Micheal Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, is undeniably a controversial rapper. His career kicked off with verbal criticism of Kenny, D1 and fellow rapper, Eedris Abdul Kareem. He is currently having problems with his former friend, 9ice and the ensuing crisis saw the latter divorcing his newly wedded wife. Undaunted, Stephens was blunt with Olamide Oni as he discussed his many controversies in this interview.
At what age did you decide to go into music?
I cannot say, really, but I can tell you what year. I know I had been crazy about music since childhood. At about 1989/1990, I had already started watching a lot of music videos and listening to songs. So, I would say my interest in music was cultivated at about that time.
When did it become a career?
I would say 2002/2003 because that was when I started recording my first album. I was actually in school at that time. I was studying Political Science at the Lagos State University by the time I put out a song on radio, it was titled What If. I just put it out there and hoped for the best. The feedback was very encouraging. Before then, I had already been going from school to school doing campus shows. I was already gathering my fan base before I was able to go into it professionally and started recording in studios. Everything sort of started happening one after the other, so I made the best of it and thus began my career.
How did you come up with the name, ‘Ruggedman?’ Was it a nickname?
Funny enough, it is not a nickname. I actually gave myself that name when I was in secondary school due to my love for comic books (Spiderman, Batman etc.). I just wanted a name that was different. At first, my name was Soul MC but I then realised that there were so many MCs (Young MC, Fab MC etc.). Paul Play and I then decided to go with Ruggedman.
What was your childhood like?
Growing up was cool. I wasn’t born into a wealthy family but I was born into a family rich in love. We were close. We moved to Lagos when I was six years old so I practically grew up in Lagos. I did all my schooling in Lagos. I attended St. Joseph’s Primary School, Surulere, Aturanse Boys’ high school, Surulere, then Lagos State University, Ojo. I was even in Lagos for my National Youth Service Corps. I should practically be an omo onile now in Lagos (laughs). I am from a family of five; two guys and three girls. I am the second to the last born. All my sisters are in the UK. It is just me and my brother here in Nigeria. My family was great. We supported each other in whatever we were doing. They knew I liked music but they did not know how much, at first. I was usually in my room alone with the doors locked and the music speakers blaring. My family was okay with it as long as it did not have any adverse effect on my academics. After I graduated, and my songs started being played on radio, my mother went out one day and someone was like “ah! Mama Ruggedman, we like your son’s music”. She also started noticing when music artistes like Trybesmen, Tony Tetuila, Paul Play started showing up in the house and soon my videos were being showed on TV. It was then she realised how serious with music I was. My family was very supportive since they saw nothing negative in what I was doing.
What was your inspiration?
Basically, I loved music, so that was enough to drive me. I also noticed that a lot of mediocrity was being celebrated in the industry then and I was left with two choices, to either quit and get a job in another field or fight for music and I decided to fight which was what brought about the song Ehen. In the song, I criticised a couple of people and mentioned them in the track. I needed people to know that we don’t celebrate mediocrity; we need to celebrate good music to represent Nigeria better. I would say I took it all as a ‘do or die’ affair. I was very forceful because I knew what I wanted. The song caused a whole lot of controversies though, a lot of people agreed with the message and some others didn’t but all in all, I would say that the song sanitised the industry and changes soon became noticed.
Have there been difficult times?
I would say going it on my own was one of the biggest challenges. Everything I had been doing since the beginning, I did alone. When I say alone, I mean just me. Any amount I make is what I spend. I never had a sponsor. I thank God for the strength He has bestowed upon me because a lot of artistes that came out at the time I came out are not around right now but Ruggedman is still here.
Who are your role models?
My role model is any successful human being. They do not have to be rappers. They can be anyone from any field. I believe in success. If I see a person succeeding, I don’t do “why is he/she succeeding?” Instead I would want to know “how is he/she succeeding and is there something special he/she is doing?” I look and wonder if there is something about someone I can emulate to succeed myself. So, I would say my role model is anyone that is successful in anything he/she is doing.
What do you hope to have gained in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope to have become a legend in Nigerian Rap industry. I hope to have one of the biggest and the best record labels in the country. I also hope to have one of the biggest most successful clothing lines in Nigeria.
Tell us about your clothing line.
It is called 20th September Wear. It is named after my birthday. I was born on September 20th. I have been on it for a while but I have slowed down right now because I am checking out some things. I am doing some research on the clothing but soon I would be back in full force. My clothes are mainly casual wears, street wears etc. The clothes reflect me. It reflects the street. Bottom line, I would just say they are street wears for male and female. I had a fashion show a few years back. I showcased a lot of clothing- jerseys, shirts, jackets, jeans etc. Right now, I want to concentrate on just the male and female T-shirts. I want to make it proper and amazing. I intend to start with that before moving on to other things.
Any other projects?
I have artistes coming out under Ruggedman Records. My new album came out a month ago titled Untouchable and I have songs in that album featuring artistes like Flavour, MI, 2Face, Psquare, and the late Da grin. The album is under Ruggedman Records. It is marketed by Obaino. From what I hear, it is the highest selling album right now.
What other artistes have you been promoting under your record label?
There is an artiste right now. His name is Chynadu. Chynadu is a naturally talented rapper. If I give Chynadu your name right now, he can 70 bars. He can write two songs with it on the spot, that is how good he is. That is something you don’t see every day and that is why I picked him. Chynadu was not even after me at first. He usually wrote lyrics and pasted them on my Facebook wall. I read and appreciated them. One day, I just told him to stop writing these things on the wall in public this way because anybody can take it and use it and you cannot fight since you posted it publicly. He was tripped that I replied him. I then told him to write a track about something and he did that in 45 minutes and sent it to me. After that, asked him to feature on a song with me; he was completely taken by surprise. I asked him a couple of weeks later if he would like to come under Rugged Records and he could not believe it. Now, I am promoting him.
Controversy between you and 9ice?
I have always been a very outspoken person. I believe we are all adults. You cannot flog me and I cannot flog you. The most we can do is talk to each other and I would tell you the truth rather than deceive you. I am a musician and my music is always for a reason. Music is a form of expression. When I did Ehen, I did not do it out of spite or to cause trouble, it is just how I express myself and tell the truth. The one I did for 9ice was even more personal because his song caused a rumour that was attacking my character and image and I would not take that lying down. I decided not to go exchanging words with him. I am too old for that. I admit I talked about all the things I did for him in the song, but I did not say all those things because I was trying to act like God or showing off. I only said those things in case he has forgotten or he is pretending to have forgotten. I want people to know things that happened between us. It is music. It is not just between me and him. He already wrote a song about me and I also decided to do the same. I wanted people to know that these are the personal things, good things that have happened between me and him so for him to throw all that away just because he wants to sell CDs, too bad.
Do you think the both of you would ever resolve your differences?
Well, resolved or not, I have moved on. This is 2011. All I wanted to do was clear my name. I would never be so evil to go after my friend’s wife considering the fact that I was the one that introduced them. The sad part was that 9ice never said anything about me and his wife in the song. He was referring to an ex-girlfriend. The song was about his past experience, even before he met his wife but a lot of people misinterpreted the whole thing. The only thing he did wrong was not coming out straight to admit that the song was about a past experience. If he had done that, the whole issue would not have gone this far. I do not know why he kept quiet, but right now, I don’t care. I have moved on. Anyone that wants to keep saying anything about Ruggedman and Toni Payne, that is their business.
What advice do you have for upcoming artistes?
I would like to say that music is like every other business, you need capital to start. Don’t jump into music because you want to drive big cars or do shows like the successful artistes. They have done a lot of things before getting to a stage where they are called for shows or where they can afford all those luxuries. You need to be talented and be able to push yourself. Don’t think if you meet Ruggedman today, then you are made. You need to have something that drives you so that when you sing a song that does not feature any artiste you would still be heard and reach people.