Ruger exposes shocking fallout after leaving Jonzing World

Nigerian singer Michael Adebayo Olayinka, popularly known as Ruger, has revealed how leaving his former record label, Jonzing World, nearly cost him his music career.

In a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Ruger disclosed that following his exit in 2024, many fans and colleagues turned their backs on him, labeling him ungrateful and effectively “cancelling” him.

“After leaving the label, there were a lot of comments,” Ruger shared. “Some said, ‘This is your last tour,’ ‘You’re finished.’ Many people didn’t want to associate with me. Even those in the same industry distanced themselves. It happens.”

The singer explained that the backlash forced him to start from scratch, as he had to reintroduce himself to industry stakeholders while rebuilding his reputation. “It was stressful,” he admitted. “It’s not easy to leave a label. You have to build your own system. It felt like starting all over again.”

Despite the challenges, Ruger said his resilience pulled him through. “I was also down, but I was still strong inside. I triumphed.”

The artiste, known for hits like Bounce and Dior, founded his own label, Blown Boy Entertainment, after parting ways with D’Prince-led Jonzing World. He now controls his music journey independently and is gradually regaining his position in the Afrobeats industry.