9ice, Ruggedman reconcile?

The leak, early this week, of an old song by 9ice, featuring his former collaborator turned adversary, Ruggedman, deceived many into thinking that the warring duo had decided to make peace after all. The song, entitled Remembrance, is filled with pathos as it talks about life and death. Curiously, it was released in the wake of last Sunday’s Dana plane crash, bringing an eerie semblance of newness to it. But the song was done in 2005.


Investigations by E-Punch reveal that the song was done at the behest of the late wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Stella Obasanjo, who also died in a plane crash in 2005. The purpose of the song was not known but a source close to the two singers maintains, “The song was produced by ID Cabassa before (9ice’s) Gongo Aso became a hit, before 9ice hit superstardom and before both became sworn enemies. Mrs. Obasanjo needed a song for her charity organisation and her people contacted some musicians; Ruggedman was one of those contacted and he got ID Cabassa and 9ice involved but she died before the song was utilised. I’m sure both artistes have even forgotten they have a song together.”


Before their music became bywords for each other, Ruggedman and 9ice were best of friends. In fact, 9ice’s veritable introduction into the music industry was via Opomulero, a Ruggedman’s song. The song earned 9ice a Hip Hop World Award statuette. 9ice would go on to become a bona fide music star, even bigger than the man who first gave him a template to soar. The two are however sworn enemies now due to reasons that have been very well documented in the media.