“I just have a feeling that this whole Afrobeats thing, the tag might end soon,” said the rapper, whose real name is Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds programme on Sunday.
While celebrating the global success of Nigerian music, Ruggedman expressed mixed feelings about the direction of the industry. He applauded the international recognition that Nigerian artists now enjoy but lamented what he considers a decline in musical quality.
“Nigerian music is at the forefront, and I’m happy it is Nigerian music,” he said. “The only change that I don’t fancy much is the quality of the music. Not too many of them are giving me what I really respect.”
Ruggedman also drew attention to the frequent confusion between Afrobeat and Afrobeats — two distinct genres despite their similar names. Afrobeat, pioneered by Fela Kuti, was a revolutionary and highly instrumental sound rooted in jazz and highlife, while Afrobeats refers to the modern, commercial fusion of African pop, hip-hop, and dance influences dominating charts today.
The rapper questioned the tendency to lump diverse Nigerian music icons under the Afrobeats umbrella. “I wonder why people would want to categorise artists like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, King Sunny Ade, or Kwam 1 into Afrobeats,” he said. “I wish they had just left it at Nigerian music.”
Rap’s Struggles and the Quest for Authenticity
Speaking about rap music, Ruggedman admitted that the genre has taken a backseat as many young artists pursue more commercially rewarding sounds.
“Unfortunately, rap has kind of taken a backseat because people want to do something that gives them money quickly,” he said. “Not too many people are doing rap, and it costs more to push and promote rap than Afrobeats.”
He also raised concerns about Nigeria’s overreliance on foreign music distribution and validation, arguing that the industry needs to strengthen local systems and promote originality.
Ruggedman’s Acoustic Reinvention
Recently, Ruggedman released acoustic versions of five of his classic tracks — Ruggedy Baba, Baraje, Change, Won’t Battle, and One Man — in collaboration with renowned guitarist Fiokee.
“This is the first time a Nigerian rapper has done this — just guitar and rap,” he noted proudly. “It gives you an opportunity to hear the lyrics and feel the soul and heart behind all the words. Nobody has done this before.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Ruggedman revealed that he has new songs lined up with Odumodublvck, Jeric, Magnito, Tubaba, and several other collaborators — a signal that the rap veteran is far from slowing down even as Nigeria’s music landscape continues to evolve.