Black Celebrity Star Profile:9ice

9ice: (born Abolore Adegbola Akande on January 17, 1980) is a Nigerian musician.
9ice performed at the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute concert (singing "Gongo Aso") in London on June 27, 2008.
At the March 2008 edition of the Hip Hop World Awards held in Nigeria, 9ice won the Revelation of the Year award and the Best Male Vocal Performer. A month later at the first Soundcity Music Video Awards, 9ice was nominated in the category of Best New Artiste. 9ice's biggest single is entitled "Gongo Aso

Biography

9ice is a south-westerner from Ogbomoso in Oyo State but he grew up in the district of Bariga in Lagos. 9ice attended Abeokuta Primary School and CMS Grammar School, and dropped out from his Law course at the Lagos State University to concentrate on music. He grew up in a polygamous home of five wives and nine children. His parents found about his singing career a year after it started around 2000. Before then, 9ice wrote his own songs dating back to when he was just 14 years old. It is worth noting that as a big fan of Pasuma Wonder, he kick-started his singing career with Fuji music. He is also a big fan of Obesere, popularly known as Oba Alashakasha - the sleaze king of fuji music in Nigeria

Influence

9ice’s style was largely shaped by his 75 year-old grandmother who he claimed taught him all he came to know about the culture, and the use of the language of Yoruba. In his words, 'she hardly says anything without using proverbs or anecdotes to drive home her points. So, when I was trying to be creative with my music, I thought of doing something different and that is why I make use of deep Yoruba words in my songs…'

Early Career

After recording his first demo, 9ice joined a group called Mysterious Boys with whom he did a couple of tracks before going on the form his own, now defunct, group Abinibi. Having recorded his first demo titled Risi De Alagbaja in 1996 and his first solo song, Little Money in 2000, 9ice had to wait till 2005 before himself and his music started gaining recognition in the Nigerian music market.
The first major break for 9ice then came after he featured in 2Shotz’s Make Dem Talk. It was not long after then that 9ice officially released the first single, Little Money, off his Certificate album. After signing with Edge Records in 2006, 9ice produced Ganja Man which was released in the December of that year. The reggae tone and playful style of the song made it an instant hit

Solo album and sophomore break

9ice followed 'Ganja Man' with the single 'Gongo Aso' which became the title of his sophomore album. In that effort, 9ice recorded songs covering success, originality, partying and women, as well as themes on the institution of marriage and gratitude

Live Shows

Since late 2007 9ice has featured prominently across Nigerian campuses in the Soundcity/MTN Campus Blast tours.

His Style

9ice is known for his use of Yoruba language in his music. Non-Yoruba listeners may be excluded from his music. He seeks to keep a balance between keeping a wider fan base and maintaining his originality. 9ice compares himself to "Youssou N'Dour" who has won a couple of Grammy with music recorded in his mother tongue, and Yvonne Chaka-Chaka whose music has also embraced her language. He has been quoted as saying 'English Language has been imposed on us but God graciously gave Yoruba language to us.’ 9ice also performed live in Cyprus at Lions garden where many if not all the Nigerian students where in attendance.
discography Certificate (2006) Gongo aso (2008)

Awards

2008 MOBO Awards - Best African Act
2008 MTV Africa Music Awards - Best hiphop