Pandemic (EP)
Pandemic is Ruger’s debut EP, released on 12 March 2021 through Jonzing World and Sony Music UK. It runs 19 minutes and 34 seconds and blends Afro-dancehall with reggae fusion. The project was produced mainly by Kukbeatz, with D'Prince serving as executive producer.
Ruger, born Michael Adebayo Olayinka, grew up loving Fuji, reggae, R&B, and dancehall. He was discovered after posting covers on Instagram in 2019 and was signed by D'Prince; his stage name Ruger came from his energetic recording style.
Pandemic was largely created during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, which Ruger describes as an "isolation wonder" that turned hardship into music. Some tracks, like "Mona Lisa" and "Yekpa," were finished before the lockdown.
Lead single "Ruger" was released on 18 February 2021 with a video directed by Seyi Akinlade. The second single "Bounce" arrived on 12 May 2021, with a video directed by Ahmed Mosh. "Bounce" was nominated for Best Afrobeats Single of the Year at the 2022 Headies.
Critics praised Ruger’s delivery and the blend of reggae-fusion with Afro-pop, noting strong tracks like "Abu Dhabi." Some songs, such as "One Shirt," were seen as not fully maximizing his potential. The EP earned a 7.9/10 rating. All tracks were written by Michael Olayinka and produced by Kukbeatz.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 01:32 (CET).