Ruggedman, the veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Steven, has expressed his concern about the rise of untalented individuals falsely presenting themselves as Afrobeats singers.
He argues that those lacking talent should not be using the term “Afrobeats” to describe their music.
Speaking in a candid interview with Chude Jideonwo, Ruggedman said:
“When you ask me what Afrobeats is, I would say Afrobeats is what a lot of talentless people hide behind,”
“They said, ‘Afrobeats to the world.’ I said, ‘No. It’s some artists to the world.’ It’s not the Afrobeats [genre], it’s some artists.”
Additionally, he disclosed that it hurts when people tell him on social media that his career as an artist is over, stating that he inspired most of the top Nigerian singers.
“But what I said to myself is whoever he or she [the troll] is listening to right now is inspired by me” he said.
