# Ice Prince

Panshak Henry Zamani (born 30 October 1986), better known as Ice Prince Zamani or just Ice Prince, is a Nigerian rapper, singer and songwriter. He rose to fame after releasing "Oleku", one of Nigeria's most remixed songs of all time. He won the 2009 Hennessy Artistry Club Tour. His debut studio album Everybody Loves Ice Prince was released in 2011. It was supported by three singles: "Oleku", "Superstar" and "Juju". In 2013, Ice Prince released Fire of Zamani as his second studio album. The album contained the singles "Aboki", "More", "Gimme Dat" and "I Swear". On 1 July 2015, Ice Prince was announced as the vice president of Chocolate City. He held the position until leaving the label in 2016. He has collaborated with several African rappers, including Navio, Khaligraph Jones, AKA, and Sarkodie.

## Early life and education

Ice Prince was born Panshak Henri Zamani in the city of Minna. At Age two, he moved with his family to the mining city of Jos, Plateau State. He is of Angas ethnicity. While residing in Jos, he attended St. Murumba College. He also attended the Science Tutorial Niger State College in Jos.

## Career
### 1999–2011: Everybody Loves Ice Prince

In 1999, he began writing rap songs and started performing them at school; in 2001 he began recording them. In 2002, he and some friends formed the "ECOMOG Squad" but split after a year. In 2004, he connected with M.I, Jesse Jagz, Ruby, Lindsey, Eve, Taz, and together they became what is now known today as the "Loopy Crew". He attended the University of Jos to study zoology, but had to stop because of a "financial constraint". During the aforementioned interview, Ice Prince opened up about why he chose to name his debut album, Everybody Loves Ice Prince. He said "What made me give my album that name was when I lost my Mum, really. There was so much love, so much care from all around the world. People really showed me love and it was after that incident that I came back to record my album and I thought what better name to call my album than Everybody Loves Ice Prince because I was shown love".
"Oleku", Ice Prince's first single off his debut album was met with great reception throughout Nigeria. The song was released under Chocolate City. Ice Prince's 'rap resume' has a long list of songs he's been featured on. He was featured on Taikoon's "Respect My Hustle" with Banky W, DJ Neptune's "This Gbedu Reloaded" with YQ & Shank, Bez's "Super Sun (Remix)" with ELDee & Eva Alordiah, YQ's "Efimile (Remix)" with Naeto C, M.I, Banky W, & ELDee, Pherowshuz's "Korrect (remix)" with M.I & Terry Tha Rapman, Dekunle Fuji's "Funmilayo" with Jesse Jagz, Jamix's "My Party" with Wizkid & Kel, Reminisce's "2 Mussh [Remix]" with Sauce Kid, and Knighthouse's "Make it Better" with Mo'Cheddah, Funbi, & Mobie, among others.

### 2012–2013: Fire of Zamani

In 2012, he began frequent collaborations with Grip Boiz City producer Chopstix, releasing "Aboki" in the summer of 2012. An accompanying music video was released alongside it. "Aboki" peaked at number 92 on Afribiz's Top 100 chart. On 28 August 2012, Ice Prince released "More" as the second single from the album. The song was also produced by Chopstix. The music video for "More" was shot and directed in London by Moe Musa. It stars Lola Rae, a British Nigerian recording artist known for her single "Watch My Ting Go". The video premiered at the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards.
On 25 January 2013, Ice Prince released "Aboki (Remix)"; he described the song as the "biggest African collision ever". The song features Sarkodie, Mercy Johnson, Wizkid, M.I and Khuli Chana. On 24 April 2013, Ice Prince and Chocolate City released "Gimme Dat" and "V.I.P" simultaneously. The former made the album's final track-listing, while the latter didn't.

### 2015–2016: Jos to the World and Super Cool Cats

In 2015, Ice Prince began making available singles from his third studio album. The eventual release of the album signified his first independent album outside Chocolate City record label. He revealed to Pulse he had Universal Studio in the US mix and master the album. On 10 March 2015, Ice Prince founded Super Cool Cats, right after his contract with Chocolate City expired. On 23 May 2016, at a press conference held at Chocolate City office in Lagos, Ice Prince unveiled Chocolate City, as the parent company of his record label, and a sub-division of Chocolate City. On 28 August 2016, Ice Prince unveiled Jilex Anderson at The Quilox Ultra Pool Party (#QUPP), as SCC first act. On 12 December 2020, Ice Prince announced the signing of Au Pro, on Twitter, via a tweet.
In September 2023, Ice Prince teased a new album featuring MI Abaga and Jesse Jagz.

### Musical influences

Ice Prince cited Notorious B.I.G., Rakim, Jay-Z, Common, Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Lauryn Hill, M.I and Jesse Jagz as his key musical influences.

## Personal life

Ice Prince has a son named Jamal.

## Filmography
### Film and television

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
| 2013 | House of Gold | Tony | Supporting role | |
| Television |||||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
| 2013 | Shuga (Season 3) | Himself | Guest appearance | |

## Videography

| Year | Title | Album | Director |
| 2011 | Oleku (Featuring Brymo) | Everybody Loves Ice Prince | Mex Films |
| 2011 | Superstar | Everybody Loves Ice Prince | Katung Aduwak |
| 2012 | More | Fire Of Zamani | Moe Musa |
| 2012 | Aboki | Fire Of Zamani | Phil Lee |
| 2013 | I Swear (featuring French Montana) | Fire Of Zamani | JR Saint |
| 2014 | Jambo | Fire Of Zamani | Sesan |
| 2014 | Whiskey (Featuring Sunny Nneji) | Fire Of Zamani | AJE Filmworks |
| 2014 | Shots On Shots (with Sarkodie) | Non Album Single | Nana Kofi Asihene |
| 2014 | That Could Be Us | Non Album Single | Uprooted Media |
| 2015 | One Day | Trash Can EP | Moe Musa |
| 2015 | Mutumina | Trash Can EP | Mex Films |
| 2015 | Yawa Go Dey(Featuring Robbie Celeste) | Trash Can EP | Cloud 9 Virals |
| 2016 | Jos To The World | Jos To The World | UAiMAGES |
| 2017 | No Mind Dem (featuring Vanessa Mdee) | Jos To The World | SOS Media |
| 2018 | Replay (Produced by Masterkraft It's on the beat) | TBA | SOS Media |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result |
| 2018 | The Headies | Best Rap single | Me Versus Me | Pending |
| 2014 | Ben TV Awards | Best Male Hip Hop Artist | Himself | Won |
| 2014 | The Future Africa Awards | Prize in Entertainment | Himself | Nominated |
| 2014 | 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Rap Act of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2014 | City People Entertainment Awards | Rap Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2014 | City People Entertainment Awards | Rap Album of the Year | Fire of Zamani | Nominated |
| 2014 | MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 | Best Hip Hop | Himself | Nominated |
| 2014 | World Music Awards | World's Best Male Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2014 | World Music Awards | World's Best Live Act | Himself | Nominated |
| 2014 | World Music Awards | World's Best Entertainer of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2013 | The Headies 2013 | Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2013 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted African West Video | "Aboki" | Nominated |
| 2013 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Video of the Year | "Aboki" | Nominated |
| 2013 | 4syte Music Video Awards | Best African Act Video | "Aboki" | Nominated |
| 2013 | Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) | Best Hip Hop Video | "V.I.P" | Won |
| 2013 | Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) | Best Use of Visual Effects | "V.I.P" | Nominated |
| 2013 | MOBO Awards | Best African Act | Himself | Nominated |
| 2013 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Rap Act of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2013 | BET Awards 2013 | Best International Act: Africa | Himself | Won |
| 2013 | City People Entertainment Awards | Best Hip-Hop Artiste of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2013 | City People Entertainment Awards | Musician of the Year (Male) | Himself | Nominated |
| 2013 | City People Entertainment Awards | Best Rap Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2012 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Hip-hop Video of the Year | "Superstar" | Won |
| 2012 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Reggae Video of the Year | "Juju" | Nominated |
| 2012 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Album of the Year | Everybody Loves Ice Prince | Nominated |
| 2012 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Rap Act of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2012 | BET Awards | Best International Act: Africa | Himself | Nominated |
| 2012 | The Headies 2012 | Album of the Year | Everybody Loves Ice Prince | Nominated |
| 2012 | The Headies 2012 | Best Rap Album | Everybody Loves Ice Prince | Won |
| 2012 | The Headies 2012 | Artist of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2012 | The Headies 2012 | Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2012 | Ghana Music Awards | African Artist of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2011 | The Headies 2011 | Best Rap Single | "Oleku" (featuring Brymo) | Won |
| 2011 | The Headies 2011 | Song of the Year | "Oleku" (featuring Brymo) | Won |
| 2011 | The Headies 2011 | Best Collabo | "Oleku" (featuring Brymo) | Nominated |
| 2011 | The Headies 2011 | Best Collabo | "Joor Oh (Remix)" (Jahbless featuring Ice Prince, Durella, Reminisce, and eLDee) | Nominated |
| 2011 | The Headies 2011 | Best Street-Hop Artiste | "Joor Oh (Remix)" (Jahbless featuring Ice Prince, Durella, Reminisce, and eLDee) | Nominated |
| 2011 | The Headies 2011 | Next Rated | Ice Prince for "Oleku" | Nominated |
| 2011 | The Headies 2011 | Lyricist on the Roll | Ice Prince for "Oleku" | Nominated |
| 2011 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Newcomer Video | "Oleku" (featuring Brymo) | Won |
| 2011 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Hip Hop Video | "Nobody Test Me" (Jesse Jagz featuring M.I and Ice Prince) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Video of the Year | "Molowo Noni" (Samklef featuring Wizkid, D'Prince, and Ice Prince) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Dynamix All Youth Awards | Best New Artiste | Himself | Won |
| 2011 | Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) | Best Contemporary Afro Video | "Oleku" (featuring Brymo) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Hottest Single of the Year | "Oleku" (featuring Brymo) | Won |
| 2011 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best New Act of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2011 | Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best Rap Act of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2011 | City People Entertainment Awards | Song of the Year | "Oleku" (featuring Brymo) | Won |
| 2011 | Eko FM/ Radio Lagos Awards | Young Artiste of the Year | Himself | Won |
| 2010 | Dynamix All Youth Awards | Promising Artiste of the Year | Himself | Nominated |
| 2010 | Dynamix All Youth Awards | Song of the Year | "Oleku" (featuring Brymo) | Nominated |
| 2009 | Hennessy Artistry Club Tour | Hennessy Artistry | Himself | Won |