Is 9ice The Hottest Artiste Right Now?

The emergence of Bashorun 9ice in the music
industry is perhaps one of the many best
things to ever have happened. Even if chance
prevails, I highly doubt that we would ever
lose memory of events created by a variety
of his sonorous tunes. Having ruled the
airwaves and dominated several charts and
playlist platforms, 9ice had set the tone for a
fusion of African sound (particularly in the
Yoruba culture) that the present new school
cats have learned, adopted and revamped.
9ice set himself on a pedestal using a distinct
music style that could be told apart from
others. His message doted on pressing, yet
very relatable issues that ranged from
personal human experiences to challenges in
hierarchical social (dis)orders of any typical
society. This, he successfully achieved using a
signature raspy voice that immediately
registered his music persona to fans and
listeners in general. Love it or not, 9ice was a
legend-in-the-making.
However, as seems to be the case with
everything good and progressive, 9ice was
plagued with the kind of drama that
hampered his objective focus in doing music.
This happenstance ultimately led to a terrible
decline in his musical career. Not only did his
prominence experience some diminish, he
was relegated from a revered status to a
vaguely unfamiliar one. By and large, when
this circumstance becomes the lot of an
artiste, it is safe to say that artiste has lived
and maxed out on their creative potential.
Simply put, 9ice was done, and there was no
coming back from how far he had gone, and
the reputable standard he and his music
person had set. But you see, unlike some
fellows who suffer a downward slope like
this, and lose hope, 9ice forged on, although
with hapless consistency. Still, these
unsavoury events couldn’t negate him from
carrying out his music responsibilities. It’s
just too bad that at the time, his vibe had lost
place value in the ears of the music audience.
And that explains why consecutive singles
and as much as 4 albums, which were
released in double offerings, under a two-
year period went by just like that because the
audience had fast gravitated from him and
his person in-the-music.
More of that reason can be tied to the
industry’s growing demand for new sound
especially as the new school cats had
successfully launched, and were utterly
vested in their programme of taking over.
Because the dynamics had totally changed,
parameters that qualified anyone for
association were but not entirely restricted
to;
– Basking youth
– Hip life of a reckless nature, and
– A trendy disposition
This didn’t appear to be accommodating of
their alumni, and clearly all of this wasn’t
9ice. I remember a colleague said even his
music videos weren’t doing much to advance
his craft as is the logic behind many songs
that ‘blow’ after it’s been torched into an
engaging visual by a video director. That is
very noteworthy infact. So how was he going
to bring it all back?
Fast track moments after to the
announcement of the ID Cabasa album. Some
of us felt this man was over reaching, and
this time trying to use his age long friend and
producer to sell it. When the news broke
that he had been picked up by Temple
Management (the same platform whose
clientele include the Mavins) well, it did
kinda foretell greater expectations and newer
accomplishments, only we didn’t think it’ll be
this soon.
9ice may not be back on the music charts
because many are still in denial that a ‘has-
been’ (please pardon that choice of word)
can effectively pull off a comeback. Who
would have believed that it was a project
dedicated to ID Cabasa both in efforts
expended and proceeds generated that would
unlock his re-emergence on the music scene?
Because the truth is 9ice hasn’t changed. Not
necessarily to fit in with the current industry
trend, but to observe compliance with the
new dynamic that exists, which is why you
can find him working with producers like
Young John, DJ Coublon and Krizbeatz. His
creative package, his musical offering, the
message and his voice, all remain unchanged.
So when Economy became the new jam
around town, despite that it took a bit to
gain some traction, it was like what really
was going on here? Then Living Things
happened, and has quickly become a highly
sought after tune by all and sundry. I saw
9ice perform at this year’s edition of the
Corporate Elite show and when Living Things
cued in, my bewilderment was in the fact that
the guests were hollering out the lines from
that song like it was the utterly famed Gongo
Aso. Everybody knew it. It is such a big
sound that it enjoys rotational play at the
places where it really matters. It is such a big
sound that Davido has already been featured
on the remix. It is such a big sound that his
fans abroad can’t wait to see and hear him
perform it at this year’s London edition of
the One Africa Music Fest happening this
month.
Just yesterday, my attention was drawn to a
song Irapada , I’m sure a majority of you
know it. It’s by some underground street cat
called Junior Boy. It features 9ice. And from
the facts presented, it appears that it is the
biggest song on the streets right now. But for
the heated argument that ensued at my office
yesterday over a variety of thoughts
presented from both ardent fans, 9ice
fanatics and music industry spectators, it is
possible that 9ice may have successfully
launched a comeback right before our
unseeing eyes. It is also possible that he is,
maybe not the hottest artiste right now per
se, but he will definitely make a top spot
should a roll call be drawn up. It is possible
too that Living Things is one of the hottest
sounds at the moment, going by certain
measuring standards that I cannot find the
appropriate expression for.
Notwithstanding, there is the wildest thought
that everything 9ice is experiencing now is
only fleeting. As in, this is as good as it can
get for 9ice because he’d already hit a career
high point that he can’t come back from or
advance past, having lived out that period
when he was the deal of the moment. Some
of us are finding it hard to shake off that
feeling while wresting at the same time with
the theories that state he is back. But what
say you? Is there at all any truth to this
premise, even in hindsight? Please help to
speculate.
Written by Jim Donnett
@jimancipation

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