| | Ruggedman AKA Michael Ugochukwu Stephens
Label: Blue Pie Productions
Artists Genre: Urban
Ruggesdman is an MGN Productions Nigeria, Blue Pie and
Perfect Pitch artist.
Born Michael Ugochukwu Stephens on the 20th of
September in Ebem Ohafia, Abia state, all levels of
schooling were done in Lagos state. I am a graduate of
Political Science Lagos State University Ojo. I
started loving rap music from around 1989 when I was
learning the words in rap tracks I liked and rapping
along to their instrumentals - until I decided that I
could do mine, then I started writing my own lyrics.
1999 was when I put out my first cd for air play. The
cd contained two tracks: 1, What If? - which was
produced by and also featured Paul Play Dairo: and 2,
"Gwo-gwo". These two tracks got massive airplay. Then
in 2002 I decided to do a track criticizing a couple
of Nigerian rappers and the track titled Ehen Part 1
has blown sky high nation wide.
My two new songs “BIG BROS” (in which I took on a
so-called music mogul in Nigeria for trying to stop my
song getting played on radio stations 'cos I talked
about him) and “WHAT YOU GOT” (which is a dance track
for people who said all I can do is diss) are both
getting mega air play in Nigeria and abroad. My dance
track is a favourite in a couple of Clubs in London
and Ireland.
RUGGEDMAN is a no-nonsense, speak-my-mind type of
nigga that stands up for the improvement and promotion
of good Nigerian music no matter how much big men try
to hold him down.
THE NAME:
The name came when I was in high school and fresh into
the rap game proper. Every one wanted a name that
didn’t sound weak and Ruggedman was the one I came up
with, after I thought Rugged Soul was a bit too deep
and the tag 'Mc' a bit over flogged.
INFLUENCES:
My early influences came from NWA, KRS One, Poor
Righteous Teachers, Leaders Of The New School, King
Sun… etc. Now they are Nas, DMX, Eminem, Dr. Dre and
especially all the wack rappers in Nigeria.
APPEARANCES:
My very first performance was at a secondary school
ceremony in 1992. From then on it's been performances
in clubs and tertiary institutions. Other places of
performance are: Mr. Macho - University Of Lagos
(UNILAG) - 1994: Nigerian Carnival - National Stadium
- 1994: Home movie soundtracks: Lyricist Lounge - held
at club 11:45 for the Rap Legend Guru from America,
Eve and Kc & Jojo - show (performed alongside Tony
Tetuila).
Some others are: part of the opening act for Lagbaja
some months back: a bit of acting in a Francis Agu
movie, waka pass (movie extra) too because I wanted to
know how it’s done: radio jingle: TV music show theme
song (did the rap).
I also directed my first music video 2002, which was
D’Banj’s “Kiss me again video”. I addition, opening
act again for Lagbaja on 31st January 2003, where I
started the sales of my “Ehen” singles cd - which is
doing quite well now. I also organized a mock
celebrity soccer match for The Kanu Heart Foundation,
where I got other Nigerian artistes and celebrities
like Plantashun Boiz, Paul Ik Dairo, Mr. Kool, Emma
Ugolee, Maideena, Trybesmen, Nomoreloss, e.t.c, to
play football. It was mad fun.
I've likewise performed at the national stadium at the
Guinness stand for Coja All African Games: and have
also performed alongside Dance hall sensation Sean
Paul. Ruggedman's been performing all over Nigeria
right now and is Nigeria's most wanted rap act.
"I am the most featured rap artist in Nigeria and the
hottest out right now."
He's been on almost every newspaper, and the radio and
tv stations love him being in their place cos he gets
calls from the audience like crazy.
My video, Peace Or War is the best video ever done by
a Nigerian and was number one for two and a half
months on MBI top ten video count down. Ehen has so
far spent a year on the MTN top ten count down on Cool
fm. My new dance track “WHAT YOU GOT” has been #1 two
months running on Star 101.5 fm's World New Flavour
chart show and is on all the radio station charts.
I recently just got back from Ireland, Europe where I
went to chill out a while and also promote myself and
my music. I spread my cds to Near fm 101.6 Dublin -
where I was also interviewed, and Today fm 100-102
Dublin. I shot clips for my new song Big Bros and met
Raekwon The Chef of Wu Tang Clan.
AWARDS:
I won the Nigerian Fanta Fame Award for best new rap
act/group or duo 2003 on the 31st of October. I also
added to that, three awards at the just concluded
Gbedu music awards for RAP ARTIST OF THE YEAR, BEST
VIDEO OF THE YEAR, AND SONG OF THE YEAR. Awards have
also been given to me by high schools and tertiary
institutions for my contribution to the development of
Nigerian rap music.
ARTISTES I HAVE FEATURED ON THEIR SONGS RELEASED &
UNRELEASED:
Believe it or not, I am the most featured Nigerian
rapper. I have rapped on over 20 tracks for people.
Most of these were done before I even released Ehen
part 1. "...meaning my voice is going to be heard for
a long time to come in this country and wherever the
music is taken to…feel me?"
**************************************************
Profile of Nigeria's Rugged Man
Contributed on Wednesday, July 28 @ 21:34:04 SAST
Topic: Biographies
Ruggedman, (real name Michael Ugochukwu Stephens) was
born on the 20th of September in Ebem Ohafia, Abia
State in Nigeria. He is a graduate of Political
Science at the Lagos State University. He started
loving rap music from around 1989 and put his first cd
out in 1999...
The cd contained two tracks:
What If? Produced by and also featured Paul Play
Dairo.
Gwo-gwo
Both of these 2 tracks enjoyed massive airplay. Then
in 2002 he decided to do a track criticizing a couple
of Nigerian rappers in the track "Ehen Part 1"
His two new songs “BIG BROS” (in which he took on a so
called music mogul in Nigeria for trying to stop his
song getting played on radio stations because he was
talking about him) and “WHAT YOU GOT” (which is a
dance track for people who said all he can do is diss)
are both getting mega air play in Nigeria and abroad.
His dance track is a favourite in a couple of Clubs in
London and Ireland.
Ruggedman is the type of guy who speaks his mind and
stands up for the improvement and promotion of good
Nigerian music
THE NAME:
"The name came when I was in high school and fresh
into the rap game proper. Every one wanted a name that
didn’t sound weak and Ruggedman was the one I came up
with, after I thought Rugged Soul was a bit too deep
and the phrase”Mc” a bit over flogged cos I also tried
Soul Mc."
INFLUENCES:
"My early influences came from NWA, KRS One, Poor
Righteous Teachers, Leaders Of The New School, King
Sun…etc,
Now they are Nas, Dmx, Eminem, Dr.Dre and ESPECIALLY
all the wack rappers in Nigeria."
APPEARANCES:
"My very first performance was at a secondary school
ceremony in 1992. From then on it's been performances
in clubs, tertiary institutions, Mr. Macho UNILAG
University Of Lagos State 1994, Nigerian Carnival
(National Stadium 1994), Home movie soundtracks,
Lyricist Lounge held at club 11:45 for the rap Legend
Guru from America, Eve and Kc & Jojo show (performed
alongside Tony Tetuila). Part of the opening act for
Lagbaja. Did a bit of acting, waka pass (movie extra)
too because I wanted to know how it’s done. It was a
Francis Agu movie. Radio jingle, TV music show theme
song (did the rap). Directed my first music video in
2002, which was D’Banj’s “Kiss Me Again Video”.
Opening act again for Lagbaja on 31st January 2003,
where I started with the sales of my “Ehen” singles
cd. I organized a mock celebrity soccer match for The
Kanu Heart Foundation to help raise funds for children
who needed heart surgery. I got other Nigerian artists
and celebrities like Plantashun Boiz, Paul Ik Dairo,
Mr.Kool, Emma Ugolee, Medina, Trybesmen, Lexzy Doo,
Teju Baby Face, Nomoreloss to come and play football.
It was mad fun. Performed at the national stadium at
the Guinness stand for Coja All African Games.
Performed alongside Dance hall sensation Sean Paul in
April 2004. Was also at the just concluded MTN
Yellofest show recording for Channel O in June 2004.
He also goes on to say that:
"I am the most featured rap artist in Nigeria and the
hottest out right now. I have been on almost every
newspaper there is, radio and tv stations love me
being at their studios because I get calls from the
audience like crazy. My video, "Peace Or War" is the
best rap video ever done by a Nigerian and was number
one for 2 and a half months on MBI top ten video count
down. Ehen has so far spent a year on the MTN top ten
count down on Cool FM. My new dance track “WHAT YOU
GOT” was #1 two months running on Star 101.5 FM's
world new flavour chart show and is on all the radio
station charts."
"I recently just got back from Europe, (Ireland) where
I went to chill out a while and also promote myself
and my music. I spread my cds to Near FM 101.6 in
Dublin (I was interviewed there) and Today FM 100-102
in Dublin. I shot clips for my new song "Big Bros" and
met Raekwon The Chef of Wu Tang Clan."
AWARDS:
"I won the Nigerian Fanta Fame Award for best new rap
act/group or duo 2003 on the 31st of October.
Won three awards at the just concluded Gbedu music
awards for RAP ARTIST OF THE YEAR, BEST VIDEO OF THE
YEAR AND SONG OF THE YEAR.
Awards have also been given to me by high schools and
tertiary institutions for my contribution to the
development of Nigerian rap music."
PROJECTS:
"I am currently working on the full Ruggedman album
which is due out end of July 2004. It is a 15 track
album.
Also my Ruggedman VCD/DVD is in the making, which will
consist of all my videos, the two that you know
already...Ehen and Peace Or War and three others
including Baraje and Big Bros and a short documentary
on Ruggedman before and after the fame and
controversy."
ARTISTS HE HAS FEATURED WITH (RELEASED & UNRELEASED):
Tony Tetuila (2 Tracks on his latest album)
Paul Play Dairo
Tony Tonnero
Lexzy Doo - formerly of the group X-Appeal
Sabina Jabari
D’Banj’
Segun Fakeye (Gospel)
P-Flow (Gospel)
Niyi (Gospel)
Shawa
Chi Chi
Artquake
Nutty Pin
OJB Jezreel
Magnum (London based rapper)
George Nathaniel
Slam,
Mr.Kool
ARTISTS FEATURED ON HIS ALBUMS:
Paul Play Dairo
C-Mion
Abounce
Jaffar
Azadus
Frank Ogbebor
Harmony
Josh (A Congolese rapper)
PRODUCERS HE HAS WORKED WITH:
Paul Play Dairo
Omololu
Ojb Jezreel
Freestyle
Xaviar (A French Producer In Ireland)
For more info go to: www.ruggedmanonline.com
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