Afrobeats star Michael Adebayo Olayinka, popularly known as Ruger, has made startling claims about the nature of relationships in the Nigerian music industry, stating that genuine friendships are extremely rare.
During a recent appearance on The Stanley Agu Show, the singer revealed that artists can have at most two genuine friends within the industry. According to Ruger, most relationships in the music business are purely transactional.
"One thing I wished I had known earlier is that no one is your friend in the [music] industry. The most you can have is maybe two genuine friends that stand by you and want to see you grow and even when things are bad, they are with you and making sure that you are good. That's all, man," he explained.
Business Over Friendship
The "Dior" hitmaker emphasized that relationships in the industry are primarily business-oriented, with many people associating with artists only when they have something to offer.
"Everything is business. Nobody cares. Just know that everything is business. They are moving around with you because you can offer at that time. The moment you might not be able to offer anything, a lot of people will switch," Ruger stated.
He further reinforced his point by concluding, "Remember, the most friends you can have in the industry might be two or one or none."
Ruger's comments offer a glimpse into the often unseen dynamics of Nigeria's booming music industry, where commercial interests frequently overshadow personal relationships.
The singer, who began his career in a church choir, has previously made headlines for various statements about his music journey, including revealing that he gave his first musical earnings to church and declaring he wouldn't change his sometimes controversial lyrics despite criticism.
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