Lazzy, a popular member of award-winning music group VIP, has announced he is changing his showbiz name to Zeal, years after using the name Lazzy.

He said the change of name was necessary because there was nothing wrong with a person changing his/her name, adding that he also wanted a new identity.

This is not the first time an artiste is changing his name. In the United State of America, one superstar who made the headlines with change of name is P. Diddy. Born Sean Combs, he has used names likes Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy and King Combs Moniker. In 2011, reports said his latest name was ‘Swag.’

In Ghana, the most recent artiste who changed his name is Abortion of 4×4. He is now called Coded. Lazzy’s challenge will be how to get fans to accept the new name in a short period.

Zeal is born Abdul Hamid Ibrahim. He is a key member of VIP (Vision In Progress). The other members are Promzy (Emmanuel Promzy Ababio) and Prodigal (Joseph Nana Ofori). The group released its first album in 1998 titled, ‘Bibi Baa O’. Since then, it has become the most popular Hip life group in Ghana. In 2000, it released its second album, ‘Ye De Aba’ which was very successful. In 2001, it released ‘Lumbe Lumbe Lumbe’ with the smashing hit ‘Daben Na Odo Beba’.

The group took its career to the next level with its 2003 album ‘Ahomka Womu’. The ‘Ahomka Womu’ title track topped Ghanaian charts for over 20 weeks.

VIP won five awards at the Ghana Music Awards with the album and the group gained international exposure after this success. Since then, the group has toured the world.

Currently, the group’s new singles ‘Follow Me’, ‘Which Kind Yawa Be Dis’ and ‘Pampanaa’, off its new ‘7/11’ album, are enjoying massive airplay. The album itself is out in various music outlets.