- 9ice said he wasn’t the only Nigerian artist copying Wyclef’s sound back then.
- 9ice explained that he stopped copying Wyclef Jean after he discovered his own sound.
Nigerian singer Alexander, professionally known as 9ice has shared insights into his early career and the artists who influenced his sound.
In a recent interview, he revealed that Wyclef Jean was a significant inspiration, and his music reflected this in the beginning.
9ice acknowledged that he was not the only artist who drew inspiration from Wyclef Jean’s style at the time, but he believed his own interpretation was more refined.
He stated that as he developed as an artist, he transitioned from emulating others and discovered his unique sound.
9ice emphasized that his music is a blend of influences from iconic artists like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Bob Marley, Ayinde Barrister, Kwan1, Pasuma, and Obesere.
He credited these artists with shaping his musical identity and fueling his creative growth.
His words;
“My inspiration was Wyclef [Jean]. If anybody listened to me at the beginning, there was a time I was sounding like Wyclef 100 per cent. 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,” he said.
“And from sounding like Wyclef, I got to my own original 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.”
9ice had earlier revealed that late iconic singer, Fela gave us a platform to thrive on.
Recognizing Fela’s immense contribution to the Nigerian music scene, 9ice praised him for laying the foundation upon which countless artists have risen to prominence.
At 43 years old, 9ice reminisced about the early days of the Nigerian music industry and highlighted how Fela’s creation of Afrobeat had a profound impact on the trajectory of musicians in the country.