Ruger – Ru The World Album Review: A Chronicle Of Toxic Masculinity

Here is Ruger’s Ru The World album review! In 2021, Ruger, the enigmatic artist known as Michael Adebayo Olayinka, made a powerful entrance into the Pan-African music scene through his debut with Jonzing Records. From the very beginning, Ruger exuded an undeniable “bad boy” swagger, a quality that had often eluded many artists before him.

With his cheeky demeanour, snazzy fashion sense, and abundance of self-assured “cockiness,” he became a symbol of the quintessential Gen-Z traits. His persona resonated with a generation seeking authenticity and unapologetic self-expression.

In the blink of an eye, Ruger’s charisma, combined with his distinctive fusion of Dancehall elements and Afro rhythms, garnered him a devoted fan base. His magnetic stage presence, particularly his explicit antics, endeared him to a passionate following, particularly among female fans who affectionately became known as the “RU Nation.”

Moreover, he solidified his status as a hitmaker through a string of chart-topping singles, including ‘Dior,’ ‘Bounce,’ and ‘Asiwaju.’ His distinctive eyepatch and inimitable style made him an unmistakable figure in the music scene, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. He had indeed arrived, leaving a trail of electrifying performances and unforgettable tunes in his wake.

His debut full-length album, ‘Ru to The World’ comes after two successful EPs, a global tour, and a couple of infamous online squabbles.

In the record opener, ‘Tour’, he accentuates his priority, assuring his loved ones that he hasn’t derailed from the initial course at hand, even though he appears to be taken aback by the excessive effeminate attention that comes by proxy with being a superstar. ‘Asana’ is a combination of patois and indigenous lyricism that intertwines with dancehall riddims. In the song, he boasts of his Cassanova idiosyncrasies.

Ruger yearns for a haven in an apparent toxic relationship, and he sings about this in ‘I Want Peace’. Over mellow and simple progressions, he appears to fight fire with fire, as he collides with a hot-headed love interest whilst being hot-headed himself, “Me sef I no gree, cause baby you don’t want peace”, he sings.

The Nigerian singer is a versatile singer, on one listen, he is hardcore flexing in patois; on another, he is smoothly serenading over Rhythm and Blues instrumentals. In ‘Blue’, he does the latter.

British singer and rapper Stefflon Don conjures guest verses on the pacifying ‘Addicted’. The chemistry shared between both singers is surreal, albeit over an outdated music production.

Ruger dives deep into his Afro-Pop bag on ‘Kristy’. Over Irish pipe ornamentations, he sweet talks and renders appraisals on a lover, and at this point, it becomes clear that he made this album with his female fans predominantly in the picture. 

Sexy, and erotic Hispanic rhythms drive the Sauti Sol featured ‘All My Days’. Both Ruger and Sauti Sol deliver a lovely and catchy number that is centred on enjoying vanity. 

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‘Nine’ enlists infectious log drums and sporadic beats, as he metaphorically likens his mortality rate to that of a feline while ironically alluding to his canine tendencies with females, and he is unapologetic about it too. 

In ‘Likely’, Ruger and Govana maintain the album’s dominant theme with heavy bass and smooth lyricism that is tilted towards Ruger’s default genre: Dancehall.

Throughout the remainder of the seventeen-track album, he is consistent with his lover-boy/bad-boy dual narrative, and he does it with masterful finesse. 

Perhaps Ruger’s plan to “Ru The World” is to rule his women first, as the album showcases a bit of shrewd narcissism, and toxic masculine energy, albeit at the expense of beautiful and masterclass music.