Oleku (Ice Prince song)

For other uses, see Oleku.

"Oleku" is a song by Nigerian rapper Ice Prince. It features vocals by Brymo and was released as the lead single from his debut studio album Everybody Loves Ice Prince (2011).^[1] "Oleku" received positive reviews and became one of the most remixed Nigerian songs of all time.^[2] It was also one of the most popular Nigerian songs of 2010, along with Naeto C's "Ten Over Ten" and D'banj's "Scapegoat".^[3] "Oleku" won Hottest Single of the Year at the 2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. It won Song of the Year at the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards and was nominated for the same award at the 2010 Dynamix All Youth Awards.^[4][5][6] Ice Prince won Song of the Year and Best Rap Single for "Oleku" and was nominated for Next Rated, Lyricist on the Roll and Best Collaboration at The Headies 2011.^[7] The music video for "Oleku" won Most Gifted Newcomer Video at the 2011 Channel O Music Video Awards and was nominated for Best Contemporary Afro Video at the 2011 Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA).^[8][9]

"Oleku"
Single by Ice Prince featuring Brymo
from the album Everybody Loves Ice Prince
Released	June 8, 2010 (2010-06-08)
Recorded	2010
Genre	Hip hop Afrobeats
Length	4:50
Label	Chocolate City
Songwriter(s)	Panshak Zamani and Olawale Ashimi
Producer(s)	Jesse Abaga
Ice Prince singles chronology
"Rewind" (2010) "Oleku" (2010) "Superstar" (2011)
Brymo singles chronology
"Oleku" (2010) "Attention" (2011)
Music video
"Oleku" on YouTube

Background and music video

During an interview with Tim Westwood on BBC Radio 1Xtra, Ice Prince said "Oleku" translates to hard or strong.^[10] He told Factory 78 TV he began writing the song's lyrics after receiving a beat from Sarz and that Jesse Jagz played different chords and created the instrumental after hearing him sing "she feeling me boy yeah, she feeling me boy". Moreover, he said he needed more melodies and reached out to Brymo. The song's entire instrumental was recorded under 30 minutes.^[11]

The accompanying music video for "Oleku" was released in 2011. It features cameo appearances from M.I, Jesse Jagz and Wizkid.^[12] Ice Prince also told Factory 78 TV that Chocolate City did not like the first cut submitted by the director. The label told the director to redo the video. An unauthorized release of the first cut surfaced on the internet prior to the official release.^[13]

Accolades

Year	Awards ceremony	Award description(s)	Results
2010	Dynamix All Youth Awards	Song of the Year	Nominated
2011	City People Entertainment Awards		Won
	Nigeria Entertainment Awards	Hottest Single of the Year	Won
	Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA)	Best Contemporary Afro Video	Nominated
	Channel O Music Video Awards	Most Gifted Newcomer Video	Won
	The Headies	Best Rap Single	Won
		Song of the Year	Won
		Best Collaboration	Nominated
		Next Rated (Ice Prince for "Oleku")	Nominated
		Lyricist on the Roll (Ice Prince for "Oleku")	Nominated

Covers

Since the official release of "Oleku" in 2010, numerous remixes and cover versions have been released. "Oleku" is one of Nigeria's most remixed songs of all time.^[14] It was covered by Kagwe Mungai,^[15] Vector, Mugeez of R2Bees, Victoria Kimani, Sarkodie and Yung6ix, among others.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Oleku"	Panshak Zamani and Olawale Ashimi	4:50
2.	"Oleku (Cover)" (by Kagwe Mungai)	Kagwe Mungai^[16]	3:27
3.	"Oleku (Vector Version)" (by Vector)	Vector^[17]	3:17
4.	"Pussy (Oleku)" (by Mugeez)	Mugeez^[18]	2:37
7.	"Shame! (Oleku Cover)" (by Atumpan featuring A.O)	Atumpan and A.O^[19]	4:09
8.	"Oleku Warri Remix" (by Yung6ix)	Yung6ix^[20]	5:56
9.	"Baby You (Oleku Remake)" (by Victoria Kimani)	Victoria Kimani^[21]	4:46
10.	"Onyenekwu [Remix] featuring Ice Prince" (by Tekno)	Tekno^[22]
11.	"Oleku Cover" (by Eddie Kadi)	Eddie Kadi
12.	"Change your love (Oleku Cover)" (by Sarkodie featuring Mohammed)	Sarkodie and Mohammed^[23]	3:19

References

1. "Nigeria: Ice Prince: Record Label Wants The Album Out in June or July". Question Mark Mag. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
2. . This is Africa. 22 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
3. "Nigeria: Ice Prince Rules With Oleku". allAfrica. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
4. . The Net Nigeria. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
5. "Success in the city: The 2011 City People Entertainment Awards". YNaija. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
6. "2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards: "And The Winner Is…"". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
7. Arogundade, Funsho (26 October 2011). "2011 The Headies: 2Face, Darey, MI, Others Win Multiple Awards". P.M. News. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
8. "The Channel O Music Video Awards 2011 – Winners & "Where was D'banj?"". Bellanaija. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
9. "Nigerian Music Video Awards [NMVA] 2011 Nominees… Darey & Jodie Top The List of Nominees". Jaguda. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
10. "West-Oleku-Wood - Ice Prince teaches Westwood native language". YouTube. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
11. "West-Oleku-Wood - Ice Prince teaches Westwood native language". YouTube. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
12. "Oleku" on YouTube
13. "FACTORY78 EXCLUSIVE - iceprince interview.mov". YouTube. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
14. . thisisafrica. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
15. . www.ghafla.co.ke. Archived from the original on 2013-04-26.
16. "Kagwe Mungai Releases Hot Rendition Of Ice Prince's Oleku!". Ghafla. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
17. "Vector – Oleku (Vector Version) + Album Track Listing". Notjustok. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
18. "Audio: Pussy (Oleku) by Mugeez". Ghanamusic. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
19. "Atumpan-Shame ft Young AO (Oleku Cover)". Yebamedia. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
20. "Yung6ix – Oleku Waffi Remix". Gidilounge. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
21. "Music: Victoria Kimani – Oleku [Remake]". Jaguda. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
22. "DOWNLOAD: Tekno – Onyenekwu [Remix] ft Ice Prince | @teknomiles". Olekubuzz. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
23. "Sarkodie ft Mohammed- Change your love (Oleku cover full)". YouTube. Retrieved 23 November 2013.