Veteran musician Jesse King, fondly known as Jesse King ‘Buga’, is taking no chances when it comes to staying relevant in Nigeria’s ever-evolving music space.
In a refreshing and honest revelation, the Afro-folk performer shared that he recently underwent a personal and artistic makeover to better connect with the younger generation.
Known for his deep-rooted traditional style and signature long cap that once towered proudly atop his head, Jesse admitted he’s had to tone things down lyrically and stylistically. Jesse King said:
“In this generation where things move so fast, I had to ask myself how best to present my brand to them.
So I went back to the drawing board, restructured a few things, toned down my lyrics to be more accessible, yet still rich in value.”
But it wasn’t just the music that got a makeover, the man himself did too.
In a lighthearted moment, Jesse revealed the reason behind his updated look. While laughing, he revealed:
“It has taken me a while to come to terms with this shift, even in how I look. You’ll notice my cap is shorter now. I did that intentionally, so the younger ones won’t look at me and think, ‘Who is this herbalist?’”
Jesse King, who built a solid fanbase with his soulful blend of Yoruba folk music, proverbs, and culture-infused lyrics, is now carefully bridging the gap between old and new.
Meanwhile, popular Nigerian singer Michael Olayinka, better known as Ruger, has revealed his struggles after his record label exit and the cancel culture battle.
In a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, the Asiwaju crooner opened up about rebranding, after the emotional and professional toll his controversial exit from former label Jonzing World took on his career. Ruger revealed that he faced an unexpected wave of backlash, not just from fans but from fellow artistes and music industry insiders.
Despite the setbacks, Ruger seems to be regaining his momentum, proving that cancel culture isn’t always permanent when talent, resilience, and a bit of rebranding come into play.
