Ru the World is the debut studio album by Nigerian singer-songwriter Ruger. It was released on 1 September 2023 by Jonzing World.[1] The album features guest appearances from Stefflon Don, Projexx, Sauti Sol, Govana and Jugglerz.[2] Ruger assisted notable producers such as Kukbeatz, Cadenza, TSB, Legendury Beatz, BenjiFlow, TheKidParris, Jugglerz and Frnkie.[3]
| Ru the World | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1 September 2023 | |||
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| Length | 56:48 | |||
| Label | Jonzing World | |||
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| Ruger chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Ru the World | ||||
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Background
editOn 11 March 2023, Ruger announced the name of the album. He went on a North America tour to promote the album.[4]
In an interview with OkayAfrica, Ruger explained that his debut album Ru the World takes its title from a nickname used by those close to him. "People around me tend to call me 'Ru,' so I went with it," he explained. The album blends Afrobeats and dancehall, genres Ruger grew up with, noting that "Dancehall and Afrobeats were the type of songs I grew up listening to."[5]
Singles
editThe album's lead single "Asiwaju" was released on 16 November 2022, alongside the album's second single "Red Flags". "Asiwaju" was produced by Kukbeatz while "Red Flags" was produced by TSB.[6] The music video for "Asiwaju" was released on 16 December 2022 and was directed by David Anthony.[7] "Asiwaju" was nominated for Afrobeats Single of the Year at The Headies 2023.[8] The album's third and fourth singles "Jonzing Boy" and "Bun Bun" were both released on 12 May 2023. "Jonzing Boy" was produced by Kukbeatz[9] while "Bun Bun" was produced by Jugglerz.[10] The fifth single "Kristy" was released on 28 July 2023 and produced by Kukbeatz.[11]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Afrocritik | 7.8/10[12] |
| NotJustOk | 7.5/10[13] |
| Pulse Nigeria | 8.1/10[14] |
Ru the World received generally positive reviews from critics. Adeayo Adebiyi of Pulse Nigeria praised Ru the World for Ruger's mastery in fusing dancehall and Afrobeats with R&B and hip hop, stating, "His music packs an elevated level of musicality both in penmanship, delivery, and sheer acoustic appeal." Adebiyi highlighted Ruger's skillful balance of hedonism and personal reflection on tracks like "I Want Peace" and "Dear Ex", though he suggested that the album's 53-minute runtime might impact its replay value, proposing a shorter tracklist might have been preferable. He rated the album 8.1/10, calling it a "Champion" project.[14]
Patrick Ezema's review for Afrocritik described Ru the World as showcasing Ruger's signature blend of Dancehall and Afrobeats while focusing on catchy, instant hits rather than deeper themes. Ezema wrote, "Ru the World is probably the sweetest-sounding album released this year, but a meal of sweets does not make for a very wholesome diet." He appreciated the international collaborations but notes issues like poor sound engineering and lack of thematic cohesion, rating it 7.8/10.[12]
In contrast, Betty Godson's review for NotJustOk praised Ru the World for its strong songwriting and melody, noting its seamless sequencing and confident themes. Godson wrote, "Ruger lives up to the hype he built for this album. His songwriting, melody progression, and storytelling are at an all-time high on this project." She rated the album 7.5/10, acknowledging some unevenness, particularly with Stefflon Don's performance.[13]
Gabriel Myers Hansen's review for Music in Africa commended Ru the World for Ruger's adept blend of dancehall and Afrobeats, highlighting his talent for catchy melodies and engaging storytelling. Hansen observed, "The album also enjoys the advantages of harmony and great sequencing, making for fluid listening." Despite its frequent focus on sexual themes, he appreciated the album's clear purpose and strong sequencing.[15]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tour" | Michael Olayinka | Kukbeatz | 2:52 |
| 2. | "Ashana" | Olayinka | Legendury Beatz | 3:15 |
| 3. | "I Want Peace" | Olayinka | Cadenza | 2:39 |
| 4. | "Blue" | Olayinka | Kukbeatz | 3:23 |
| 5. | "Addiction" (featuring Stefflon Don) |
| Kukbeatz | 3:08 |
| 6. | "Kristy" | Olayinka | Kukbeatz | 4:20 |
| 7. | "All My Days" (featuring Sauti Sol) |
|
| 3:49 |
| 8. | "Asiwaju" | Olayinka | Kukbeatz | 3:36 |
| 9. | "Nine" | Olayinka | Kukbeatz | 3:50 |
| 10. | "Likely" (featuring Govana) |
| Frnkie | 3:56 |
| 11. | "BoyToy" | Olayinka | TheKidParris | 3:08 |
| 12. | "Dear Ex" (featuring Jugglerz) |
| Jugglerz | 2:45 |
| 13. | "Island Girl" (featuring Projexx) |
| TSB | 3:25 |
| 14. | "Red Flags" |
| TSB | 2:55 |
| 15. | "Jonzing Boy" | Olayinka | Kukbeatz | 3:05 |
| 16. | "Bun Bun" |
| Jugglerz | 3:02 |
| 17. | "Holy Ground" | Olayinka | Kukbeatz | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 56:48 | |||
Personnel
edit- Michael "Ruger" Olayinka – vocals, writer
- Stephanie "Stefflon Don" Allen – vocals, writer
- Romeo "Govana" Nelson – featured artist, writer
- Bien-Aimé Baraza – vocals, piano, guitar, writer
- Willis Chimano – vocals, keyboard, writer
- Savara Mudigi – vocals, bass guitar, drums, writer
- Polycarp Otieno – guitar, writer
- Johni "Projexx" James – vocals, writer
- Jonas Lang – producer, writer
- Martin Willumiet – producer, writer
- Paul Spurny – producer, writer
- BenjiFlow – producer
- TheKidParris – producer
- Okiemute and Uzezi Oniko – producers
- Cadenza – producer
- Ikeoluwa "TSB" Oladigbolu – producer
- Uche "Kukbeatz" Chukwudi – producer
- Frnkie – producer
- Eduek "Milla Mix" Jonah – mixing engineer, mastering engineer
- Adam Lunn – mixing engineer, mastering engineer
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 1 September 2023 | Jonzing World |
References
edit- ^ "RU The World – Album by Ruger". Apple Music. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Adebiyi, Adeayo (1 September 2023). "Ruger releases highly anticipated debut album 'Ru The World'". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Laketu, Adedayo (1 September 2023). "Ruger Unveils Debut Album 'RU The World'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ "Ruger reveals title of forthcoming debut album". Vanguard. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Ahmed Achile, Nasir (11 October 2023). "Interview: Ruger Targets Global Dominance In 'RU The World'". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Mudasiru, Wisdom (16 November 2022). "Ruger Releases "Red Flags" & "Asiwaju" Alongside Stellar Visuals". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Okhide, Peter (16 December 2022). "Ruger Drops Vibrant Music Video For 'Asiwaju'". NotJustOk. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ "CHECK OUT THE FULL 16TH HEADIES NOMINEES LIST". The Headies. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Aromolaran, Michael (12 May 2023). "Ruger Releases First Single Of The Year, "Jonzing Boy"". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ NathSlade (12 May 2023). "Ruger – Bun Bun". 36NG. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Omenye, Alex (28 July 2023). "Ruger Sets The Tone For His Debut Album With "Kristy"". The Culture Custodian. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ a b Ezema, Patrick. "RU The World" Review: Ruger's Sugary Debut Album Promises a Gratifying Experience But Nothing More. Afrocritik. 11 September 2023.
- ^ a b Godson, Betty. Ruger is going to 'RU The World' of music. NotJustOk. 9 September 2023.
- ^ a b Adebiyi, Adeayo. Ruger shows the making of a hedonist in 'Ru The World'. Pulse Nigeria. 5 September 2023.
- ^ Myers Hansen, Gabriel (7 September 2023). "Ru The World: Ruger's golden spout of sweet spots". Music in Africa. Retrieved 23 August 2024.