“I Started Sneaking Out to Dance at Age 9” – Ruger Opens Up About His Early Passion for Music

Afrobeats star Ruger has shared touching insights into his early beginnings, revealing that his love for music and dance started long before fame found him as early as nine years old.

During a recent appearance on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast with Joey Akan, Nigerian singer Michael Adebayo Olayinka, popularly known as Ruger, recalled sneaking out of the house as a child just to attend parties and dance.

“At that age, I already loved Afrobeats and Dancehall,” he said. “I used to sneak out to parties just to dance. I wasn’t even 10 yet, but I could move my body and really loved the vibe.”

The singer, known for his unique eye-patch style and commanding stage presence, rose to stardom in 2021 following the success of his breakout single “Bounce”, under Jonzing World.

Following his meteoric rise, Ruger released his debut EP Pandemic, which cemented his status as one of Afrobeats’ most promising talents. In 2024, he officially exited Jonzing World after reported tensions with label executive D’Prince and launched his independent imprint, Blown Boy Entertainment.

Aside from music, Ruger has often spoken about faith and values. In a previous interview, he disclosed that he donated his first major music earnings to the church as a personal act of gratitude.

“My love for music didn’t start with money or fame,” Ruger said. “It started with pure passion. I was just a little boy who wanted to dance.”

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