CELEBRITIES

ICE PRINCE DECLARES: “I WAS MENTORED BY THE BEST RAPPER IN THE GAME”
LAGOS – Nigerian rap icon Ice Prince has sent shockwaves through the African hip-hop community by publicly acknowledging his career-long mentorship under none other than Jude "MI" Abaga, declaring him "the best rapper the game has ever seen" during an explosive interview on The Beat 99.9 FM.
"MI Made Me Who I Am" – Ice Prince's Emotional Revelation
The "Oleku" hitmaker got candid about his formative years:
"People don't know this, but MI didn't just sign me to Chocolate City – he personally trained me like a Jedi master trains his Padawan," Ice Prince revealed. "From bar structuring to breath control, from stage presence to business moves... that man is the complete MC blueprint."
He shared never-before-told stories of their early days:
Lyric Bootcamps: 6-hour daily writing sessions at MI's Abuja apartment
Freestyle Drills: Forced to rap over constantly changing beats
Industry Lessons: MI negotiating his first major endorsement deal
By the Numbers: MI's Legacy
The data supports Ice Prince's bold claim about his mentor:
✔ 14 Years as Africa's most awarded rapper
✔ 5 Classic Albums that redefined African hip-hop
✔ 23 Major Awards including multiple MTV Africa Music Awards
✔ First African Rapper featured on BET's 106 & Park
Industry Reactions
The revelation sparked immediate responses:
🎤 Vector: "Facts! MI's pen game is supernatural. Ask any Nigerian rapper – we all studied his work."
🎵 Jesse Jagz: "This is why Chocolate City was the African Def Jam in its prime."
📊 Olamide: "MI's influence? You can't measure it. He's the professor of this rap thing."
The Making of a Legend
Ice Prince detailed how MI's mentorship extended beyond music:
Personally funded his early studio sessions
Co-wrote his breakout hit "Superstar"
Taught him to balance commercial success with lyrical integrity
"He'd make me rewrite verses 15 times until every syllable was perfect," Ice Prince recalled. "That's why my early work hits different – it had MI's DNA all over it."
Passing the Torch
Now mentoring new artists himself, Ice Prince says he channels MI's methods:
"When I work with Blaqbonez or Odumodublvck, I'm giving them what MI gave me – that uncompromising standard of excellence."
"This represents a significant development in our ongoing coverage of current events."— Editorial Board