Veteran Nigerian rapper Ruggedman has taken a swipe at the global use of the term “Afrobeats,” describing it as an inaccurate umbrella that oversimplifies Africa’s rich and diverse music landscape.
Speaking during an interview with Day Genius, the outspoken artist argued that the label, widely popularised outside the continent, has become a convenient tag for music that lacks depth and originality.
According to Ruggedman, the broad classification fails to distinguish between the various sounds emerging from Africa, instead lumping them into a single genre that does not reflect their uniqueness.
He also criticised what he described as a growing trend among some artists who rely heavily on production gimmicks rather than musical skill. The rapper alleged that many so-called Afrobeats acts struggle with core performance elements such as live shows and freestyling, blaming this on dependence on autotune and formula-driven hits.
Ruggedman revealed that he had long opposed the term but was previously dismissed when he raised concerns. “I didn’t like it from the beginning,” he said, noting that critics accused him of jealousy and gatekeeping.
The rapper further traced the origin of the widespread label to the United Kingdom, where, he claimed, the music industry began categorising all African sounds under the Afrobeats banner. He argued that this has led to mislabelling, even affecting artists like himself who do not identify with the genre.
Highlighting the implications, Ruggedman said being tagged an Afrobeats artist during international performances undermines his artistic identity.
In a particularly sharp remark, he described “Afrobeats with an ‘S’” as a refuge for less talented musicians, claiming that creating a hit in the genre often involves pairing catchy beats with repetitive street slang and investing heavily in promotion.
His comments are likely to reignite ongoing debates about the definition, evolution, and global perception of African music, especially as Afrobeats continues to dominate international charts.
