curled from the NET by osaze alonge
Oh, baby! There’s a new daddy on the block: Popular rapper Panshak Zamani, better known as Ice Prince, is now a father.
NET can authoritatively confirm that the ‘Choc Boy’ is now daddy to a baby boy with 20-year-old Bimbo Babatunde.
The young lady, a former student of the Houdegbe North American University in Benin Republic, reportedly gave birth on Thursday, March 1, 2012. The baby’s name, according to Bimbo is ‘Toluwalase’ (meaning God’s word is final).
We’re told Bimbo, who lives in Egbeda, Lagos, was an off campus resident while studying at HNA University, before dropping out due to academic challenges. Several of her friends who spoke with NET say she was extremely social, and adventurous. ‘She was quite popular and fun loving. She was one of those young ‘smallies’ that were friends with those rich Hausa kids, and they did a lot of drinking, partying and smoking’, said a friend who asked to remain anonymous.
NET investigations show that Bimbo first enrolled into the school to study International Relations, but after scoring low grades, she had to transfer to the Languages Department. However, she didn’t graduate from that department, leaving the school in 2011.
‘She left the University in 2011, amid scandal’, one source says. ‘She had weed smoking issues and of course, stealing. She stole my friend’s 20k sometime ago’, an anonymous source who knows Bimbo quite well alleges.
With this history of controversy, it’s no surprise her baby daddy Ice Prince is not exactly pleased with the present situation. Bimbo’s friends say the rapper is ‘very unhappy with her’ and has refused to be financially or emotionally committed, even after she put to bed last week. ‘Her mother took her to Abeokuta to give birth because the family is upset with her. Her mom said she doesn’t want to see her and the baby. And even though Ice Prince went to see her when she gave birth, he was shouting at her. She wept, but he was not even moved…’
Another friend says: ‘We all had to contribute money for her to prepare for delivery and take care of the child. He didn’t give her any money. Not even a dime. I think he’s mean’.
We tried for days to speak with Ice Prince, but he was not forthcoming. Those close to him say it’s a difficult situation for the rapper. Why? Prior to dating Ice Prince, Bimbo allegedly had an affair with Ice Prince’s label mate and fellow Jos Town artiste Jesse Jagz. ‘It’s so funny, she wasn’t even his real girlfriend. She cheated on Jesse with him, and dude wasn’t smart enough to use protection’, one of Bimbo’s close friends told us.
As we found out, it’s not likely that Ice Prince is ‘feeling the boy’. The rapper didn’t act the part of a proud papa, denying the news when we placed a call to him on Friday, March 2nd, 2012. He spoke to our correspondents shortly before a performance in Yola, Adamawa State
After trying to book an interview with him for days, we placed a call to his phone. However, due to difficulties in communicating, Ice Prince then asked us to try text messaging. When we sent him a text concerning the news, he called back and said;
‘You are asking me questions, you are just a normal reporter and I don’t know why you are asking these questions. I’m not going to answer any questions, I don’t know anything’.
His manager, popularly known as ‘Nanle’, also refused to confirm the news. ‘Please, Ice Prince is preparing for a concert right now, when we get back on Sunday’, he responded.
Meanwhile, a friend of the rapper said ‘Telling him (Ice Prince) that you are aware of his new born baby might be disturbing to him’.
Bimbo, however, doesn’t seem to have any issues with sharing the news about her baby boy, posting his picture as her avatar via microblogging site Twitter. She tweeted ‘I’m sooo gr8ful to God…my son is d cutest thng on earth..momma luvs u to death Toluwalase…’, through her account @Bimbabybabs
‘Nd he’s got his dads lips…sooo cute!’, she excitedly continued.
Dozens of her friends are congratulating her on twitter and elsewhere, sending goodwill messages and praying for the bundle of joy. But we’re told that as she prepares to christen the baby (on Thursday March 8), she’s worried not just about her future as a single mother, but about caring for the baby. ‘She needs help’ her friends say unanimously.
Ice Prince burst onto the music scene off the heels of rappers M.I and Jesse Jagz, who were signed to Chocolate City in 2008. He was subsequently signed to the same label, where the three acts were collectively called the ‘Choc Boyz’.
He didn’t gain much attention until he released the monster hit ‘Oleku’ featuring another label mate BrymO, and with his follow up hit ‘Superstar’, the rapper’s popularity rose. Just last year, he released his debut album ‘Everybody Loves IcePrince’, to lukewarm reviews, and has recently been touring African countries, and the UK.
The rapper lost his mother in May 2011, while his father, (who was a member of the Nigerian Police Force) is said to have died in 1999
‘My Baby Is Not For Ice Prince’ – Bimbo BabatundeHello Bimbo
Yes
I was just about composing a text, how are you
I am fine thank you
Congrats on your baby
Ok Bye
(Bimbo calls back)
Let me rephrase what I said earlier my name Is Osagie Alonge I work with Nigerian Entertainment Today
Okay
I just wanted to confirm first of all if your baby’s dad is Iceprince.
What?
I wanted to ask if your baby’s dad is Iceprince
(sigh) no
You are sure?
Yes
Because your close friend has told me he is the dad and I have also spoken with him.
(sigh) No he is not
Alright is it true you took delivery of a child on March 1 that is Thursday. Did u give birth to a child?
No I didn’t I am in school
You are in school ok. But you tweeted that you have given birth to a child and you also put it up on your avatar on twitter.
Oh yea?
Yes if I believe I have spoken with couple of your friends and they said you took delivery of a child. So I am asking again is it true?
No it is not
It not true so you haven’t taken delivery of a child?
No I have not
Okay which school do you attend?
Why is that important?
Because I have to ask routine questions Bimbo
Okay, Zenith University
Sorry?
Zenith University
Zenith. Where is Zenith University I haven’t had of that before alright…
Well
Did you ever attend North American University in Benin Republic?
No
Okay Do you know Iceprince?
No I don’t
I mean you know him but you haven’t met him.
Yes like who doesn’t
True. Do you know jesse Jagz?
Who doesn’t?
Have you met Jesse Jagz before?
No I haven’t
Okay thanks for answering my questions if I have any other questions I will ask you.
Alright bye
‘I know her but didn’t date her’ – Ice Prince
Hello I can hear you I saw your text boss that thing is not true oo
Okay…
I got a call from somebody else as well but it is not true
What I am saying is that are you coming out to say nobody has delivered a baby for you?
Yes. I know the girl but the story isn’t true
Alright. Does the girl know Jesse Jagz?
No
