Veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has spoken candidly about the decline of hip-hop’s prominence in Nigeria, attributing it to the rising dominance of afrobeats and shifting audience preferences.
In an interview with Saturday Beats, Ruggedman shared insights into the transformation of the Nigerian music scene and the challenges facing hip-hop artists today.
“Rap in Nigeria has taken a back seat to afrobeats because it’s easier to make afrobeats,” he said. “Good rap requires more than just a catchy beat and popular street lamba (slang). People in this generation want the easy life. They prefer to vibe to simple sounds, and that’s what afrobeats gives them. Also, financially, you can make money quicker with afrobeats; so most people would rather invest in it. I don’t blame them for that.”
When asked whether Nigerian rap is evolving or merely adjusting for survival, he explained, “Rap in Nigeria is both evolving and adapting to survive. The few who still do straight rap are evolving; they’re rare. But those who fuse rap with singing or afrobeats are adapting to survive. Again, I don’t blame them because you don’t pay bills with titles like ‘the best rapper’ or ‘legendary rapper.’”
Reflecting on his contributions to the genre and the recognition he’s received, Ruggedman acknowledged feeling underappreciated but remained optimistic about his place in history.
“I don’t think I got enough recognition for what I contributed to Nigerian hip-hop culture, but I’m etched in the history books for life, and I believe a time will come when I’ll get my flowers,” he said.
“Sometimes I see posts online about Nigerian rap from my era, and my name is omitted while rappers who came after me are mentioned. I just laugh because I also see people commenting, ‘Your list isn’t complete if Ruggedman’s name isn’t on it.’ That tells me there are still people who know the real history. When I realise some Gen Z folks make such posts, I understand they know little about our era; they’re too lazy to research, so I forgive them. I only step in publicly when someone or a body that should know better tries to misinform people about Nigerian music history; then, I correct them.”
Looking ahead, the rapper announced a bold new project he believes will break new ground in the Nigerian rap scene.
“Now, I’m about to do something no Nigerian rapper has done before — I’m releasing Best of Ruggedman: The Acoustic Sessions Vol. 1 on October 24, 2025,” he revealed. “You’ll hear me rap five selected tracks over just acoustic guitar music — no beats, no extra instruments. Just bars and heart.”
Ruggedman’s upcoming release signals a return to raw lyricism and a renewed commitment to artistic authenticity in a genre he helped shape.
