Bio

Born Michael Ugochukwu Stephens on the 20th of September in Ebem… Read Full Bio ↴Bio

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?"

They are:
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.

ARTISTES I HAVE FEATURED ON MY ALBUM PROJECT SO FAR:
Paul Play Dairo, C-Mion, Abounce, Jaffar, Azadus, Frank Ogbebor, Harmony,
Josh (A Congolese rapper).

PRODUCERS I HAVE WORKED WITH SO FAR:
Paul Play Dairo, Omololu, Ojb, Jezreel, Freestyle and Xaviar.

Ehen
Ruggedman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ehen
Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Wetin concern dudu and fufu (Ehen)
God don catch you somebody don blast you (Ehen)
Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Abi your name na floppy floppy (Ehen)

God don catch you Ruggedman don blast you

No more games
I go go straight I go name names
I no go lay blame
Na time to flog with cane
I go let you feel pain and shame
If I leave you and you still dey yarn your stupid game
Dey shout your name like say na something good
You disrespect if you’re rude
I go slap you right here
I no go wait for any mood
Now Rasky how you take get deal pass me
I no know wetin Kenny’s dem hope to do by signing you (Why)
Ba lyrics ba sense ba concept
Wetin you get nonsense
You even talk say fakers dey out there
Out where shey where you stand okay (Yes)
See kettle calling the pot black like the reverends
Ayangbana another point of reference
But I go take una one by one
Cus even the sun and the moon dey take am turn by turn
As long as my will dey turn my fire go burn
I go call your name no matter where you from
Or who you roll with
Or who you flow with
No blame me
I only see you as wetin you spit
So if I call Rasky a Razz kid
I know wetin I speak
So make anybody no harass me for streets
If you do e go too bloody
Cus my dogs stay with me
So of them hide pass Whitney and Bobby put together
Rock for the butter the bread the cheddar
Whenever in short forever
You see me dey come through
You best dey run to
Cus my crew is gonna run through you
Like a runaway
If you like the beat gbedi
Rasky booty track
But him gon he no soji
I say of you like the beat gbedi
Rasky do the track
But him gon he no soji (Ehen)

Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Wetin concern dudu and fufu (Ehen)
God don catch you somebody don blast you (Ehen)
Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Abi your name na floppy floppy (Ehen)
God don catch you Ruggedman don blast you

No be secret say Remedies be need remedy
I hear their rap I laugh
To me na like comedy
Idris and my five year old nephew
Rap the same way like say dem burn dem on the same day
Wetin en dey talk I no hear
But I fear
When em migidi and people start to cheer
I say wetin en dey try say for so long
En name na Idris
How come en sabi speak in tongue
I spit to strong to belong the lyrically weak
So if I die na of lyrics I go dey reek
Nah so Idris
Heres a word of advice
Try using words and you just might sound nice
But no as precise as me and my guys
In front of your eyes no try to hard
Cus we don already win the price
So no need to rush to grab the mic to dey boss
No need to shuuuuu to step on stage just because
Ti wa abini bi
Tiye ability
So make you no show your face for my vicinity
With your megede megede fegedi chegidi wegidi megede fegedi chi ki vuku chu
We fit make money before this year over
By selling tapes and an Idris okpas decoder
We fit make money before this year over
By selling tapes and an Idris okpas decoder (Ehen)

Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Wetin concern dudu and fufu (Ehen)
God don catch you somebody don blast you (Ehen)
Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Abi your name na floppy floppy (Ehen)
God don catch you Ruggedman don blast you

Oya Maintain
Make we sit down make we yan
I loved your concept of blar
Your video bam
But after that nothing else
90 percent of your whole album na form someone else
Tune no be your onw
Instrumental no be your own
But thank God concept and language na your own
But how far with copy copy and over lifting
Outside of Najia
Copyright law go be your in thing
The main issue
Record companies den go rip you like tissue
So where you think say that go live you
Inside gutter
I sure say Bamo go scamper
Main cata cata scatter yakata
This no be beef talk
Cus if na em we go be topic wey market women
Go dey discuss for Raycross
Oya make we pause e don’t do

(Talking)

I love you guys and I know
You got stuff to offer
Only keep it original
Take my words as a brother
See me like a pastor putting yall on a right path
Get that mill
Mo tori mope kadoshi track (Ehen)

Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Wetin concern dudu and fufu (Ehen)
God don catch you somebody don blast you (Ehen)
Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Abi your name na floppy floppy (Ehen)
God don catch you Ruggedman don blast you

(Talking)

E wo jow, e wo jow
E wo jow bo se wo wa
E wo jow, e wo jow
E wo jow bo se wo wa
E wo jow, e wo jow
E wo jow bo se wo wa

E wo jow, e wo jow
E wo jow bo se wo wa

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ruggedman's "Ehen" take the form of a diss track, calling out various rappers for their lack of originality in their lyrics and flow. The chorus repeats the line "Why you too dey rap like mumu" (why are you rapping like a fool) and questions the relevance of certain topics in their rhymes. The verses specifically call out artists such as Rasky, Remedies, and Maintain for copying others and using weak lyrics. Many of the lines are punctuated with the interjection "Ehen", which can express disbelief or excitement depending on the context.

The song is a commentary on the state of the Nigerian rap scene at the time, with Ruggedman positioning himself as a superior artist who stays true to his own style. The use of a diss track as a medium allows him to make his critiques directly and publicly, rather than through more subtle means. In the final verses, Ruggedman takes a more conciliatory tone, advising other rappers to keep their work original and offering them his support as a fellow artist.

Overall, "Ehen" is a testament to Ruggedman's confidence and ability as a rapper, as well as his willingness to call out others in the industry when he sees them slacking. The lyrics are bold and direct, and the use of the "Ehen" interjection adds an element of humor and rhythm to the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Why you too dey rap like mumu (Ehen)
Why are you rapping like a fool?

Wetin concern dudu and fufu (Ehen)
What does that have to do with anything?

God don catch you somebody don blast you (Ehen)
You’ve been caught and put on blast by God.

Why you too dey copy copy (Ehen)
Why do you always copy others?

Abi your name na floppy floppy (Ehen)
Is your name really Floppy Floppy?

I go go straight I go name names
I will call out names directly.

Na time to flog with cane
It is time to punish with a cane.

I go let you feel pain and shame
You will feel both physical and emotional pain.

Dey shout your name like say na something good
People call out your name as if it means something good.

You disrespect if you’re rude
You will be disrespected if you are rude.

I go slap you right here
I’ll slap you right now.