9ice

Early days
Abolore Adegbola Akande (born January 17, 1980), better known by his stage name 9ice, is a Nigerian musician with a classic style of music. 9ice is a south-westerner from Ogbomoso in Oyo State but he grew up in the district of Bariga in Lagos.

The Break through
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 titled "Gongo Aso".

School Days
9ice attended Abule Okuta 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 derives his inspiration from his environment, and music from the likes of Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, Tatalo Alamu, Late Alhaji Ayinla Omowura, Late Alhaji Haruna Ishola.

Influence
9ice’s style was largely shaped by his 75 year-old grand mother 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 to 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.

Major Break
The first major break for 9ice came from his first single title Little Money and not long after then he did collaborations with different Nigerian artist that immediately prompted the release of another hit single title Ganja Man. Id.Cabasa produced Ganja Man which was released with other songs in march 2006. The reggae tone and playful style of the song made it an instant hit. He later found his own record company and release all other album under his label ALapomeji Records.

Solo album and sophomore break
9ice followed 'Ganja Man' with the single 'Gongo Aso' which became the title of his second 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, Mandela's 90th birthday in London (Hyde Park), Lets Go There Tour With Ariya Entertainment in NY, LA, Chicago, Houston, Maryland 2008, Star Mega Jam 2007 - 2010, London Troxy 2008, 2010. 9ice performed at the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute concert (singing "Gongo Aso") in London on June 27, 2008.[1] All these shows and concerts were sold-out events. He also headlined sold out shows in Holland and Malaysia in October 2010 to mark his country's 50 years independence anniversary. 2010 was also the year which 9ice embarked on a European tour covering some parts of Italy, Spain and Switzerland. 9ice also performed live in Cyprus at Lions garden where many if not all the Nigerian students where in attendance.


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.'

Discography
Certificate (2007)
Gongo Aso (2008)
Tradition (2009)
Versus (2011)
Bashorun Gaa (2011)
Deluxe version Versus & Bashorun Gaa (2011)

Awards
Dynamix awards most promising act 2007
Nigerian entertainment awards most indigenous act 2007
Mobo best African act 2008
MTV base best hiphop act 2008
Dynamix awards best song of the year 2008
Gbedu awards 2008
Hiphop world awards best vocal performance male 2008
Hiphop world awards revelation of the year 2008
Nigerian entertainment awards best act 2008
Nigerian independence awards best act of the year 2008
Hiphop world awards best album 2009
Hiphop world awards best act 2009
Hiphop world awards best song 2009
City people's award 2009
Future awards
LTv/Eko fm awards
Nigerian music awards

Ambassador
UN youth ambassador
Environmental ambassador
46664 Nelson Mandela



References: Wikipedia, Mandela blog