Ruger – BlownBoy RU Album Review: A Decent Effort, Despite Some Missteps

BlownBoy RU seems like Ruger’s opportunity to demonstrate that he can function well on his own, especially at a time when the most successful musicians are frequently supported by powerful label machinery. Ruger feeds on his confidence rather than merely flirting with it.

And you have every right to have his level of confidence when you’re as skilled as he is. His uneasy departure from Jonzing Records, the label that discovered him and played a significant role in his rise to fame, was motivated by his unwavering faith in his skills. Lines like “I denounce every loyalty to some godfather” on the closing record, Blownboy Anthem, make no room for doubt.

The pink-haired provocateur, now completely autonomous under his own Blown Boy Entertainment, doesn’t hold back on his second album, presenting a body of work that highlights his abilities. BlownBoy RU is a refinement rather than an innovation. It aims to solidify rather than to surprise.

READ MORE: How Social Media Content Is Shaping The Future Of Afrobeats

Thematically, BlownBoy RU explores well-known themes of lust, ego, detachment, and passion. However, Ruger’s heavy reliance on his point of view gives these clichés a new flavour. Ruger is at his most aggressive and self-aware on the album’s opener, REintroduction, which combines a braggadocious dancehall-infused flow with a bristling beat. It’s a proclamation. Ruger wants to be remembered as much as he wants to be heard.

Ruger portrays the heartthrob, full of longing and gentle charm, when the album shifts abruptly into amorous terrain with Muah (Soulmates). The pendulum continues to swing with the seductive Dudu featuring Kranium, the dancehall-heavy Jay Jay, and the brazen drill record Giveaway with Zlatan. Although each song is strong on its own, they pull the album in several different directions.

Instead of being a cohesive album experience, BlownBoy RU feels more like a playlist. Things don’t really settle until the second half of the album, where Ruger leans into vulnerability and tempers the bluster here. His lyrics are more introspective, and his melodies are sharper. Toro in particular shows an emotional depth that doesn’t sacrifice the edge that makes him unique.

What’s clear across this 13-track project is that Ruger knows who he is—an unapologetic bad boy, a hitmaker, a genre-hopper—but hasn’t quite figured out the best way to present that identity on this album. He wants to show all his sides, but sometimes, all at once isn’t the answer.

READ MORE: 6 Artist-Directed Music Videos You Should Check Out

BlownBoy RU is unquestionably a bold move forward. The features, which range from Tiwa Savage to Valiant and Kranium, are carefully chosen, and the production, which is primarily directed by his sonic twin, Kukbeatz, continues to be Ruger’s go-to playground.

For Ruger, the message is clear: he doesn’t need industry backing to make noise. He is the noise.