Abolore Adegbola Akande, popularly known as 9ice, is a renowned Nigerian singer, songwriter, and dancer. Early Life and Background • Birth: Born on January 17, 1980, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. • Upbringing: Raised in the working-class neighborhood of Bariga, Lagos. He comes from a large polygamous family. • Education: Attended Abula Okuta Primary School and CMS Grammar School, then enrolled to study Law at Lagos State University (LASU) before dropping out to focus on music. Musical Career & Rise to Fame • Early Beginnings: Wrote his first songs around age 14 and recorded his first demo, "Risi de Alagbaja," in 1996. • Official Debut: Released his first official solo track, "Little Money," in 2000. • Breakthrough: Gained widespread underground traction with tracks like "Ganja Man" produced by ID Cabasa, leading up to his iconic 2008 breakthrough album Gongo Aso. • Milestones: Performed at Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Tribute in London (2008), won the MTV Africa Music Award for Best Hip Hop Artist, and swept multiple categories at the 2009 Hip Hop World Awards (The Headies). • Labels: Founder and CEO of Alapomeji Entertainment and Alapomeji Ancestral Records. Politics and Personal Life • Politics: Ventured into politics around 2015, running for a seat in the House of Representatives and later serving as a Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor. • Spirituality: Has publicly shared his identity as an African traditionalist and practitioner - @olatunji.adewale19