Veteran Nigerian singer Alexander Akande, popularly known as 9ice, has revealed that he closely imitated Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean during the early phase of his music career.
In a recent interview with SPS, the “Photocopy” crooner shared that he wasn’t the only Nigerian artist mimicking Wyclef’s style at that time, but he believes he did it better than the others.
Reflecting on his journey, 9ice stated:
“My inspiration was Wyclef [Jean]. If anybody listened to me at the beginning, there was a time I was sounding like Wyclef 100 percent. And there were other people that were sounding like him, but they felt that I sounded better than them when it came to imitating Wyclef.”
He further explained that he eventually stopped copying Wyclef after finding his unique sound, which is a blend of influences from legendary artists like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Bob Marley, Ayinde Barrister, K1 De Ultimate, and Pasuma.
This admission by 9ice highlights the common journey of many musicians who start by emulating their idols and gradually develop their own distinct voices, underscoring the importance of growth and self-discovery in the creative process.
