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Veteran rapper and humanitarian Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has expressed his belief that the “Afrobeats” label used to describe contemporary Nigerian music may soon lose relevance.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds, Ruggedman revealed that he has a strong feeling the term’s dominance is nearing its end.
He said, “I just have a feeling that this whole Afrobeats thing, the tag might end soon. Nigerian music is in the forefront and I’m happy it is Nigerian music.”
While praising Nigerian music’s global success, the rapper voiced concern over what he perceives as a decline in lyrical and artistic quality among many of today’s artists.
“The only change that I don’t fancy much is the quality of the music, and not too many of them are giving me what I really respect,” he added.
Ruggedman drew a clear line between “Afrobeat,” the revolutionary, jazz-inspired sound pioneered by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and “Afrobeats,” the modern pop-driven genre dominating charts today. He also cautioned against grouping legends like Fela, King Sunny Ade, and Kwam 1 under the Afrobeats label, saying it’s more accurate to describe their works simply as “Nigerian music.”
He further lamented the declining presence of rap in Nigeria’s mainstream music scene, attributing it to artists’ desire for quick financial gains and the higher cost of promoting hip-hop compared to Afrobeats.
“Unfortunately, rap has kind of taken a backseat because people want to do something that gives them money quickly. Not too many people are doing rap, and it costs more to push and promote rap than Afrobeats,” he explained.
Ruggedman also criticised the country’s dependence on foreign music distribution platforms and the constant chase for international validation, urging greater investment in local infrastructure.
He revealed that he recently released acoustic versions of five of his classic songs — Ruggedy Baba, Baraje, Change, Won’t Battle, and One Man — featuring guitarist Fiokee. According to him, the project marks the first time a Nigerian rapper has performed such an acoustic set, designed to spotlight lyrical depth and emotion.
“This is the first time, no Nigerian rapper has done this acoustic, just guitar and rap,” he stated. “So this gives you an opportunity to hear the lyrics and feel the soul, the heart behind all the words I use, and nobody has done this before.”
Ruggedman also announced upcoming collaborations in 2026 with Odumodublvck, Jeriq, Magnito, 2Baba, and others, reaffirming his dedication to keeping Nigerian hip-hop alive despite changing trends.
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