Nigerian artist Akande Abolore, popularly known as 9ice, has set the record straight on his use of Yoruba proverbs in his songs. Known for weaving traditional proverbs into his music, the singer dismissed rumors linking his style to herbalism, clarifying that his inspiration comes from his late stepmother.
In a recent chat with content creator Bae U, 9ice shared, “I am not an herbalist. I’m a Yoruba man from Oyo state, and I learned these proverbs from my late stepmum. I decided to incorporate them into my songs while creating music.”
With a career spanning over a decade, 9ice is celebrated for hits like “Street Credibility,” “No Be Mistake,” and “Living Things.” His breakthrough album, Gongo Aso (2008), earned him the Best Hip Hop Artist title at the MTV Africa Music Awards and multiple awards at the 2009 Hip Hop World Awards.
As the founder of Alapomeji Ancestral Records, 9ice has been selective about signing new artists, citing the challenges that can arise in record contracts.
