Nigerian rapper Ice Prince has clarified a widely held misconception about his historic moment at the BET Awards. Speaking on the podcast Listening, he addressed claims that Davido was the first African artist to receive a BET Award on stage, asserting that he actually holds that title. Ice Prince highlighted his 2013 win for Best International Act: Africa, which broke the norm of African artists receiving their awards backstage.
According to Ice Prince, this pivotal moment often gets overlooked, with fans mistakenly crediting Davido, who won the same award in 2018. While Davido’s on-stage acceptance speech gained global attention and called for greater collaboration between African and U.S. musicians, Ice Prince insists that his 2013 appearance was the true trailblazer.
In addition to clearing up the BET narrative, Ice Prince also reflected on his brief time in Lagos’ Ikoyi Correctional Centre. The rapper spent six days in detention in September 2022 after being accused of assaulting a police officer during a stop-and-search. He described the experience as deeply distressing, recounting how a misunderstanding escalated when he joked with an officer and drove off during the interaction.
Ice Prince described the conditions of prison as shocking and emphasized that no one should have to endure such an ordeal. He spoke about how the experience gave him perspective, noting, “It’s a different world. I don’t pray for my worst enemy to experience it. There are so many innocent people in there.”
Despite these challenges, Ice Prince continues to share his story, cementing his legacy as not just a music icon but also a figure who has faced and overcome significant adversities. His groundbreaking BET recognition and personal resilience remain a testament to his impact on the African music scene and beyond.
