9ice Reflects on Early Career, Admits Mimicking Wyclef Jean Before Finding His Own Voice

Image: DP

Veteran Nigerian singer Alexander Akande, popularly known as 9ice, has opened up about the early days of his career, revealing that he initially mimicked the sound of Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean.

The Photocopy crooner admitted that he wasn't the only Nigerian artist trying to emulate Wyclef's style at the time, but he believes he did it better than the others.

In a recent interview with SPS, 9ice explained that while Wyclef Jean was a significant influence on his early music, he eventually discovered his unique sound by blending the inspirations of other iconic artists.

"My inspiration was Wyclef [Jean]. If anybody listened to me at the beginning, there was a time I was sounding like Wyclef 100 percent," 9ice shared. "And there were other people that were sounding like him, but they felt that I sounded better than them when it comes to sounding like Wyclef."

As his career progressed, 9ice moved away from imitating Wyclef and began to craft his own distinct musical style. He credited a mix of legendary musicians, including Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Bob Marley, Ayinde Barrister, Kwan1, Pasuma, and Obesere, as the key influences that helped him develop his signature sound.

"Bob Marley, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Ayinde Barrister, Kwan1, Pasuma, and Obesere are the people that I listened to while growing up, and they formed my blend in music," he emphasized.

9ice's journey from imitation to innovation highlights the evolution of an artist who has grown into one of Nigeria's most respected musicians. His ability to incorporate a variety of musical influences into a unique style has solidified his place in the Nigerian music industry.

Source: DP

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