Afrobeats star Ruger, also known as Michael Adebayo Olayinka, recently voiced frustration with the Nigerian music industry, expressing dismay at the rising popularity of artists he feels lack genuine talent. According to Ruger, the industry’s heavy emphasis on promotional spending has led to situations where artists achieve fame primarily through financial backing, rather than musical ability.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he remarked, “The music scene has been hurting me coz no matter how [poor] an artist is, once there’s money for hype, Otilo.” His comment reflects concerns about the oversaturation of promoted content, which can sometimes overshadow authentic musical skill.
Additionally, Ruger criticized the prevalent use of autotune, especially during live performances, noting that many artists rely heavily on pitch correction even when speaking on stage. He added humorously, “Next time, tell your engineer to shut it down when you’re about to speak,” highlighting that he himself performs without such modifications.
Ruger’s sentiments underline a growing conversation in Nigeria’s music industry about balancing commercial success with artistic integrity, as well as concerns regarding authenticity in live music.
