Ruggedman: Reimagining Legacy, One Acoustic Bar at a Time

Ruggedman Acoustic Session — A New Era of OG Energy

Ruggedman is not just revisiting his classics — he’s rebuilding them for a generation that streams before it studies.

With “The Best of Ruggedman: Acoustic Session Vol. 1,” the veteran Nigerian rapper isn’t chasing nostalgia; he’s redefining it.

When we caught up with him for 99Pluz’s Legends Speak series, he was sharp, funny, and self-aware — the same “Ruggedy Baba” who helped shape Nigerian hip-hop into a cultural language, not just a sound.

But this time, he’s doing it unplugged.

Q: In one line, what does this project represent to you right now?

“It represents ‘hey Gen Z, listen to one of the talented cats who made you happen,’” he laughs, setting the tone. “Hahaha — that’s really what it is.”

Why Acoustic? Why Now?

It’s not just a comeback — it’s a creative recalibration. Ruggedman explains that this project came from a mix of necessity, pride, and pure experimentation.

Q: Why come back now — and why go acoustic?

“It’s a bit of everything — nostalgia, evolution, and yes, a little business. I just wanted to reimagine the sounds that made me and reintroduce them to this new generation of entertainers and streamers,” he says. “As a talented OG, I decided to do it in a way no Nigerian rapper has done it before — the acoustic way. This is a first from Nigeria.”

He teamed up with Fiokee, the acclaimed guitarist who’s worked with everyone from Davido to Teni, to strip down and rebuild classics like “Ruggedy Baba.”

Together, they created something almost spiritual — verses that breathe.

Q: What did you want Fiokee to unlock in these records?

“His talent on the guitar is obvious. As a professional, I needed a fellow professional who is really into the art to pull this off. I wanted his magic to unlock the soul behind the words, behind the bars I was spitting — and he did just that.”

“Ruggedy Baba” — The Blueprint Song

If Nigerian hip-hop were a house, “Ruggedy Baba” would be one of its foundation stones.

The track, first released in 2006, was Ruggedman’s sermon to a young generation chasing foreign validation. And in acoustic form, it lands differently — clearer, rawer, more instructive.

Q: Which song flipped in meaning once you stripped it down?

“I will say ‘Ruggedy Baba’. That is a track that a lot of people have called ‘the blueprint’ to Nigerian musical hits. Where I preached the gospel of putting a face to Nigerian music by telling Nigerian entertainers that ‘speaking in our mother tongue’ is one of the ways to let the world know where we come from.”

He repeats one of his own lines:

“The only thing wey go make them know where your music come from in the long run is the fusion of grammar, your slang, and your mother tongue.”

He pauses. “That was 2006. Every hit song since then? It’s got local language in it. I said it back then, and it’s still true.”

Rehearing Himself

One thing you notice when you remove heavy production? The lyrics start talking back.

Q: When you removed the heavy production, was there a lyric that hit you differently?

“All the lyrics did, because there’s no distracting instrument. It is just you, the guitar and the lyrics,” he says.

He recalls a fan comment under the acoustic video on his YouTube:

“A guy said, ‘Thank you for releasing this version. I just realised I’ve been singing rubbish all this while — now I know the actual words.’” He laughs. “That one cracked me up.”

The Lesson for New Artists

Ruggedman’s tone sharpens when we shift to the state of the game. He’s still the elder statesman who’s seen too many artists burn out chasing hype.

Q: If there’s one truth every artist should know before chasing a deal or dropping a debut, what is it?

“A record deal is not a poverty alleviation programme, neither is it a favour. A deal is a partnership where you play your part and the label plays theirs. Any money spent on you WILL be recouped by the label, so make sure to discuss terms of spending. Tell them you need to know and co-sign off any money to be spent and you need copies of receipts. Then lastly — promotion is 70% the work.”

That’s Ruggedman in a sentence — no filters, no shortcuts, just facts.

Who’s Carrying the Torch?

He gives credit where it’s due — though not without a knowing nod to how the culture’s changed.

Q: Which new-school rappers are you feeling right now?

“Rap/hip hop has truly changed in this generation. It is no longer just about the art like it was during our time and this is not only happening in Nigeria. It’s the same even in the rest of the world. Now it’s more about cruise, vibes and the numbers. New school artists I am feeling are Fireboy, Odumodublvck, Omah Lay, Ladipoe, Ayra Starr, Lojay, Tems.”

He’s naming a map of artists who’ve learned to mix craft with reach — the balance Ruggedman respects.

Building Bridges Between Eras

This new chapter — from The Michael Stephens Experiment EP (2024) to The Acoustic Session — isn’t just about staying relevant. It’s about refusing erasure.

Q: What’s the message behind this new era of Ruggedman?

“Yes, it is a bridge. I already said it earlier that I want the new generation artists to know their uncle in the game. I dropped The Michael Stephens Experiment EP in 2024 where I experimented with different genres of music and featured some OGs. Now I want people to enjoy real lyrics. Not mumble rap. Lyrics that actually speak to you and remind you of how all this started.”

He’s not bitter. Just grounded. Like the chords that now frame his bars.

“A record deal is not a poverty alleviation programme. It’s a partnership.” — Ruggedman

Sign up on 99Pluz.com for exclusive news, interviews, and giveaways.

• “What’s your favourite Ruggedman era — the battle days or the acoustic vibe?”

• “Do you think Gen Z fully understands how Nigerian hip-hop got here?”

• “If you could strip one classic Nigerian track to its acoustic core, which would it be?”