"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 several accolades, including Hottest Single of the Year at the 2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards and Song of the Year at the 2011 City People Entertainment Awards.
| "Oleku" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Ice Prince featuring Brymo | ||||
| from the album Everybody Loves Ice Prince | ||||
| Released | June 8, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2010 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:50 | |||
| Label | Chocolate City | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Panshak Zamani and Olawale Ashimi | |||
| Producer(s) | Jesse Abaga | |||
| Ice Prince singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Brymo singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Oleku" on YouTube | ||||
Background and music video
editDuring an interview with Tim Westwood on BBC Radio 1Xtra, Ice Prince said "Oleku" translates to hard or strong.[4] 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.[5]
The accompanying music video for "Oleku", which was released in 2011, features cameo appearances from M.I, Jesse Jagz and Wizkid.[6] Ice Prince also told Factory 78 TV that Chocolate City did not like the first cut submitted and told the director to redo the video. An unauthorized release of the first cut surfaced on the internet prior to the official release.[7]
Accolades
edit| Year | Awards ceremony | Award description(s) | Results | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Dynamix All Youth Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | [8] |
| 2011 | City People Entertainment Awards | Won | [9] | |
| Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Hottest Single of the Year | Won | [10] | |
| Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) | Best Contemporary Afro Video | Nominated | [11] | |
| Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Gifted Newcomer Video | Won | [12] | |
| The Headies | Best Rap Single | Won | [13] | |
| 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
editSince 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
edit- ^ "Nigeria: Ice Prince: Record Label Wants The Album Out in June or July". Question Mark Mag. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Ice Prince's 'Oleku': Official video for one of Nigeria's most remixed hits". This is Africa. 22 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Nigeria: Ice Prince Rules With Oleku". allAfrica. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "West-Oleku-Wood - Ice Prince teaches Westwood native language". YouTube. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ^ "West-Oleku-Wood - Ice Prince teaches Westwood native language". YouTube. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ^ "Oleku" on YouTube
- ^ "FACTORY78 EXCLUSIVE - iceprince interview.mov". YouTube. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- ^ "The List Of Nominees for Dynamix Youth Awards 2010". The Net Nigeria. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- ^ "Success in the city: The 2011 City People Entertainment Awards". YNaija. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- ^ "2011 Nigeria Entertainment Awards: "And The Winner Is…"". Information Nigeria. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
- ^ "Nigerian Music Video Awards [NMVA] 2011 Nominees… Darey & Jodie Top The List of Nominees". Jaguda. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- ^ "The Channel O Music Video Awards 2011 – Winners & "Where was D'banj?"". Bellanaija. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- ^ Arogundade, Funsho (26 October 2011). "2011 The Headies: 2Face, Darey, MI, Others Win Multiple Awards". P.M. News. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Ice Prince's 'Oleku': Official video for one of Nigeria's most remixed hits". thisisafrica. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Kagwe Mungai Releases Hot Rendition Of Ice Prince's Oleku! | Ghafla!Kenya". www.ghafla.co.ke. Archived from the original on 2013-04-26.
- ^ "Kagwe Mungai Releases Hot Rendition Of Ice Prince's Oleku!". Ghafla. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Vector – Oleku (Vector Version) + Album Track Listing". Notjustok. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Audio: Pussy (Oleku) by Mugeez". Ghanamusic. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Atumpan-Shame ft Young AO (Oleku Cover)". Yebamedia. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Yung6ix – Oleku Waffi Remix". Gidilounge. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Music: Victoria Kimani – Oleku [Remake]". Jaguda. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "DOWNLOAD: Tekno – Onyenekwu [Remix] ft Ice Prince | @teknomiles". Olekubuzz. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "Sarkodie ft Mohammed- Change your love (Oleku cover full)". YouTube. Retrieved 23 November 2013.