9ice Admits to Emulating Wyclef Jean Early in His Career
Veteran Nigerian musician Alexander Akande, known as 9ice, has revealed that his early sound was heavily influenced by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean.
In a recent interview with SPS, 9ice admitted that while he was not the only Nigerian artist mimicking Wyclef’s style at the time, he believes his interpretation was superior to others.
9ice explained that he eventually moved away from imitating Wyclef Jean as he developed his unique musical identity. He cited major influences such as Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Bob Marley, Ayinde Barrister, Kwan1, and Pasuma as key to shaping his distinctive sound.
“I drew a lot from Wyclef Jean in my early days. At one point, my music mirrored his style almost completely. There were others who also tried to emulate him, but I was often seen as the best at it,” 9ice said. “Eventually, I evolved into my own sound, influenced by legends like Bob Marley, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Ayinde Barrister, Kwan1, Pasuma, and Obesere, who shaped my musical journey.”
