As effective a hook-maker as he is a recruiter of R&B and Afropop talent for his most notable hits, Nigerian rapper Ice Prince brings all to bear on Fire & Ice, his fourth full-length project. His career output includes numerous singles, EPs and compilation albums with former Chocolate City label mates (and Nigerian hip-hop stalwarts) M.I Abaga, Loose Kaynon and Jesse Jagz, among others.
On Fire & Ice, the Minna-born rapper blends Jamaican patois, Nigerian pidgin and braggy, seductive overtures to a love interest on “Tlc”. His lyrics balance the neediness of a charmed, well-off pursuer and his lover’s willingness to see beyond his imperfections: “Only fine girl wey like my big belly”. Ice Prince is in triumphant mood in “Calculate”, comparing himself to American boxing legend Muhammad Ali and slain Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba.
Roving electric guitars and a guest hook by Blaqbonez and ILLYTHEGREAT maintain proceedings, as the artists compliment each’s come-up story: “Back then na we dem dey castigate/But now we pull up, it’s looking like a mass parade,” raps Ice Prince. On “Accidentally”, Ice Prince links up with Seyi Vibez, whose penchant for slurry, treated vocals are as much influenced by Lil Wayne and Future as they are the product of fuji, the Yoruba subgenre pioneered by Ayinde Barrister. Already adept at radio-ready, midtempo collaborations with in-form Afropop singers, Ice Prince drills it down even further in “Shakara” with good help from a 3-2 clave rhythm and a frill-free hook from CKay. Over propulsive amapiano production by Rexxie, Ice Prince brag-raps about the joys and flex of sending and receiving cash deposits on “Bank Alert”, where Skiibii injects even more zest with his pidgin-laden guest verse. The remix features signature blends of English and Twi from Sarkodie, plus Hausa and pidgin from Magnito.
On “Lord Save Me”, Runnjozzy and Yaadman fka Yung L’s hook is set in a lush bed of sun-dappled piano and shakers. Ice Prince expands the track’s themes of liberation and helplessness to include personal and professional travails, as well as the harsh reality of big cities: “Lagos no dey tolerate novice/Landlord no send you, dem send notice.”
Get it here : https://album.link/i/1743958746
