Popular Nigerian musician Michael Olayinka, known to many as Ruger may be very famous but just like many people, he has faced countless challenges.
Ruger recently shared about how he faced rejection from fans after his controversial exit from the label that has signed him, Jonzing World.
The celebrated music star revealed that even fellow celebrities and key figures in the music industry gave him a cold shoulder following his exit from his label.
According to Ruger, many industry players and his fans turned their back on him and kept their distance during the turbulent period.
Speaking during an interview with Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast, Ruger said many people told him that he is finished when he ditched Jonzing World.
The star noted that countless mean comments were thrown his way but he fought through.
“After leaving the label, there were a lot of comments about it. Some people were saying, ‘This is the last year you’re going to tour’, ‘This is the end’, ‘You’re finished’, this and that,” he said.
“Not everybody were willing to help me because the public sentiment once you leave a label in Nigeria is that you are ungrateful. Many people don’t want to associate with that person, even those in the same industry. It happens,” he added.
Ruger said he struggled to fight cancel culture and managed to remain afloat despite everything.
The star stated that he had to start afresh and even reintroduce himself in order to get back his rightful place in the much competitive music industry.
“I was battling cancel culture. I had to meet a lot of people and reintroduce myself. I was doing a lot of things from the scratch. It’s stressful, I’m not going to lie. It’s not easy to leave a label. You have to build your own system. It was just like starting everything over again. But because I was strong inside — I was also down but I was still strong — I triumphed,” Ruger disclosed.
Nairobi News understands Ruger officially cut ties with Jonzing World in 2024, following a bitter fallout with the label’s founder, D’Prince.
Not long after his exit, the singer launched his own label Blown Boy Entertainment.
