RUGGEDMAN LAUNCHES NEW ALBUM

My very dear friend Ruggedman, on Saturday 3rd March, launched his new album at the Vault Nite Club, on Victoria Island, Lagos. I was invited but I couldn't go 'cos I had this terrible toothache. You guys know that toothache pain is one of the worse physical pain anyone can go through. Let's hope childbirth is not as painful.

Anyway, my younger sister Laura was there and told me the party was off the hook. According to her, those who performed were:

Eedris Abdulkareem (who performed on stage with Rugged. Strange huh?), Paulplay, Jazzman, P.Square, Wierd MC, Freestyle, Obiwon, Rasquie, Nedo, OJB and one Azuka all the way from Ghana.

The MC of the event was ace comedian Gbenga Adeyinka. Other comedians that came to support Rugged on his big day were: Koffi, Owen G and Abbagana, who all performed.

She said the club was packed full of people who came to watch their favourite rap artiste dish out songs from his new album. And of course, there were other celebrities who graced the occasion. African China, Sunny Neji, Sound Sultan, Ayo Shonaya and Ronke Apampa of Ben TV UK, were all there.

I also heard the gatefee was 2,000 thousand naira and everyone who bought a ticket got a gift pack courtesy of Rugged's Record Label, Now Music, owned by Efe Omorege. Inside the pack was Rugged's T.shirts, his new c.d's, his posters and his 2007 calendar. That day was incidentally Efe's birthday. Happy birthday to you Efe!

Now, what I don't understand is this new trend of asking people to pay a gate fee for an Album launch. What kind of craziness is that? So many other artistes have done this in the past and I still don't understand why no one has told this people that's not the way it's done. A launch should be strictly by invitation. Tickets are for concerts, comedy, fashion and music shows. Hello? What's wrong with these people? When you put a price tag on something as important as an Album Release, you will end up having minimal crowd because not too many people want to pay to listen to songs that they've never heard before. No? Maybe it's just me. Do you guys agree with me?

Anyway, congrats to Ruggedman. You guys should rush off to the stores and buy his new album. I already have a c.d. I'm not particularly a 'rap' person but Ruggeddibaba had me rapping-along to his tracks. It's a good buy. Check it out and let me know which track you loved most.