Ice Prince, whose real name is Panshak Henry Zamani, is one of the most successful and influential hip hop artists in Nigeria and Africa. He has won several awards, collaborated with many local and international stars, and released multiple hit songs and albums. But how did he achieve all this from humble beginnings in Jos, a city known for its cold weather and mining activities? This blog post will explore his biography, career, and achievements.
Early Life and Education
Ice Prince was born on October 30, 1984, in Minna, Niger State, to Mr. and Mrs. Nasara Zamani. He is of Angas ethnicity and hails from Plateau State. He has two sisters, Liz and Julie, and he is the only son of his late parents. When he was two years old, his family moved to Jos, where he spent most of his childhood and adolescence.
He attended St. Murumba College, a Catholic secondary school in Jos, where he developed his interest in music and rap. He also attended Science Tutorial Niger State College and the University of Jos, where he studied zoology. However, he had to drop out of the university due to financial constraints after his parents passed away.
Music Career
Ice Prince started writing rap songs and performing at school events when he was 15 years old. In 2002, he formed a group called ECOMOG Squad with some friends, but they disbanded after a year. In 2004, he met M.I, Jesse Jagz, Ruby, Lindsey, Eve, Taz, and others, who formed the Loopy Crew, a collective of rappers and producers based in Jos.
In 2008, he participated in the Hennessy Artistry competition, where he met Audu Maikori, the CEO of Chocolate City, a record label that signed him in 2009. He also won the Hennessy Artistry Club Tour that year, beating other contestants like Bez, Mo’Cheddah, and Blaise.
In 2010, he released his first single under Chocolate City, “Oleku”, featuring Brymo, which became one of the most remixed songs of all time in Nigeria. The song catapulted him to fame and earned him several nominations and awards, including the 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards for Most Gifted Newcomer Video and the 2011 The Headies for Song of the Year and Best Rap Single.
In 2011, he released his debut album, Everybody Loves Ice Prince, which featured guest appearances from Wizkid, 2face Idibia, Yung L, J-Milla, and more. The album was a commercial and critical success, spawning other hit singles like “Superstar” and “Juju”. It also won him the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards for Most Gifted Hip Hop Video and the 2012 Ghana Music Awards for African Artist of the Year.
In 2013, he released his second album, Fire of Zamani, which featured collaborations with French Montana, Wale, Chip, Sunny Neji, Burna Boy, Olamide, and more. The album was also well received, producing singles like “Aboki”, “More”, “Gimme Dat”, and “I Swear”. It also earned him the 2013 BET Awards for Best International Act: Africa and the 2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for Best Rap Act of the Year.
In 2015, he was appointed as the vice president of Chocolate City, a position he held until he left the label in 2016. He then launched his own imprint, Super Cool Cats, under which he released his third album, Jos to the World, in 2016. The album featured artists like Tiwa Savage, Timaya, Yemi Alade, Phyno, and more. It also contained singles like “Excellency”, “Trillions”, and “No Mind Dem”.
In 2018, he released his fourth album, C.O.L.D, which was an EP of eight tracks, featuring Remy Baggins, JethroFaded, KaySwitch, and more. The EP included songs like “Hit Me Up”, “Las Gidi No.1 Chic”, and “Shutdown”.
In 2019, he released his fifth album, Live and Die in Africa, which was a tribute to his continent and its culture. The album featured artists like Diamond Platnumz, Vanessa Mdee, M.I, Sarkodie, and more. It also had songs like “Feel Good”, “Born in Naija”, and “In A Fix”.
In 2020, he released his sixth album, The Prince I Became, which was a reflection of his journey and growth as an artist and a person. The album featured artists like Tekno, Oxlade, Skales, and more. It also had songs like “Make Up Your Mind”, “Kolo”, and “Bicycle Boy”.
Acting Career
Apart from music, Ice Prince has also ventured into acting, appearing in several movies and TV shows. He made his acting debut in 2014, starring in the comedy film House of Gold, alongside Yvonne Nelson, Majid Michel, Omawumi, and more. He also starred in the 2015 drama film Shuga, alongside Tiwa Savage, Chris Attoh, Emmanuel Ikubese, and more.
He also appeared in the 2016 comedy film Gbomo Gbomo Express, alongside Osas Ighodaro, Gideon Okeke, Ramsey Nouah, and more. He also featured in the 2018 romantic comedy film Road to Yesterday, alongside Genevieve Nnaji, Oris Erhuero, Majid Michel, and more.
He also had a role in the 2019 action thriller film Merry Men 2, alongside Ramsey Nouah, AY Makun, Jim Iyke, Falz, and more. He also starred in the 2020 comedy film Kpali, alongside Nkem Owoh, Ini Dima-Okojie, Linda Ejiofor, and more.
Personal Life
Ice Prince has a son named Jamal Zamani, who was born in 2011. He had him with his former girlfriend, Bimbo Babatunde, a fashion designer. He has also been romantically linked with other women, such as Yvonne Nelson, Eva Alordiah, and Maima Nkewa.
He is also a philanthropist, who supports various causes and initiatives, such as the ONE Campaign, the Future Awards Africa, and the Jos Chillin’ Project. He is also a brand ambassador for several companies and products, such as DStv, Etisalat, Skye Bank, and Four Loko.
Who Are Some Of Ice Prince's Collaborators?
Ice Prince has collaborated with many local and international artists, such as:
Brymo, a Nigerian singer and songwriter, who featured on Ice Prince’s breakthrough hit “Oleku” .
French Montana, a Moroccan-American rapper, who featured on Ice Prince’s song “I Swear” from his second album Fire of Zamani.
Wale, a Nigerian-American rapper, who also featured on Fire of Zamani, on the song “Tipsy” .
Sarkodie, a Ghanaian rapper, who featured on Ice Prince’s song “Feel Good” from his fifth album Live and Die in Africa.
Janelle Monae, an American singer and actress, who featured on Ice Prince’s song “Givin Em What They Love” from his third album Jos to the World.
These are just some of the many collaborators that Ice Prince has worked with over the years. He has also collaborated with other artists like AKA, Diamond Platnumz, Tiwa Savage, M.I, and more
What Is Ice Prince's Most Popular Song?
According to the web search results, Ice Prince’s most popular song is “Oleku”, which was released in 2010 and featured Brymo. The song is one of Nigeria’s most remixed songs of all time and won several awards and nominations
What Are Some Of The Awards Ice Prince Has Won?
Ice Prince has won several awards throughout his career, such as:
The BET Award for Best International Act: Africa in 2013
The Channel O Music Video Award for Most Gifted Hip Hop Video in 2012
The Ghana Music Award for African Artist of the Year in 2012
The The Headies Award for Song of the Year and Best Rap Single in 2011
The Hennessy Artistry Club Tour in 2009
These are just some of the many accolades that Ice Prince has received for his music and talent. He is one of the most successful and influential hip hop artists in Nigeria and Africa
Ice Prince Net Worth
Ice Prince’s net worth is estimated at $5 million as of 2024. He is one of the richest rappers in Nigeria and Africa, who has made his fortune from his music and acting career. He has released six albums, won several awards, and starred in many movies. He is also a philanthropist and a brand ambassador for various companies and products.
Controversy And Activism Of Ice Prince
Ice Prince has been involved in some controversy and activism throughout his career. Some examples are:
In 2014, he was accused of cheating on his girlfriend, Maima Nkewa, with a married woman named Aara. He denied the allegations and defended his relationship with Maima.
In 2015, he joined other Nigerian celebrities in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, which demanded the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls by the terrorist group Boko Haram.
In 2016, he released a song titled “N Word Remix” featuring AKA, which addressed racism and police brutality in Nigeria and South Africa. The song was inspired by the #EndSARS protests, which called for the disbandment of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
In 2017, he donated $10,000 to the victims of the mudslide in Sierra Leone, which killed over 1,000 people and displaced thousands more.
In 2018, he participated in the One Africa Music Fest in London, which aimed to promote African music and culture to the world.
In 2019, he spoke out against the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa, which sparked a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. He urged his fans to pray for peace and unity in Africa.
In 2020, he supported the #EndPoliceBrutality campaign, which was a continuation of the #EndSARS movement. He also released a song titled “Make Up Your Mind” featuring Tekno, which encouraged his listeners to make positive choices in life.
Conclusion
Ice Prince is undoubtedly one of the most talented and versatile artists in Nigeria and Africa. He has proven his skills and creativity in music and acting, as well as his passion and generosity in giving back to society. He is a role model and an inspiration to many young and aspiring artists, who look up to him for his achievements and success. He is truly a superstar who rose from the cold city of Jos.
