Throwback Record Of The Week: Ruggedman – Ruggedy Baba (2007)

Written By Amechi Okoli


Sometimes I wonder why Ruggedman doesn’t get the kind of love he deserves from the Nigerian hip hop community. Is it because he was a staunch hip hop head who decided to chase commercial success by making radio-friendly songs, or was it because he got into it with Nigeria’s favorite lyricist?

Whatever the reason, no one can deny the fact that Ruggedman was instrumental in redefining the Nigerian hip hop landscape. And one of the pivotal albums to that redefinition was 2007’s Ruggedy Baba.

Without a doubt, this album hit harder than George Foreman did in his mid 20s!

Its lead single, which had the same title as the album “Ruggedy Baba”, is one of the most thought-provoking songs you’ll ever hear from a Nigerian rapper, as it touched on a topic that was extremely delicate at the time.

And what was that topic?

Infusing your mother tongue into your raps, creating unique identities as indigenous MCs, and how the “hip hop heads” hated any rapper that did that back in the day.

Why? Because infusing local dialect into rap used to be viewed as a “crime” by a certain group of Nigerian hip hoppers who preferred their adopted Brooklyn-styled English-laden lyrics.

Fast forward a few years later, and the mega successes of the likes of Olamide and Phyno, and how cool they made indigenous rap sound, shows that Ruggedman had a valid point.

Nonetheless, other noteworthy tracks on the album include Watch Me, To Whom It May Concern, Won’t Battle, and Flesh 2 Flesh 2 Death.

So, if you’re looking for a high quality old school Nigerian rap album to vibe to this coming weekend, then I recommend you revisit Ruggedman’s Ruggedy Baba!

I’ll hit you with another classic throwback record next week Thursday.

Peace!

Ruggedy Baba!