BlownBoy Ru is a tightly knit sophomore effort that stretches Ruger’s ambitions without losing sight of what makes his music tick.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
The pursuit of pleasure has always been an irresistible muse for many Afro-Pop musicians. In the hands of the most skilled, hedonism is a prism through which the desires, indulgences, and thrills of a generation are distilled into sound. Few artistes in Afro-Pop understand this alchemy better than Ruger.
From his debut in 2021 with Pandemic—a six-track offering with a title that cheekily played on the global lockdown while introducing his signature blend of Afro-Pop and Dancehall—Ruger has built his artistry on uninhibited confidence, sensual lyricism, and the raw energy of Dancehall’s percussive bounce.
Each subsequent release has only deepened his sonic identity. His second EP, The Second Wave, released in 2021, and his 2023 debut album, Ru The World, sharpened his knack for infectious hooks and lyrical bravado, while his consistent chart presence cemented him as one of Afropop’s most distinctive voices.
A key architect of this sonic journey has been Kukbeatz, the producer whose percussive arrangements–punchy drum patterns, skittering hi-hats, and a seamless fusion of Caribbean palettes–have been an unwavering foundation for Ruger’s sound. Across four years, their synergy has ensured that even as the singer experiments, he never strays too far from the blueprint that made him stand out.
It’s no surprise, then, that BlownBoy Ru, Ruger’s sophomore album and first project under his newly established label, BlownBoy Entertainment, continues to refine this template.
A lot has happened since Ruger released his debut album, Ru The World, in 2023. He has scored hits, dominated charts, and taken his music to international stages. Perhaps the most defining change, though, has been his split from Jonzing World, the label that introduced him to mainstream consciousness. That departure reframed him as an artiste fully in control of his art. BlownBoy Ru carries that defiant spirit that packages his evolution into a body of work that is equal parts reaffirmation and refinement.
BlownBoy Ru’s opening track, “REintroduction”, makes this intent clear. Over a propulsive Dancehall rhythm, Ruger delivers a chest-thumping reminder of his place in the game: “Update yourself now I be BlownBoy/ Four years later still Ruger name no spoil”. It is a declaration that he is here to stay and thrive on his own terms.
The album unfurls in familiar motifs, with sensuality stitched into its fabric. On “Muah (Soulmates)”, a slow-burning groove drenched in warm guitar licks, he plays the smooth-talking lover, teasing a potential partner with lines like, “Are you happy with your man or you want to switch lanes?/ Baby don’t you ever let your man block you from your soulmate”.
It’s the kind of persuasive allure that feels effortless, a skill he carries into the sultry “Dudu”, where he links up with Kranium to craft an hypnotic late-night moody track. On the pre-released Afro-Dancehall “Jay Jay”, he channels that playboy persona into a swaggering display by likening his romantic dexterity to the legendary footwork of Jay-Jay Okocha even if the lyrics “If a girl worry me, I delete her/ Put her inside the bin bag” off the song have garnered online backlash for carrying the connotation of femicide.
Yet, BlownBoy Ru isn’t solely fixated on romance and seduction. There are moments where the feeling gives way to vulnerability. “Wish You Well” featuring Jamaican Dancehall act, Valiant, finds Ruger navigating the murky waters of post-breakup emotions, torn between indifference and lingering affection.
Atop the mid-tempo “Toro”, he acknowledges his shortcomings in love by pleading for reconciliation. “Truly, I vexed you but try forgive me just/ because I’m scared you’ll end up with some dude worse”, he croons.
On the Scribz Riley-produced “Runaway”, which enlists the Reggae and Dancehall artiste, Haile, he paints a picture of a toxic relationship that neither party can seem to escape. The pain in his delivery is unmissable, especially in the pre-chorus, where he sings, “You can’t choose to runaway (ay), After all you did, You hurt me I chose to stay, You ruined all my days”.
And while “99” leans into unfiltered virile lyricism, doubling down on the rawness that has become a staple of Ruger’s catalog, “Giveaway” finds him linking up with one of Nigeria’s most bankable collaborators, Zlatan, to deliver one of the BlownBoy Ru’s most infectious tracks.
The Indigenous rapper and Street-Pop heavyweight injects his verse with his signature off-the-top delivery, lacing his bars with the kind of streetwise wit that turns everyday struggles into sharp, quotable lines. “I suppose go for X-ray, ‘Cause everyday man I dey chest billing (kilo wi)”, he raps, capturing the weight of constant financial expectations with a mix of humor.
The opening speech on “Hell Cat”—“You gotta know what you’re doing, We coming off a world tour/ We killing shit global”—hints at the song’s direction, as Ruger launches into another chest-thumping declaration of his dominance. That bravado carries through to the BlownBoy Ru closer, “BlownBoy Anthem”, which kicks off with a charged fusion of electric guitar, sweeping violin strains, and snare drum rolls.
Originally teased as a freestyle in the wake of his departure from Jonzing World, the track brims with the confidence of an artiste stepping into full control of his career. Lines like “And I denounce every loyalty to some godfather/ This year I’m about me” when placed in context, feels like a direct parting shot at his former label boss, D’Prince.
Nearly five years since his breakout hit, Ruger is still here, still moving with the confidence of someone who has always known where he’s headed. His sophomore album, BlownBoy Ru, as its title suggests, reaffirms his current global status.
It doubles down on the elements that have defined his artistry from the start: hedonism, braggadocio, and love, all delivered with an Afro-Dancehall edge that remains unmistakably his. Even when his confidence teeters on arrogance, it never feels misplaced; it is, after all, the assuredness of an artiste who has earned his place.
The project carries its own momentum, with each track brimming with a self-sustaining energy that pulls the listener in. The guest feature is carefully selected—Valiant, Kranium, and Haile pulling the project deeper into Afro-Dancehall’s orbit, an intentional nod to the Caribbean market.
There’s an attention to detail that makes BlownBoy Ru enjoyable. Kukbeatz’s production is precise, crisper and unforced which ensures every track on the album snaps into place without feeling overworked. Through it all, BlownBoy Ru is a tightly knit sophomore effort that stretches Ruger’s ambitions without losing sight of what makes his music tick.
Lyricism – 1.4
Tracklisting – 1.4
Sound Engineering – 1.8
Vocalisation – 1.5
Listening Experience – 1.5
Rating – 7.6/10
Abioye Damilare is a music journalist and culture writer focused on the African entertainment Industry. Reading new publications and listening to music are two of his favourite pastimes when he is not writing. Connect with him on Twitter and IG: @Dreyschronicle