EP Review: Ice Prince & Chopstix Rekindle a Decade-Long Chemistry on Starters
Two Jos-bred veterans deliver a sleek and confident body of work.
In the early 2010s, producer Chopstix was introduced to rapper Ice Prince by a mutual friend. A shared love for music and creativity bonded them, sparking the flame of friendship. Over time, both Chopstix and Ice Prince—residents of the ancient city of Jos in Plateau State—honed their craft respectively as members of the Hip-Hop collectives Grip Boiz (Chopstix, Yung L, Endia and J Milla) and Choc Boiz (Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Jesse Jagz). Chopstix would go on to produce tracks on Ice Prince’s 2011 album Everybody Loves Ice Prince and the 2013 follow-up Fire of Zamani, creating classics like “Aboki,” “Gimme Dat,” and “More.”
With over a decade of experience in the industry, Ice Prince and Chopstix come full circle with their joint EP Starters. They set the pace with the triumphant “Shakur,” where Ice Prince, backed by bold horns, basks in his glory: “I’m on a different level/My lyrics covered with bullets and steel metals/Already paid all my dues, the bill settled/I can never pay no mind to the rumours they peddle/I’m the rose that grew in pebbles.” In 2010, Ice Prince signed to Chocolate City, where close collaborators M.I Abaga and Jesse Jagz were already dominant voices. He held his own, carving out a distinctive career filled with acclaimed projects and hit records, before departing the label in 2016.
Through his lyrics and visual style, Ice Prince has consistently exuded a suaveness that endears him to listeners. On “Slap The Ring,” that flair is on full display as he delivers confident bar after bar: “Ma stats are pro max, flash the kodak/I get paid to spit all my classic old raps/Cats they know that, they can’t fuck with me/I still got the kids jumping like it’s Walt Disney.” He flows over Chopstix’s mellow, bouncy production. It’s one of Ice Prince’s finest moments on the project; his delivery is sharp and unencumbered by time, brimming with effortless cool.
In 2022, Chopstix landed a global hit with Burna Boy’s “Last Last,” capping off a working relationship that has spanned years. Over time, he has collaborated with a wide range of artists—from M.I Abaga and Phyno to Jesse Jagz, Reminisce, and Victoria Kimani. Most recently, his work on Chris Brown’s 11:11 (2023) earned him his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, following previous nominations for Burna Boy’s albums African Giant (2019) and Love, Damini (2022).
“Red Light” serves both as a tribute to Beats by Jayy and as a playful, Trap-influenced track. Featuring PsychoYP and Ajebo Hustlers, it sees the artists toasting to their success and savouring luxury. “Jekinla,” produced by Scarlet, is a breezy tune in which Ice Prince declares his intentions to a love interest. On “Only Son,” produced by V Flash, he turns inward, reflecting on hardship and triumph: “Touched down your city and I earned me a cheque/Living on cloud nine, all my niggas is blessed/See, I’mma G till the day I rest.”
Later in the same song, he raps: “I do this for J-Town and Lasgidi,” a nod to his beginnings in Jos and his eventual move to Lagos, where his artistry fully blossomed. Jos, with its rich cultural fabric, has long inspired artists across disciplines, from music to film. On “Roots,” Ice Prince recounts his early love for rap music and the supportive ecosystem that nurtured his growth: “My people are black-skinned and brown sugar/Go to Jos, there’s no city or town cooler/Super proud of the legacy and heritage/Love my peeps to the bone, marrows and cartilage.” A sample of a local cultural song adds colour and texture to the track. On “Loke,” Ice Prince is joined by Bella Shmurda and Tml Vibez—both voices in Lagos’ music scene—who share their own stories of struggle and elevation.
With Starters, Ice Prince and Chopstix demonstrate that their chemistry remains intact. More importantly, they show they can still bring the best out of each other, united by their enduring passion for music and artistic expression. On a broader level, Starters signals that Nigerian Hip-Hop remains dynamic and alive, with veterans like Ice Prince and Chopstix keeping the flame burning through skill and style.
Go HERE to stream Starters.
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