Afrobeats star Ruger has opened up about the heavy backlash he faced after parting ways with his former label, Jonzing World, revealing that the music industry and some fans blacklisted him during his transition to independence.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, Ruger, whose real name is Michael Olayinka, detailed the emotional and professional struggle he endured following his controversial exit from the label in 2024.
"After leaving the label, there were a lot of comments about it," he said. "Some people were saying, ‘This is the last year you’re going to tour,’ ‘You’re finished,’ and so on. Some fans cancelled me and even colleagues kept their distance."
According to Ruger, there’s a prevailing narrative in Nigeria that artists who leave labels are seen as ungrateful, which often isolates them within the industry. “Not everybody was willing to help me because the public sentiment once you leave a label in Nigeria is that you are ungrateful,” he explained.
The singer, known for hits like Bounce and Asiwaju, also described the overwhelming stress of rebuilding his career from scratch. “I had to meet people all over again and reintroduce myself. I was doing everything from the ground up. It was stressful. I’m not going to lie,” Ruger admitted.
Despite the hardship, the artist launched his own record label, Blown Boy Entertainment, and slowly regained industry support. “It’s not easy to leave a label. You have to build your own system. But because I was strong inside—I was also down, but still strong—I triumphed,” he said confidently.
Ruger’s revelation sheds light on the often-unspoken struggles many artists face behind the scenes when transitioning to independence. His story also highlights the challenges of Nigeria’s cancel culture, especially in the entertainment sector.
Now, with new music under his imprint and a growing fanbase, Ruger appears to have overcome the adversity and is more determined than ever to control his own narrative.
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