Cover Stories, Music

“Ice Prince: ‘I’ll Always Be a Choc Boi at Heart’ – His Roots, Legacy and New Album Fire and Ice”

19 October

When you think of Nigerian music legends, it’s impossible to leave out the name Ice Prince. Panshak Zamani, popularly known as Ice Prince, has cemented his place among African music icons. From humble beginnings in the cold city of Jos, Nigeria, to performing in global arenas, Ice Prince has remained a force in the Afrobeats and hip-hop scene for over a decade. In this exclusive cover story — our biggest ever for KLAT Magazine — Ice Prince opens up about his legacy, his latest album Fire and Ice, his time at Chocolate City, and what the future holds.

From the moment the conversation starts, Zamani radiates that effortlessly cool energy. Dressed in a blue hooded jacket, red-tinted sunglasses, and iced-out jewelry adorning his neck, wrists, and fingers, he’s the picture of laid-back confidence. Flashing a relaxed smile, he says, “I feel good, everything nice,” capturing his signature charm. When asked to introduce himself, he responds in that unmistakably smooth tone that fans know so well:

“My name is Panshak Zamani aka Ice Prince, I come from Jos, the coldest city in Nigeria, West Africa. I’m a music artist that makes Afrobeats and hip-hop. I’ve been making music since my adolescence, since 1999. I’m just a nice guy that likes to stay icy.”

And icy, he has remained. With his distinctive flow, cool persona, and undeniable charisma, Ice Prince has been a major player in the music scene for years. His journey, however, began long before the world knew his name.

Zamani’s love for music started at the tender age of 11. He recalls fond memories of following his uncle, Dantala, who was a local music legend and a master of 27 different instruments, including the xylophone. “He was a huge influence on me. I used to follow him and watch him perform. I also sang tenor in my church choir, and that’s where my love for music really blossomed.”

It was clear to him at that point that music had always been in his blood. “At a younger age, I wanted to be a pilot, doctor, or soldier,” he admits with a laugh, “but once I followed my uncle and joined the church choir, I knew that music was what I wanted.”

‘Fast forward to 2024, and Ice Prince has just released his fourth studio album, Fire and Ice, his first record in six years. The album is a personal reflection of both sides of his character, and he couldn’t be more thrilled about it. “It represents me from both sides of the coin: the hot and the cold, the good and bad, the negative and positive, the ups and downs. I’m so excited to share this with the world.”

The album is particularly special to him, as it features collaborations with some of Nigeria’s rising stars, including Odumodu Blvck, Seyi Vibez, and PsychoYP. “It’s different from my previous albums because this time I worked with younger artists who grew up idolizing me. I learned so much from them, and it was exciting. They brought a fresh energy, and I improved on myself as an artist.”

While Ice Prince has released several albums, including the commercially acclaimed Everybody Loves Ice Prince in 2011, the renowned Fire Of Zamani in 2013 and Jos to the World (2016), Fire and Ice holds a special place in his heart. “This has been my favorite album to work on. It’s hard to put one over another, but this one stands out because of the younger generation involved. It’s also the one I can remember the fastest,” he chuckles.

Despite Zamani’s superstardom and extensive travels, the rapper holds Nigeria close to his heart, crediting the country for shaping him into the artist he is today.

“Growing up in Nigeria is a blessing because you can only learn street orientation there. It’s the biggest Black nation in the world, and it’s tough, but it makes you stronger. I wasn’t born poor or rich, but I experienced life on the streets, and I learned from my elders.”

“Every time I travel out, my body itches me to go back home”

For Ice, the global reach of African music is something that continues to amaze him. “The fact that our music connects people across the world is a beautiful thing,” he says, musing on his international performances and awards, including his BET and MOBO nominations. “I’ve performed in places like China, Malaysia, Singapore, and more, but South Korea was special.”

Earlier this year, he had the chance to perform in South Korea, an experience he says left a lasting impact. “When I got there, I was shocked by how many South Africans and Nigerians live there, I got to perform in Seoul and Busan, and even recorded a song with one of the hottest artists in South Korea. It was such a different environment, and I’d love to go back.”

His urge to have different experiences, led him to Wales, where the artist has been soaking in the Cardiff aura and has found himself surprisingly at home. “I used to think Cardiff was far from London where the action is, but now I love it. It reminds me of Jos, with its beautiful, smiling people, no traffic, and good food,” he shares, even admitting that if he were to buy a house in the UK, Cardiff would be his top choice. But the rapper isn’t just sitting back and relaxing.

In typical fashion, he’s bringing a taste of Nigeria to Cardiff with Chunesday Africa, one of the biggest parties in Lagos, now set to debut in Cardiff on the 20th of October. “I’ll be there with 9ice and all the mandem,” he adds, excited to recreate the colourful party scene from Lagos right in Wales.

As Ice mulls over his journey, he acknowledges that his story is far from over. “Next year will be interesting. I have a movie autobiography coming out called Me vs Me. It’s going to be epic, and I’m excited for my fans to learn about my life and how I grew up.” On top of the movie, he promises more music, more videos, and, in his words, “more fire, more ice.”

When I asked him about his time at Chocolate City, the top music record label led by Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugu, MI Abaga, and Jesse Jagz, which launched his career and he stayed a part of for 6 years, he remains deeply grateful for his time with the label, “Chocolate City is my family. They were the first to sign me and introduce me to the world, and for that, I’m forever grateful,” he says, but there’s an edge to his sentiment.

Unlike many artists who have public fallouts with their labels, Ice Prince’s departure was smoother on the surface—but you get the sense there’s more beneath. “When my contract ended and I wanted to start my own label, Super Cool Cats, they did a nice send-off for me. We’ve never had issues that couldn’t be sorted,” he hints.
“Even when we disagree, we know how to hash it out without putting that bad energy into the world.” It’s a subtle nod to the realities of the industry—relationships can be messy, but for Ice Prince, loyalty runs deep. “I’m not signed to them anymore, but I’ll always be a Choc Boi at heart. It’s in my DNA, it’s in my blood.“

As our interview wraps up, Ice Prince continues to charm with his humor and humility. His time with KLAT Magazine, he says, has been nothing short of “bombaaklat.” “You guys need to name this the Bombaklat edition!” he jokes.

Ice Prince’s New Album Fire and Ice is out now!

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