"We definitely don't give a fuck" - a thread for Ruger

He's been responsible for some of my favourite tracks of 2022, so I figured he deserves his own thread outside of the main Afro-pop one.

Been jamming 'Girlfriend' daily since I heard it back in summer, and it still puts a huge grin on my face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M2Gps9xR8g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqqBH9Fa4NQ
Asiwaju

This one isn't about cheating ! I really regret not nominating Asiwaju as well, my ballot had space for two Rugers.
Such sensibility and potential, I hope he is preparing an album.

I have to say I love the brazenness of his lyrics and the production is always spot on (who is his producer?)

For me, Ruger is like "What if Rema only did songs like 'Bounce'?" which is perfect in my book.

I guess a lot of his stuff correlates closely with soca and dancehall in terms of riddim and sensibility. 'Girlfriend' could easily be a Trini song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzFUM5AW1YQ

he makes most of his tracks with producer Kukbeats (the cucurucuu! is his tag) - I'm not aware of any production work he's done with others (but then I can't find him on Twitter or Instagram).

I posted this on last year's Rolling Afropop thread:

yes, Ruger has ever so slyly established himself as a serious player in Omah Lay’s slipstream.
“Girlfriend” spells out his cock bandit persona times two. it’s a great song, but I love “WeWe”, another new track on his upgraded The Second Wave EP even better: https://www.youtube/watch?v=kG68cdAC_Do

it has distinct echoes of W4’s decade-old, semi-legendary “Kontrol”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udDglAxeV0c

https://thenativemag.com/shuffle-re-visit-kontrol-w4s-afrotrap-afrotrap/

oops, here is a live YouTube link for "WeWe": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG68cdAC_Do

“Girlfriend” is an earworm, can’t stop thinking about it.

"Gal I am wayyyward"

When the first verse repeats later in the song but it just hits different

Wahooooooo

forgot there was a thread! forward thinking in place, dog latin!
I'm still reeling from this result tbh

anyway, "Asiwaju" belongs in the 2023 EOY.

and this belongs in this thread (posted it in the Rolling thread earlier):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6YdVth4G-U
DJ Neptune ft. Ruger • Bienvenue

Yeah, reeling. I honestly didn't think it would make the top 77. But we've been quietly banging on about it since summer, so it is nevertheless a pleasant surprise

(and of course Rob who I think had it as his number one)

New album!

'R U The World'. Not given it a proper listen yet, but there are some clackers on there I already knew. Yay Ruger!

have never really taken note of "asiwaju" before, but i love the tone of the organ that pops in now and again. very evocative of early 90s pop house, a la "everybody everybody"

fav of the new songs is "likely"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy0Zl7wBCpQ

oooh excited for this. "girlfriend" has really stuck around for me as one of the best afropop records of the last few years