Ruggedman Critiques Afrobeats for Harboring Talentless Artists

In a recent interview, veteran Nigerian rapper Ruggedman criticized the categorization of African music as Afrobeats, arguing that it enables talentless Nigerians to hide behind the genre. He expressed his discontent with the perception that all African music falls under the Afrobeats label, stating that this misclassification began when people accused him of jealousy.

Ruggedman emphasized that many artists in the Afrobeats scene rely on catchy beats and repetitive street slang rather than genuine musical talent. He pointed out that a significant number of Afrobeats artists utilize auto-tune and lack the ability to freestyle or perform live with a band.

Ruggedman believes that the genre's name should not be a refuge for those who do not possess real musical skills, and he called for a more accurate representation of African music that honors its diversity and talent.