Veteran Rapper Ruggedman Claims Some Nigerian Artists Lack Talent and Ride on Afrobeats Fame (Video)

Ruggedman

Legendary Nigerian rapper Ruggedman has sparked controversy by challenging the industry’s tendency to categorize all African music under the broad label of Afrobeats.

In a candid interview with Day Genius, Ruggedman expressed his long-standing disapproval of the term, revealing he had faced backlash for speaking out against it in the past.

He maintained that Afrobeats is not a legitimate genre but rather a convenient label used by artists lacking originality.

“I’ve always objected to Afrobeats as a blanket term for all African music. This was a misstep from the start, but when I raised concerns, people accused me of gatekeeping or envy,” Ruggedman stated.

“Now, if I perform in London, I’m automatically labeled an Afrobeats artist. That’s inaccurate.”

“This trend began with UK audiences lumping all African music together. Nigerians embraced the label out of a desire for categorization.”

“In my view, Afrobeats with an ‘S’ is a shield for unexceptional talent. The formula is simple: find a catchy beat, repeat street slang endlessly, then invest heavily in promotion. That’s the essence of modern Afrobeats,” he asserted.

The veteran lyricist also questioned the musical abilities of many Afrobeats performers, suggesting few can sing without vocal effects.

He further contended this explains why most Afrobeats artists avoid spontaneous performances and live band collaborations.