Multiple award winning rapper and Chocolate city’s star artiste, Ice
Prince Zamani once stayed at home due to lack of school fees and once
performed on stage with his pair of trousers ripped off, in this interview with
Nigerian Tribune,
he discussed these, his growing up years, career and more…See Excerpts below:
What was growing up
in Jos like?
It (Jos) was the most peaceful place on earth. Things were
rosy for us until my dad passed on in 1999. There were times I stayed at home
for two weeks because I had no school fees to pay; but I thank God because He
has kept me.
How is your Fire of
Zamani album doing in the market?
I think it’s the number one album in Nigeria now. I made
different tracks for different people and my fans are excited about it. I got
good reactions and good responses.
So, you’ve always
wanted to be a musician since your childhood?
Yes. I have always loved music. I had an uncle called
Dantala, who is a local artiste in Jos. I always watched him perform. But I
didn’t know I was going to become a musician till I got to secondary school. I
wanted to be a pilot, and then a doctor at some point; and so it kept changing.
But as time went on in secondary school, I started playing at social nights.
Who introduced you
into the music scene, professionally?
MI introduced me into the music industry back in Jos. I
joined our church choir and that was where I met MI. He was the choir leader,
while his brother, Jesse Jagz, was a drummer. That was how we became a family
and started living in the same house. MI taught me practically everything I
know about music; and when he left Jos, Jesse and I were left. But when he
became big as an artiste, we decided to join him in Lagos. And here we are.
So far, what have
been your most memorable moments on stage?
There have been a lot, but that would be when Chipmunk came
to Nigeria and we performed together. It was awesome because almost all the
Nigerian musicians were there and we had a feel of one another. It was a great
experience.
And your most
embarrassing moment?
I was in Sierra Leone (while) performing at the stadium and
my trousers got ripped off. It got ripped off all the way from the back to the
front and I had to put on a towel on my boxers throughout the performance. It
was really embarrassing, but my fans liked it and were even screaming. But to
me, it was really embarrassing.
You were featured in
the 2013 edition of the TV series, Shuga. Is that another part of you that we
should expect to see?
I like to play around with acting, but it is not something I
would want to do fulltime because for now, I will like to focus on music. When
I also did House of Gold with Yvonne Nelson and Omawumi, it was a random
conversation. I was just saying ‘oh, I want to act’ and Yvonne said she had a
job for me to do.
What’s the difference
between Ice Prince Zamani and Panshak Zamani?
There is no much difference. I am pretty much myself; but
you know as a public figure, they say I can’t go into any market whenever I
want. Generally, I still move around with the friends I grew up with, my crew
and producers. I don’t think anything has changed about me.
What’s your typical
day like?
I am an indoor person. I stay at home because I don’t like
to talk. If I am not going out for shows or interviews, I go downstairs to my
studio and record songs. I am a bit of an introvert.
For an artiste..?
Yes. Bob Marley was an introvert.
So how do you pamper
yourself?
How do I pamper myself? (Laughs) Why should I pamper myself?
I don’t see the need to. I am a man, not a woman; only women do all that. I
just get on my bed and sleep and wake up refreshed.
What’s the most
expensive gift you’ve got?
My car; but I won’t tell you how much (it costs) before some
people start making a fuss about it.
There was a time
people said you were bleaching on Twitter, and you did not find it funny. What
happened?
I was not pissed off; I only replied them saying ‘bad man
bleach, never that’. It did not mean I was upset. In fact, I laughed about it
because I don’t see how on earth I’m going to bleach. I’m black to the bones.
As you can see, I have really black knuckles, so when I put them on Instagram,
it looks like I bleached. For the record, I am not body-conscious. I don’t
powder my face; I don’t even use the mirror...
So you did not look
at the mirror this morning...?
(Laughs) Yes I did, that’s in respect of the field I have
found myself in. I am in the business of perception, where what people see
matters; but if I was not an artiste, I would not even cream my body.
There was a
performance you also did and pointed at rapper Eva Arlodiah, saying she was
your first girlfriend. What was that about?
Yes, she was performing with Emma Nyra and I said she was
the First Lady I dated when I came to Lagos. It’s true.
So, what happened?
Why did you break up?
I say when I first come Lagos nah! We were young and
exploring ourselves. We argued a lot.
Talking about your
son, Jamal; why did it take you so long to let your fans know about him?
It did not take me so long. From when he was born, my fans
knew I had a son; and he is just two years old. I always put him up on my
Twitter and Instagram. I always talk about him, and have never kept him away
from people.
Do you see him toeing
your music line?
Why not? I am never going to stop him from pursuing his
dreams. If he says he wants to be a musician, a doctor or a lawyer, why not?
The only thing I can do is guide him as a father.
When are you taking
the potential Mrs Zamani to the altar?
(Laughs) I am just 27 years old. I don’t have any brother or
mentor that got married at 27. So, I have about five years to go. I have to
make more money and build a house in Banana Island before I take a woman home.
What qualities do you
look out for in a woman before you get personal with her?
I just want her to be honest. I don’t care if she is
beautiful and has figure 8. I just want her to be honest, or we connect and
have telepathy.
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