ALBUM REVIEW: Rugged Man and Mbryo Make It Drizzle

Rugged Records MMM Album Art. Photo: Notjustok

Artiste- Rugged Man and Mbryo 

Album- Money Making Music

Guest Appearances- Terry G, Funbi 

Producers- Tee Mode, Reflex Beats, Popito, Woye Sounds, Mr. Vine, Blaize Beats, Samklef, Oga Jojo. 

Label- Rugged Records (2012)

Rugged Man and Mbryo Make It Drizzle

In 2010, Ruggedman announced his retirement from the rap game with his last album Untouchable. But just like many before him Rugged couldn’t resist the allure of fame and is now back in the music game.

In his new LP Money Making Music, he carries his prodigy Mbryo along for the ride. It is the new in-thing in the Nigerian music industry. A veteran picks out a new talent and uses all his resources to push him into the limelight. So MMM isn’t only Ruggedman’s re-introduction but also Mbryo’s first outing on a major level.

Released last year, the LP contains 10 tracks split between Ruggedy Baba and his new companion. The album starts with Mbryo singing over a kicking beat produced by Tee Mode on ‘Takeover’. Mbryo’s has his sights on being the next big pop act with his easy rhymes and bouncy singing. Ruggedman makes his first appearance on Push featuring Terry G. The beat is undeniably energetic and Terry G’s performance is nothing short of his patent frenetic style. The odd thing is Rugged Man trying to sing like Terry G. It would have been better he rapped.

Ever since Wizkid hit gold with his ‘Tease Me/Bad Guys’ every pop act since then has released a freestyle hoping it becomes a hit single. Mbryo also tries his hands on this on ‘Remote’ produced by Popito. The result is a very chilled performance  which is different from most freestyle tracks. Sadly, his next song ‘I Like Your Azonto’ misses the mark.

Ruggedman and Mbryo appear together on ‘Money Making Music’.  Mbryo shines and shows his inherent quality while his boss drops bars reminiscenet of his early rap days: ‘we source like a socket/you hating- we just let you hang like a locket.’ Ruggedman croons and raps on the sequel of his 2007 smash single ‘Ruggedybaba’ feat 9ice. Mbryo holds his hook duties admirably but it seems Rugged is tired of rapping not just on this song but on the album.

On ‘Ireke’ Ruggedybaba sings ‘oya now she wants to go down/she wants do me low key (3ce)’. Rugged Man’s strong point will still be rapping and when he is up for it he can deliver a respectable eighteen bars but singing doesn’t suit his musical style. On ‘Oga Na Master’ produced by Oga Jojo he goes full rap mode- ‘now I am back with a brand new flow/brand new swag-brand new blow/brand new label-yep!- C-E-O’.

Mbryo shows that he is more than the average pop act on ‘Don’t Go’ where he mixes R and B with highlife. This is his best outing on the LP and it seems he is very natural on this track.

The album ends with ‘How You Want Am’ featuring Funbi a cool R and B/rap song.

Rugged’s re-entry into the game is based on trying to re-establish himself in rap music and introduce a new pop sensation. MMM highlights the beginning of this process. While some of the songs are okay, it would take a while for Rugged and his new sidekick to start making music that makes money.