It was at the maiden edition of Ochacho Carnival in Otukpo, Benue State, that the new kid on the block staked his claim to the crown of the new rap sensation on the Nigeriasn hip-hop scene.
On that December night of 2020, the jampacked crowd waited impatiently for the announcement of the next artiste to take the stage. Then came a shocker: a kid strutted onto the stage. A hush descended.
The audience, awe-struck, blinked their eyes to ascertain that what they were seeing was true. Perhaps, it is a joke.
They craned their necks to see how a 7-year-old will move the audience on a show that has heavyweights like Davido, arguably Africa’s rave-of-the-moment artiste, wave-making Zlatan and the uber-creative Peruzzi to name a few.
The kid would go on to steal the show.
By the time he belted his hit song, “Ochacho Money”, their doubts fizzled. Young he may be, the kid was cool as ice and he had bars as hot as the dragon’s fire.
Davido called him The Future—an apt introduction to Shedrack Adah, aka IceKing Ochacho, the hip-hop wunderkind who is the scion of real estate mogul, King Mohammad Odeh Adah alias Ochacho the Wakili of FCT and the Oyame of Otukpo.
Adah is one of Nigeria´s youngest rappers, but the rap prodigy spat lyrics with a hybrid style that evokes a deja vu about 2Pac and Biggie. He could also effortlessly switch into a cadence that is very much similar to Jay Z or Lil Wayne´s. He was that gifted, so versatile.
Once asked by singers, Teni and D’Banj to freestyle for them, it took him less than 60 seconds to blow their minds with his wordplay—rhyme, rhythm and hooks—that is way too sophisticated for his age.
A line out of the chorus of his monster hit “Ochacho Money” is fast becoming a street slang. If you are walking down the street or sitting on a bus and you hear this line—”My money go choke you/ Ochacho money go choke you”—that’s IceKing’s song. Simple and catchy. It’s everywhere!
Apart from his awe-inspiring rap flow, IceKing is also an energetic performer. He has got an X-factor stage presence. That was why he made a big impression at the Ochacho Carnival and that is why the official video of “Ochacho Money,” newly released on his YouTube channel is raking views in millions. Directed by Tiannah, the video featured Chubby Little Miss Mimi, Money Man Ochacho and Lord Maine in cameo appearances.
Davido, a big fan of IceKing, endorsed the video in a clip of him and his 30 Billion Gang (30BG) vibing to the brand new “Ochacho money” video playing on their screen:
“Ice on my neck,
Ice on my legs,
Ice on my teeth,
Ice on my eyes…”
IceKing´s song is taking over the street, winning hearts, even beyond the showbiz fraternity with the likes of Davido, D’Banj, Teni, Crazeclown, Seyi Law, Ogenyi Onazi, and Zlatan Ibile already on his growing fanbase.
On a final note: the kid is already on the stage and he is not leaving anytime soon. Here to stay he is.
He has crafted and polished his brand, and soon—very soon—music fans shall be getting familiar with the swag of IceKing and his 90 Billion Gang.
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