The "Mad House," as the artist 9iceofficial calls his unconventional studio, is more than a recording space; it is a "home for ideas" and a "studio club". 9iceofficial explicitly rejected the dark, minimalist designs typical of professional studios, choosing instead to use vibrant color and create a museum-like environment where visitors can relax and listen to good music. This aesthetic is grounded in unique materials, such as normal packing case wood, cut into specific sizes to give the space a distinct feel. The studio serves as an honorarium, celebrating the journey of Nigerian music by dedicating walls to portraits of Afro stars and legends like Sasha, Blaze, Shaka Shaka, and Angelo. 9iceofficial emphasizes that he intentionally excluded his own pictures, focusing solely on celebrating the immense contributions of others.
9iceofficial’s creative methodology is driven by organic impulses rather than rigid planning. He explained that his latest single, Olodumare, emerged unexpectedly while he was working on an album tentatively titled Vegetable; the track stood out and surpassed the album’s conceptual limitations, requiring its removal to become a standalone foundation. The artist admits that public critiques—such as when his album Gongoaso was branded "terrible" upon release—previously caused significant self-doubt. Now, he avoids external judgment, stating he simply pushes the work out, knowing that audiences often need time to catch up to the artistic journey. Inspiration is drawn from his personal life and external observations, including the social dynamics behind men maintaining multiple wives due to what he terms "available insolence," factors that directly influence his songwriting.
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Critiquing the evolution of the music industry, 9iceofficial contrasts the past's rigorous 8-hour recording sessions—which required pre-written songs and on-the-spot beat creation by producers—with the current, easier method of simply recording vocals over pre-created beats. He laments that contemporary collaborations are often governed by stream counts and personal benefit rather than musical credibility. He observes that younger artists are frequently fighting for the same narrow thematic spot ("the club"), advising them to find new topics, new focuses, and tell their stories in a uniquely personal way.
A major theme in 9iceofficial’s recent work, particularly Olodumare, involves his spiritual journey through Christianity and Islam, culminating in traditionalism. He argues that colonization and Nollywood have perpetuated negative misconceptions about African traditional religion and culture. For example, the deity Eshu is often misrepresented as evil, despite actually representing favor, mercy, and money. Through his music, 9iceofficial aims to promote traditional culture via love, peace, and proper representation, mirroring the successful, non-antagonistic lobbying approach utilized by Christianity upon its arrival. The song is intended to explain his personal, universal perception of God, clarifying that it is the same God divided only by different religions. The white attire he wears in the video reflects this message, symbolizing peace, unity, and harmony.
Reflecting on his career, 9iceofficial identifies his first album, Certificate, as the most significant because it marked "the beginning". His definition of success transcends fame or wealth; he believes success means reaching the highest point while preserving genuine relationships with the people he grew up with, rejecting the notion that achieving success requires abandoning one's past or the "bottom". He maintains that one becomes "lonely at the top" only if they choose to "leave the bottom" behind. Outside of music, 9iceofficial’s ultimate desire is to be remembered as a family man—an "Abraham," a man with many children. He also enjoys diverse interests, including reading, football, boxing, and movies.
