Ruger expressed his dismay over this trend, emphasizing that individuals lacking genuine talent are able to attain fame solely through significant investments in marketing strategies.
On his X account, Ruger remarked:“The music scene has been hurting me coz no matter how shit an artist is, once there’s money for hype, Otilo.”
He also criticized the reliance on autotune by some performers, particularly during live shows.
“Now, let’s talk about the gaddamn autotunes on the mic when y’all perform. Next time, tell your engineer to shut it down when you’re about to speak coz you be speaking in Tunez wahalaaaaaa. Well, Ruger don’t need that shit. thank you,” he wrote.
In a recent interview with Cool FM in Lagos, Ruger asserted that there are currently fewer than five truly talented musicians in Nigeria, suggesting that many artists are merely creating music for entertainment rather than artistry.
However, he refrained from naming the talented individuals he believes exist or indicating his own position among them.
“I’m not the biggest artiste in Nigeria but talent-wise, I’m standing somewhere there. We are not up to 5,” he said.
“I won’t say where I am on the list but I’m there. It’s not up to five. Most people are just singing for cruise but we [the talented artists], we make music.”
Ruger recently unveiled his new record label, ‘Blown Boy Entertainment,’ in January. He has also updated his social media profiles to align with this new venture.
In a post on Instagram, he expressed his gratitude towards Jonzing World and D’Prince, stating that it was time for him to invest in himself.
Ruger gained prominence in 2021 while signed to Jonzing World, a label founded by Nigerian artist D’Prince, which is associated with Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records.
He has received numerous accolades for his work, including the AFRIMA Best Newcomer award in 2021 and the Best New Artiste award at the 2023 Soundcity MVP Awards.
Additionally, Ruger has achieved significant recognition, winning the Best New Act in Africa at the prestigious Afrima Awards in 2022.