Abolore Akande’s (9ice) Gongo Aso cleaned up at the record stores when it was released a couple of years back. It remains one of the biggest singles to come out from his stables since he launched out as a solo artist around the year 2000. Unofficially, Gongo Aso is also the swearless mainstreet single in Nigeria’s records history, completely devoid of foul words that have become the norm of modern day hit artists.
9ice music has a spiky, twisty, very pavement-like dynamism, while his witty, intelligent lyrics convey a world of shiftless intellectual cranks. The distinguished Law school drop-out, is now the focus of every day talks and speculation since he hinted at a very controvertible decision to combine the practice of politics and music. It culminates in a belief that he can do more for the society when he fuses both.
Back to his music career. The streak began with the success of his first single, Little Money. Then came Ganja Man, rhythmic and convalescing reggae swank that solidified his profile as a hit music writer. 9ice recorded songs covering success, originality, partying and women, as well as themes on the institution of marriage and gratitude.
Interestingly and at the same time contrasting, Fuji music, the Yoruba drum influenced fast-paced folk music was his first major step into music. That step was inspired by Pasuma Wonder, Ebenzer Obey, King Sunny, Late Alhaji Haruna Ishola. some of the biggest names in Nigeria music scene.
9ice’s development is shown, from precocious compositions adapting Yoruba and contemporary models in his hip-hop strums, to his individualist abstractions. Music watchers say it is a character built while struggling to foster a career-with his failed first group, Abinbi and the Mysterious boys, a band he joined after recording his first demo, Risi De Alagbaja.
Since late 2007, the Ogbomosho born singer, who willingly left his law studies for music, has featured prominently across Nigerian campuses in the SoundCity/MTN Campus Blast tours. He played a gig at the Mandela’s 90th birthday concert in London (Hyde Park).
He also was a main event at the Lets Go There Tour with Ariya Entertainment in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Maryland in 2008, the Star Mega Jam 2007 – 2010 and the London Troxy 2008, 2010 concerts.
All these shows and concerts were sold-out events. He also headlined sold out shows in Holland and Malaysia in October 2010 to mark Nigeria’s 50 years of independence. 2010 was also the year which 9ice embarked on a European tour covering Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
9ice is known for his use of the Yoruba language in his music, but mixes the Yoruba proverbs with English, broken English, Hausa and Ibo sometimes.
9ice compares himself to the Grammy Award winner, Senegalese Youssou N’Dour.
He has been quoted as saying “English language has been imposed on us but God graciously gave Yoruba language to us. 9ice has won 17 Awards since the start of his career.
He sees the MOBO Best African Act in 2008 Award he won as his greatest moment.
“I still aim at receiving what I consider the greatest award of all time, the Grammy Award,” he says
By: Moji Odusola
