reason why ice prince zamani left chocolate city

Nigerian music star Ice Prince Zamani has announced that he is officially out of contract with foremost Nigerian record label Chocolate City music and the situation has caused quite some uproar on social media. The Aboki rapper did media rounds today, May 19 in promotion of his latest single Chike featuring Mavin Records star Korede Bello and he opened up about the situation at Cool FM and Beat FM in Lagos.

. Ice Prince signed to Chocolate City in 2010 under the tutelage of Audu Maikori and went on to hit prominence in the Nigerian and African music industry with several hit songs such as Oleku, Aboki, I Swear, Gimme Dat, Can I Talk and N Word among others. Before now, there were speculations that the 29-year-old was uncomfortable with certain activities at the music label and wanted out hence the subtle promotion of his new music imprint Super Cool Cats, but he denied every such thing stating that Chocolate City is family and he will remain with the label come what may. However, in his announcement today May 19, the rapper told Toolz of Beat FM that he is still a part of the label in other aspects, even though his contract has expired hence his decision to move on. He said that spiritually he is still with Chocolate City but has only chosen to do things a different way for now. He also downplayed rumours of any rift in- house which led to his public declaration of leaving the label.

Chocolate City artiste Jesse Jagz. Credit: Obi Somto The rapper also told Cool FM during his interview that his contract expired two years back but he chose not to make it public owing to his relationship with the label’s executive.Regardless of his decision to move on following the expiration of the contract, the rapper added that he still has a superb working relationship with the Chocolate City, his former label mates and the label’s executives. NAIJ.com sought to get a clearer picture on the situation and so we reached Chocolate City music for an official statement but a label representative said that the company is not willing to address the issue yet until a press briefing is ready.

Former Chocolate City artiste Brymo When we probed further to know the exact situation between Ice Prince and the label executives, his former label mates and the exact reason(s) the rapper left the company after a streak of successful years musically, the rep told us that a press briefing is being planned and scheduled to hold on Monday, May 23 at the label’s office in Lagos.In response to our questions on the rapper’s new imprint Super Cool Cats, the rep stated that Ice Prince is still a part of Chocolate City even though out of contract as an artiste. He added that on May 23 Chocolate City will be addressing the new Super Cool Cats movement by Ice Prince and Jagz Nation by Jesse Jagz.He also stated that Chocolate City is in fact going to unveil both new imprints by the music stars, an allusion to the fact there is an existing working relationship between the label and the artistes. Ice Prince is not the first artiste to exit the label.In May 2012, Jesse Jagz left the label and went on to make music independently under Jagz Nation but returned in April, 2015 to the label under the new management structure. Similarly in 2013, Brymo left the label unceremoniously after a widely publicized spat with label executive Audu Maikori.

Former Chocolate City artiste Milli The Ara singer cited several reasons for his action and then went on to sign with Tate Music Group in 2015. In 2016, fast rising rapper Milli also left the label amid several speculations of a crack in-house. Against this back drop, critics and insiders hold that there are issues with the internal operations and management strategies at the label which has seen the artistes lose focus and drive in the once-flourishing entertainment venture.