Media Team
Nigerian music sensation Michael Olayinka, popularly known as Ruger, has opened up about his career struggles post-departure from Jonzing World.
The singer disclosed that he faced severe backlash after parting ways with the record label, including being blacklisted in certain industry circles.
During a candid chat on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Ruger revealed how colleagues distanced themselves while fans turned against him. He shared, “The moment I left Jonzing World, the negativity poured in. People were predicting my downfall, saying things like, ‘Your touring days are over,’ ‘Game’s up,’ ‘You’ve hit rock bottom.’ It was brutal.”
“In Nigeria’s music scene, leaving a label brands you as ‘ungrateful.’ Suddenly, even industry peers avoid you like the plague. It’s an unspoken rule—no one wants to be associated with that stigma,” he added.
Reflecting on his comeback journey, Ruger admitted, “Cancel culture hit me hard. I had to rebuild connections from zero—reinventing myself, establishing new systems. The grind was real; starting over isn’t for the weak. But my inner strength pulled me through—even when I felt broken, I refused to stay down.”
After his 2024 exit from Jonzing World amid reported tensions with label head D’Prince, Ruger launched his independent venture, Blown Boy Entertainment, marking a bold new chapter in his career.
