by ‘Ifreke Inyang

Whether or not you believe it, the picture on the right is Iceprince. Yes, the same Iceprince that has brought us hits like Oleku, Superstar, etc. The picture shows the Chocolate City artiste back in the days as a struggling young man somewhere in Jos.

According to wikipedia, “Ice Prince was born Panshak Zamani in the city of Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. Early in life, aged two, he moved with his family to the mining city of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. In Jos he received his primary education at St. Murumba School, the same school that produced superstars P-Square and Mikel Obi. He attended the Science Tutorial College in Jos, where in 1998 he began writing hip hop music, which he described as ‘rubbish’, and performing it at secondary school parties, club days and formals. It was not until 2001 that he began going to studios to record and began meeting people”

“In 2002, he got together with a couple of his friends and formed a group called the Ecomog Squad. They had a few performances as a group and split a year later.In 2004 He met hit makers – the Abaga brothers – M.I. and Jesse Jagz at a young persons’ forum. Together with M.I., Jesse Jagz, Ruby, Lindsey, Eve, and Taz they became what is now known today as ‘Loopy’.”

Iceprince went on to win the Hennessey Artistry in 2009 and dropped Oleku in 2010. That single track shot him into stardom. Somebody say ‘Superstar’!

Oluwapelumi