Ruger Reveals Industry Blacklisting Following Controversial Exit From Jonzing World

Singer claims fans and colleagues distanced themselves after label departure, forcing him to “reintroduce” himself to industry

Nigerian Afrobeats artist Michael Olayinka, professionally known as Ruger, has disclosed that he faced significant industry backlash and fan cancellation following his controversial departure from Jonzing World record label in 2024.

Speaking during a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, the “Bounce” hitmaker revealed that both industry practitioners and fans turned against him after his exit, forcing him to rebuild his career from scratch.

“After leaving the label [Jonzing World], 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,” Ruger explained during the interview.

The artist described facing widespread industry isolation, attributing the treatment to negative public perception surrounding artists who leave their record labels in Nigeria.

“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 stated.

Ruger’s departure from Jonzing World followed a publicized fallout with the label’s boss, D’Prince, leading to his establishment of his own entertainment company, Blown Boy Entertainment. The circumstances surrounding his exit generated significant controversy within Nigeria’s music industry.

The singer acknowledged the significant challenges he faced during the transition period, describing his experience as battling “cancel culture” and having to rebuild professional relationships from the ground up.

“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,” Ruger revealed.

Despite the setbacks, the artist credited his resilience for helping him overcome the industry backlash and re-establish his career independently.

“But because I was strong inside -I was also down but I was still strong- I triumphed,” he concluded.

Ruger’s experience highlights the complex dynamics within Nigeria’s music industry, where artist-label relationships often extend beyond business into personal and industry-wide social networks. His revelations shed light on the potential consequences artists face when leaving established record labels, particularly in cases involving public disputes.

Since establishing Blown Boy Entertainment, Ruger has continued releasing music independently, though his claims about industry blacklisting provide insight into the challenges independent artists face when transitioning from major label support.

The artist’s candid discussion about his post-label experience comes as conversations about artist rights and label relationships continue gaining prominence within Nigeria’s rapidly expanding music industry.

Ruger rose to prominence under Jonzing World with hits including “Bounce,” “Dior,” and “Girlfriend,” before his departure marked a significant turning point in his career trajectory. His current independent status represents his attempt to maintain creative and business control over his artistic output.