(Jesse Jagz featuring M.I and Ice Prince)
Nominated [68]
Most Gifted Video of the Year "Molowo Noni"
(Samklef featuring Wizkid, D'Prince, and Ice Prince)
Nominated
Dynamix All Youth Awards Best New Artiste Himself Won [69]
Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) Best Contemporary Afro Video "Oleku"
(featuring Brymo)
Nominated [70]
Nigeria Entertainment Awards Hottest Single of the Year Won [71]
Best New Act of the Year Himself Nominated [72]
Best Rap Act of the Year Nominated
City People Entertainment Awards Song of the Year "Oleku"
(featuring Brymo)
Won [73]
Eko FM/ Radio Lagos Awards Young Artiste of the Year Himself Won
2010 Dynamix All Youth Awards Promising Artiste of the Year Nominated [74]
Song of the Year "Oleku"
(featuring Brymo)
Nominated
2009 Hennessy Artistry Club Tour Hennessy Artistry Himself Won [75]

References

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  2. "Ice Prince's 'Oleku': Official video for one of Nigeria's most remixed hits". thisisafrica. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
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  4. "The Ice Prince was crowned: Photos and all the scoop from the Hennessy Artistry 2009 Finale". Bellanaija. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
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