Fire of Zamani

Fire of Zamani (abbreviated as FOZ) is the second studio album by Nigerian hip hop recording artist Ice Prince. It was released by Chocolate City on October 28, 2013. The album was executively produced by Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo, Yahaya Maikori, and Jude Abaga. It was mastered by Sean Stan of Vintage Sounds Production.[1] The album's production was primarily handled by Chopstix, a member of Grip Boiz City, along with additional production from Don Jazzy, Jay Sleek, Sammy Gyang, and E-Kelly. It features guest appearances from Sunny Neji, Wale, M.I, Chip, Ruby Gyang, Wizkid, French Montana, Jesse Jagz, Olamide, Sound Sultan, Burna Boy, Yung L, Jeremiah Gyang, Shaydee, and Morell.[2] The album was supported by four singles—"Aboki", "More", "Gimme Dat", and "I Swear". It was marketed to East Africans by the distribution platform Mdundo.[3]

Fire of Zamani
Studio album by Ice Prince
Released	October 28, 2013 (2013-10-28)
Recorded	2012-2013
Genre	Hip hop Afrobeats dancehall reggae highlife
Length	61:00
Label	Chocolate City
Producer	Audu Maikori (exec.) Paul Okeugo (exec.) Yahaya Maikori (exec.) Jude Abaga (exec.) Chopstix Don Jazzy Jay Sleek Sammy Gyang E-Kelly
Ice Prince chronology
Everybody Loves Ice Prince (2011) Fire of Zamani (2013) Trash Can (2015)
Singles from Fire of Zamani
"Aboki" Released: August 28, 2012 "More" Released: August 28, 2012 "Gimme Dat" Released: April 24, 2013 "I Swear" Released: September 9, 2013

Background and promotion

Ice Prince first announced the album's title and release timeframe during an interview with Toolz on NdaniTV's The Juice. He said, "I'm working on an album for 2013. I can't announce the date yet but later on in the year, there will be an album called the Fire of Zamani. One of the stories I'm trying to tell is that criticism brings out the beast and fire in you. Often being criticized from my first album, I'm working on the next album like I've never worked on anything in my life before".[4] Furthermore, he said he heard the phrase Fire of Zamani while listening to 2face's The Unstoppable album. Fire of Zamani was initially scheduled for release on September 9, 2013, in order to commemorate the victims of a 2001 Jos crisis.[5][6] On October 17, 2013, Ice Prince revealed the album's artwork as a collage consisting of small posters.[7] Four days later, he released its track listing.[8] Fire of Zamani is available on the Spinlet platform, a digital media library application similar to iTunes.[9][10]

Chocolate City held an album launch concert on November 23, 2013, at the Expo Hall of the Eko Hotels and Suites.[11] The concert featured performances from Ice Prince, Chip, M.I Abaga, Don Jazzy, Olamide, Burna Boy, Sunny Neji, Yung L, Ruby, Morell, Jeremiah Gyang, DJ Caise and DJ Edu.[12] In December 2013, Ice Prince held an album listening session at the Hilton Sandton in Johannesburg. He gave a detailed account of each song on the album and signed autograph copies of the album for each guest. The event was hosted by South African rapper Da L.E.S.[13]

Singles and other releases

The album's lead single "Aboki" (Hausa: Friend) was released on August 28, 2012. The song was produced by Chopstix and celebrates some of the most successful individuals from Northern Nigeria.[14] The music video for "Aboki" was directed by Phil Lee in Los Angeles.[15]

The album's second single "More" was also released on August 28. Its music video was shot and directed in London by Moe Musa. British-Nigerian singer Lola Rae played Ice Prince's love interest in the video.[16][17] "Gimme Dat" was released as the album's third single on April 23, 2013. The song was also produced by Chopstix and features vocals by Yung L, Burna Boy and Olamide.[18] An alternative version of the song, featuring Wande Coal, surfaced on the internet after the release of the official version.[19] The French Montana and Shaydee-assisted track "I Swear" was released as the album's fourth single on September 9, 2013.[20] The music video for the song was shot and directed in the U.S by J.R Saint.[21]

On February 20, 2014, Ice Prince premiered the Sesan-directed music video for "Jambo".[22] On May 28, 2014, he released the music video for "Whiskey"; it was directed by Aje Filmworks and features cameo appearances from Sunny Nneji and DJ Caise.[23] In an interview with MTV UK in April 2014, Ice Prince said he would release the music video for "Mercy", a song that features a verse from British rapper Chip.[24] On August 6, 2014, Ice Prince released a video for the AKA-assisted remix of "N Word".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Nigerian Entertainment Today	[25]
9jaNinja	4.8/10[26]

Fire of Zamani received mixed reviews from music critics. Reviewing for YNaija, Wilfred Okiche called the album "easily accessible and ridiculously catchy" and said it "shines as bright as Ice wants it to".[27] In a negative review, Ayomide Tayo of Nigerian Entertainment Today gave the album 2.5 out of 5 stars, saying the "lack of a solid theme running through the LP makes the whole project sound all over the place."[25] Toye Trill of 9jaNinja granted the album 4.8 stars out of 10, adding "there were so much reggae infusion into Ice's verses, that lyrically only few songs didn't have evidence of Ice Prince's inner rasta man, for a supposed rap album."[26]

Accolades

Fire of Zamani was nominated for Rap Album of the Year at the 2014 City People Entertainment Awards.[28]

Year	Awards ceremony	Award description(s)	Results
2014	City People Entertainment Awards	Rap Album of the Year	Nominated

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Stars and Light" (featuring Ruby Gyang)	Panshak Zamani Ruby Gyang	Sammy Gyang	5:22
2.	"Skit by MC Longs"	MC Longs	—	0:52
3.	"Aboki"	Zamani	Chopstix	3:07
4.	"My Life"	Zamani	Sammy Gyang	4:52
5.	"Mercy" (featuring Chip)	Zamani Jahmaal Bailey	Chopstix	4:03
6.	"Whiskey" (featuring Sunny Nneji)	Zamani Sunny Nneji	Sammy Gyang	4:52
7.	"N Word"	Zamani	Don Jazzy	3:45
8.	"Tipsy" (featuring Wale and Morell)	Zamani Olubowale Akintimehin Morell	Chopstix	3:37
9.	"Jambo"	Zamani	Chopstix	3:32
10.	"No Die Tomorrow"	Zamani	Sammy Gyang	4:00
11.	"Gimme Dat" (featuring Yung L, Burna Boy, and Olamide)	Zamani Yung L Damini Ogulu Olamide Adedeji	Chopstix	4:51
12.	"Komotion" (featuring Wizkid)	Zamani Ayodeji Balogun	Chopstix	3:30
13.	"I Swear" (featuring French Montana and Shaydee)	Zamani Karim Kharbouch	Chopstix	3:39
14.	"Person Wey Sabi"	Zamani	Chopstix	4:52
15.	"Kpako" (featuring M.I and Jesse Jagz)	Zamani Jude Abaga Jesse Garba Abaga	Chopstix	4:31
16.	"Pray" (featuring Sound Sultan)	Zamani Olanrewaju Fasasi	Chopstix	3:55
17.	"More"	Zamani	Chopstix	4:26
18.	"On My Knees" (featuring Jeremiah Gyang)	Zamani Jeremiah Gyang	Sammy Gyang	5:22
Total length:				61:00

Notes

• "—" denotes a skit

Personnel

The following people contributed to Fire of Zamani:

• Audu Maikori – executive producer
• Paul Okeugo – executive producer
• Yahaya Maikori – executive producer
• Panshak Zamani – primary artist, writer
• Olubowale Victor Akintimehin – featured artist, writer
• Sunny Nneji – featured artist
• Jude Abaga – executive producer, featured artist, writer
• Jahmaal Bailey – featured artist, writer
• Ruby Gyang – featured artist, writer
• Ayodeji Balogun – featured artist, writer
• Karim Kharbouch – featured artist, writer
• Olamide Adedeji – featured artist, writer
• Olanrewaju Fasasi – featured artist, writer
• Damini Ogulu – featured artist, writer
• Yung L – featured artist, writer
• Jeremiah Gyang – featured artist, writer
• Shaydee – featured artist, writer
• Morell – featured artist, writer
• Chopstix – mixer, producer
• Michael Collins Ajereh – producer
• Jay Sleek – producer
• Sammy Gyang – mixer, producer
• E-Kelly – producer
• Sean Stan – mastering

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Nigeria	October 28, 2013	CD, Digital download	Chocolate City Music Label

References

1. "Track listing image". Notjustok. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
2. "Ice Prince Reveals Art Work & Tracklist of Sophmore [sic] Album 'Fire of Zamani'". Jaguda. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
3. Kerongo, Grace (4 December 2013). "Kenya: Mdundo Lands Deal to Distribute Ice Prince's New Album". AllAfrica.com via The Star. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
4. "The Juice - Ice Prince". YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
5. "ICE PRINCE ANNOUNCES RELEASE DATE FOR 'FIRE OF". Hip Hop World Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
6. "Nigeria: Ice Prince to Release New Album in September in Memory of 2001 Jos Crisis Victims". AllAfrica. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
7. ""V.I.P" Rapper Ice Prince Zamani Reveals "Fire of Zamani" Album Artwork". Bellanaija. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
8. "Ice Prince Releases Official Tracklist For 'Fire Of Zamani' [PHOTO + Tracklist]". 360nobs. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
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12. "Confirmed! Wale is coming to Nigeria for Ice Prince's concert". Nigeiran Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
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14. "Audio - Ice Prince - Aboki + More". Nigerian Sounds. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
15. "New Video: Ice Prince – Aboki". Bellanaija. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
16. "Ice Prince - More (Official Video)". Music Of Africa. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
17. "VIDEO: Ice Prince – More – (Prod By Chopstix)". Notjustok. Archived from the original on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
18. "Ice Prince – VIP + Gimme Dat ft Burna Boy, Yung L, Olamide". Notjustok. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
19. "Ice Prince – Gimme Dat ft Wande Coal, Yung L, Olamide". Notjustok. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
20. "OFFICIAL: Ice Prince – I Swear ft. French Montana". Notjustok. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
21. "BN Video Premiere: Ice Prince Feat. French Montana – I Swear". Bellanaija. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
22. Alonge, Osagie (20 February 2014). "Ice Prince premieres new #FOZ video 'Jambo'". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
23. Okuh, Michael (29 March 2014). "Ice Prince Drops Video For Whiskey Featuring Sunny Nneji". Hip Hop World Magazine. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
24. "INTERVIEW: ICE PRINCE". MTV.co.uk. 28 April 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
25. "Ice Prince's 'Fire of Zamani' isn't hot enough [Album Review]". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
26. "Fire Of Zamani by Ice Prince (Album Review)". 9janinja. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
27. "Album review: On 'Fire of Zamani', Ice Prince serves up songs of fire… and ice". YNaija. Archived from the original on 28 November 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
28. Jasanya, Olamide (24 June 2014). "Who won what at City People Entertainment Awards 2014". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.

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