Ruger (musician)
{{Short description|Nigerian singer-songwriter (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ruger
| image =
| alt =
| caption = Ruger in 2021
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = Yoruba
| birth_name = Michael Adebayo Olayinka
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1999|9|23}}
| birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria
| genre = {{hlist|Afrobeats|afro-pop|afrobeat|dancehall}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|musician}}
| years_active = 2020{{ndash}}present
| label = Blown Boy Entertainment
}}
Michael Adebayo Olayinka (born 23 September 1999), known professionally as Ruger is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and performing artist.{{cite web |title=Enter Ruger, Naija's new fearless act |url=https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/weekend-beats/enter-ruger-naijas-new-fearless-act/ |website=The Guardian Nigeria |access-date=7 January 2022 |date=17 July 2021}} He rose to fame with the release of his song "Bounce", which led him to sign a recording deal with Jonzing World, in 2021. That same year, he released his debut extended play, Pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Alake|first=Motolani Yusmid|date=2021-03-12|title='PANDEMIC' is a wonderful introduction to Ruger's element [Pulse EP Review]|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/review-ruger-pandemic-ep/5f3t6sh|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}} In 2024, he exit Jonzing World to start his own imprint, called 'Blown Boy Entertainment'.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-20 |title=Ruger announces his own record label with a freestyle |url=https://notjustok.com/news/ruger-allegedly-ditch-jonzing-world-starts-his-own-record-label/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=NotjustOk |language=en-US}}
Early life
Michael Adebayo Olayinka was born on 23 September 1999 in Lagos, where he was also raised. He is originally from Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, Nigeria.{{Cite web|last=Sare|first=Watimagbo|date=2022|title=Ruger Full Biography|url=https://buzznigeria.com/ruger-biography-what-to-know-about-the-bounce-and-dior-singer|access-date=2022-12-27|website=BuzzNigeria.com}}
Career
Olayinka was discovered by D'Prince, who gave him the name "Ruger". His first song recorded seventy million views in three days.{{cite web |title=Ruger is switching things up |url=https://pan-african-music.com/en/ruger-is-switching-things-up/ |website=PAM - Pan African Music |access-date=7 January 2022 |date=23 September 2021}} In January 2021, D'Prince announced the signing of Ruger to Jonzing World and Sony Music Entertainment UK, in a joint venture with Columbia Records.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-18|title=Jonzing World's Record Label signs Ruger to join Rema|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/01/jonzing-worlds-record-label-signs-ruger-to-join-rema/|access-date=2022-01-03|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}{{cite web |last1=Alake |first1=Motolani |title=D'Prince's Jonzing World unveils new artist, Ruger |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/dprinces-jonzing-world-signs-new-artist-ruger/t29dmdm |website=Pulse Nigeria |access-date=7 January 2022 |language=en |date=19 January 2021}}
He released the song "One Shirt" with Rema in January 2021.{{Cite web|last=Alake|first=Motolani|date=2021-01-21|title=Jonzing World's new act, Ruger jumps on 'One Shirt' with D'Prince and Rema|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/listen-jonzing-world-featuring-dprince-ruger-and-rema-one-shirt/xc1fkwe|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}} In February 2021, he released "Ruger", a single from first EP, PANDEMIC.{{Cite web |last=BellaNaija.com |date=2021-03-12 |title=New EP: Ruger – Pandemic |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2021/03/ruger-pandemic-ep/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=BellaNaija |language=en-US}}
"Bounce" became a hit song from Pandemic, and debuted at number 39 on the Top 50 chart Nigeria, and was listed at number 20 on the TurnTable End of the Year chart and number 2 on the Apple Music top Afrobeats songs. On 26 November 2021, he released his second EP, titled The Second Wave, with "Dior" as the lead single, which debuted number 32 on the Top 50 chart, and number 15 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart.{{cite web |title=Official Afrobeats Chart Top 20 {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/afrobeats-chart/20211219/afrobeat/ |access-date=7 January 2022 |website=www.officialcharts.com |language=en}}
On 19 November 2021, he released his second EP, The Second Wave, produced by Kukbeatz.{{Cite web |last=Adebiyi |first=Adeayo |date=2022-06-17 |title=Ruger's 'Second Wave' EP gets three new singles: 'WeWe,' 'Girlfriend,' and 'Warning' |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/ruger-releases-second-wave-deluxe/qcjm6md |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}} The song "Dior" reached number 32 on the Top 50 chart, and number 15 on the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart. 2021 AFRIMMA (African Muzik Magazine Awards) nominated RUGER for Best NewComer 2021{{cite web |title=New EP: Ruger – The Second Wave |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2021/11/new-ep-ruger-the-second-wave/ |website=BellaNaija |access-date=7 January 2022 |date=26 November 2021}} 2021 AFRIMA (All Africa Music Awards) nominated Ruger for Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Reggae, Ragga or Dancehall and Most Promising African Artiste of the year.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-23 |title=All Africa Music Awards 2021: All the nominees |url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/all-africa-music-awards-2021-all-nominees |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=Music In Africa |language=en}}
In November 2022, Ruger released the hit single "Asiwaju", which peaked at number 1 on Nigeria's Apple Music chart and spent a record-breaking one month at the top.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-20 |title=Ruger Reacts As Smashing Hit 'Asiwaju' Tops The Chart For 4 Straight Weeks |url=https://notjustok.com/news/ruger-reacts-as-asiwaju-tops-the-chart-for-4-consecutive-weeks/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=NotjustOk |language=en-US}} As of May 2024, the track has accumulated over 100 million streams on Spotify.{{Cite web |title=Ruger - Spotify Top Songs |url=https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/0a1SidMjD8D6EHvJph4n2H_songs.html |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=kworb.net}}
In February 2023, Ruger was named Best New Artiste at the Soundcity MVP Awards which were held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos.{{Cite web|date=2022-08-25 |title=Burnaboy, Black Sherif, Win At The Soundcity MVP Awards 2023 (FULL WINNERS LIST)|url=https://africanfolder.com/burnaboy-black-sherif-win-at-the-soundcity-mvp-awards-2023-full-winners-list/|access-date=2023-02-12 |website=African Folder |language=en-US}}
In September 2023, Ruger released his debut album, Ru the World.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Niall |date=2023-09-21 |title=Afro-dancehall pioneer Ruger on his debut 'RU The World': "I didn't hold anything back" |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/ruger-ru-the-world-album-interview-radar-3500956 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}
In April 2024, Ruger and Bnxn released the collaborative mixtape RnB. The mixtape's lead single, Romeo Must Die, debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Afrobeat chart.{{Cite web |last=theimullar·MUSIC |date=2024-04-19 |title=Ruger & Bnxn Release Joint EP, ‘RnB’ — iMullar |url=https://imullar.com/2024/04/19/ruger-bnxn-release-joint-ep-rnb/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |language=en-GB}}
Discography
= Albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of Albums, with selected details ! scope="col" rowspan="1" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" | Album details |
| scope="row" |Ru the World
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" |BlownBoy RU
|
|
= EPs =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of Ep, with selected details ! rowspan="1" scope="col" |Title ! rowspan="1" scope="col" |Album details |
| scope="row" |Pandemic
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" |The Second Wave
|
|
=Collaborative EP=
- RnB (with Bnxn) (18 April 2024, Blown Boy Entertainment, TYE Entertainment, and Empire Distribution)