Ruggedman Acoustic Session marks the return of one of Nigeria’s most influential rappers. The Best of Ruggedman: Acoustic Session Vol. 1 reworks his classic tracks into intimate acoustic performances, pairing the rapper’s seasoned lyricism with Fiokee’s delicate, melodic guitar work. The EP reframes familiar lines as close-listening pieces that foreground writing over production.
“This project is my way of saying thank you to my fans who have stayed with me through the years,” Ruggedman says.
“It’s also a reminder that true music doesn’t expire — it evolves. Fiokee brought a beautiful soul to these records, and together we made something that connects the past with the present.”
These words set the project’s tone: gratitude, continuity, and a deliberate re-framing of material for focused listening.
Ruggedman (Michael Ugochukwu Stephens) emerged in the early 2000s as a crucial voice in Nigerian hip-hop. Known for sharp social commentary and uncompromising lyricism, he helped push rap from the margins into mainstream conversation. Over two decades, his craft and candour have influenced a generation of Nigerian rappers who value message as much as meter.
Acoustic reinvention — Listening notes
The acoustic approach strips songs to their lyrical and emotional cores. Fiokee’s guitar parts act as melodic answers to Ruggedman’s lines — countermelodies, motifs, and sparse chord voicings that create breathing room. Where the originals used drums and synth texture to drive energy, the acoustic editions rely on phrasing, dynamics, and silence to make each bar land differently.
Listening to Ruggedman Acoustic Session
Expect softer intros, fingerpicked motifs that return as connective threads, and closers that linger. Hooks shift from stadium calls to reflective refrains; verses become clearer and more revealing. The project invites repeat listening because subtle internal rhymes and references emerge when the production is pared back.
Fiokee’s role and musical texture
Fiokee’s guitar work adds warmth and nuanced harmonies without overwhelming the vocal. His lines often function as second voices, responding to Ruggedman and steering mood. The pairing feels like a conversation rather than a feature — two storytellers reshaping the same narrative with different instruments. Culturally, the EP demonstrates how legacy artists can reframe their catalogues to engage new audiences and preserve songwriting as a craft.
Where to stream
Streaming platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Boomplay, Audiomack.
Distributor: OneRPM
The Best of Ruggedman: Acoustic Session Vol. 1 turns familiar rap anthems into close-listening pieces that reward patience. Stream the EP and hear Ruggedman and Fiokee rework legacy into something immediate and intimate.
