Pandemic: An Introduction But There Can Be More.
In January, D'Prince announced the signing of 21 years old Ruger to his Jonzing World label in partnership with Sony UK. This news was followed by a label record that featured Ruger, Rema, and Prince titled One Shirt.
I didn't listen to the song until I was surfing the internet about the act, now, I think I have a clearer picture of why the single failed to crack. The collaboration was not well thought, for a novel artiste like Ruger, such a feature comes with it negative and positive, it was more of the former in this situation, Ruger got overshadowed by two heavyweight even with his two verses.
This mistake was obliterated with the act's first official single under Jonzin world, a self-titled track. A perfect introduction to the Reggae/dancehall infused artist. He is smoking hot, on a high pedestal which he doesn't look like someone who would come down.
The reggae, dancehall is infused with trap soul and sometimes Afrobeat or Afrobeats, On One shirt, it was infused with Afrobeat giving off the Fela vibe.
On Ruger, he shows he was confident about his craft, eager to show the stuff he was made off, it was also the opening track on the "Pandemic" extended play.
Abu Dhabi is your idea love tune but it was a level up on the opening track, Ruger's vulnerability got explored on this track, he craves for her, even promising her some baby girl life to win her over.
Monalisa was an introduction to Ruger's naughtiness, he is the guy who wants to deplete Monalisa's ozone layer, giving her tungba tungba, two things connoting one message, let's get down. The bridge on this song is an avenue for dance steps. The first verse sounds better than the second.
He continued this analogy on Bounce, talking about this girl whose energy was on a cruise, she had big butty, can injure you in bed. This tune is warm, he doesn't rush the lines, slow and steady like a nice time during a cold night.
Bow was a sequel to the opening track, braggadocious lines, delivery so on point, the switch up make you going back to the track.
Yekpa ended the EP, a call and response tune about a girl, going wild over a daughter of Eve, I can picture a bootylicious woman with her inviting body. Why do I feel Rema would have delivered better on this track?
Pandemic EP was the much-needed introduction to Ruger, how sustainable is this eye patch he is adoring at the moment? I won't be surprised if it gets ditched after his mainstream success.
This EP was about two things, Life and sex, the domino effect of this is the expansiveness of this EP. Ruger talk about one thing in two or more distinct way but it can get boring for the fans.
While there is no doubt that this was the perfect introduction to Ruger's music, I doubt if this would ever be groundbreaking, I think Ruger need some strings of single for him to register in the people mind, a lot of the tracks on this EP are sadly forgettable.
Grade: 3/5
