Rapper Ice Prince has revealed that his breakout single _Oleku_, released in 2010, brought in only about ₦4 million for him despite gaining massive popularity across the world.
The track is widely regarded as one of the defining Afrobeats hits of its era.Speaking about the earnings, Ice Prince explained that the music business at the time was very different from today. Revenue then largely depended on physical sales and distribution deals, particularly through markets like Alaba International, where piracy also cut deep into artists’ profits.
He contrasted that period with the current streaming age, noting that digital platforms now offer better returns for musicians. According to him, artists today have more transparent ways to monetize their work compared to the early 2010s.Ice Prince also shed light on his deal with Chocolate City at the time.
Under the arrangement, he said the label took 30% of earnings while the artist retained 70%. He described it as a fair split for that period, given the structure of the industry then.Looking back, the rapper said the experience shaped his understanding of the business side of music. While _Oleku_ didn’t translate to huge financial gains, he acknowledged that its cultural impact opened doors and laid the foundation for the opportunities artists enjoy now.
