Nigerian rapper Ice Prince has confidently addressed his standing in the music industry, asserting that his technical skill ensures he never delivers subpar verses.
During a recent interview on the Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast, the artist born Panshak Zamani emphasized his rigorous training under mentor and rap icon MI Abaga as foundational to his craft.
“I can rap on any beat with any rapper and still stand out. I’m not going to have a wack verse on a song,” Ice Prince stated, acknowledging peers while underscoring his distinct style. The Jos-born artist, known for hits like Oleku and Superstar, credited his formative years collaborating with MI Abaga, whom he described as both a mentor and “big brother.” Their partnership, rooted in Jos’ influential hip-hop scene, helped shape Nigeria’s rap landscape during the late 2000s.
Ice Prince’s career trajectory reflects this mentorship. After signing with Chocolate City, a label pivotal in elevating African hip-hop, he released his debut album Everybody Loves Ice Prince in 2011, blending rap with Afrobeat and pop. His rise paralleled that of other Jos talents, including Jesse Jagz, creating a regional hub for lyrical innovation.
The rapper’s comments arrive amid renewed interest in Nigeria’s hip-hop legacy, often overshadowed by the global ascent of Afrobeats. While genres evolve, Ice Prince’s emphasis on technical rigor highlights an enduring thread in the country’s music narrative: the role of apprenticeship. MI Abaga, often hailed as Nigeria’s rap laureate, has similarly nurtured emerging artists, suggesting a generational handover crucial to sustaining the genre’s relevance.
As streaming platforms amplify Africa’s diverse sounds, Ice Prince’s stance reaffirms hip-hop’s place in the continent’s artistic identity. His confidence, tempered by homage to his roots, underscores a broader dynamic in Nigerian music where reverence for pioneers coexists with the assertive creativity of new waves.
Whether this balance will revive hip-hop’s commercial prominence remains uncertain, but for now, artists like Ice Prince continue bridging eras through both rhyme and legacy.
