Veteran Nigerian rapper Ice Prince has paid tribute to his long-time mentor MI Abaga, revealing that the enduring lyricist was instrumental in shaping his profession and instructing him the right way to rap.
In a candid dialog on content material creator Isbaeu’s Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast, Ice Prince described MI as a “massive brother” whose mentorship laid the muse for his success within the music trade. He credited MI not solely with honing his lyrical means but additionally instilling the self-discipline and professionalism which have outlined his profession.
“I rapped with MI for years. That’s my massive brother—he taught me how to do that, and he taught me effectively,” Ice Prince mentioned. “I can rap on any beat, with anyone, any rapper, and I’ll stand out. I’m not going to have a wack verse on a track. I used to be introduced up by one of the best. Shout out to MI Abaga.”
He emphasised that his years of coaching underneath MI’s steering gave him a lyrical edge that has helped him constantly ship robust performances. “I’m not saying different rappers can’t do their factor, however it may’t be mentioned that I’m wack,” he added.
Ice Prince burst onto the Nigerian music scene in 2011 with Oleku, a breakout hit from his debut album All people Loves Ice Prince, adopted by chart-topping singles like Famous person that cemented his standing as certainly one of Nigeria’s most interesting rap exports.
Exterior of music, Ice Prince has been open about his private struggles, notably his monetary hardships rising up. In a December 2024 interview on Hear with Osi, the rapper revealed he missed out on a college training attributable to his incapacity to lift simply ₦20,000 for registration.
“I used to be the man who would spend not less than three weeks out of each college time period at house due to college charges,” he mentioned. “I didn’t go to school due to ₦20,000—which is like one spliff now. I had two weeks to pay and couldn’t give you it. That’s how I misplaced the admission and have become a studio rat.”
Regardless of early setbacks, Ice Prince’s resilience and expertise—sharpened underneath MI Abaga’s mentorship—have led him to turn into certainly one of Nigeria’s most revered voices in hip-hop.
