Liberian artiste Jzyno opens up on ‘beef’ with Ruger
Ghanaian-based Liberian singer Jzyno has opened up about his relationship with fellow Nigerian artiste Ruger, shedding light on recent speculations and rumours surrounding their dynamic.
Speaking to Nairobi News, the afrobeat star, whose real name is Jonathan Lee Pratt addressed the swirling whispers and conjectures asserting, “We’re okay, it’s all good now.”
This acclamation by the singer came after Ruger took a jab at him in episode 10 of the Zero Conditions podcast in September titled “Born to Rule.”
Ruger had no qualms in undermining the quality and effort behind JZyNo’s flagship song ‘Butta My Bread’ casually saying, “Now if you want to blow, you go blow by mistake. Na by mistake dem dey blow. It’s not intentional anymore. You could just say your [song] blow on TikTok,” before proceeding to sing a snippet of the song and concluding, “Then, you don turn artiste be that.”
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In a personal video addressed to his fans, JZyNo hit back at Ruger, calling the ‘Asiwaju’ hitmaker’s comments disrespectful, amid other factual statements meant to expose Ruger’s snide remarks.
“You know very well every artiste put in work to get to somewhere, every artiste. Not talking about JZyNo, who has been doing this for years,” the ‘Butta My Bread’ star said.
He added: “The statement that Ruger made, for me, it’s disrespectful to me and my team and my fans, Dancegod Lloyd who did the challenge, and the artiste that I featured, Lasmid. And in fact, the entire Liberia and Ghana industry.”
Acknowledging the transient nature of media buzz and the unavoidable scrutiny that comes with fame, Jzyno, during the recent interview with Nairobi News emphasised that despite any past tensions or misunderstandings, both he and Ruger have moved past it.
“We follow each other,” he remarked, hinting at a cordial and amicable rapport between them.
In an industry often fraught with competition and egos, Jzyno’s candid revelation about their relationship serves as a refreshing reminder of camaraderie and solidarity among young talents.
“We’re young,” he noted, attributing any past conflicts to the pressures and dynamics inherent in the music world. However, he swiftly dispelled any notion of lingering animosity, affirming, “We are cool.”
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Rather than succumbing to drama or engaging in public feuds, Jzyno advocated for a more constructive approach to navigating the challenges of the music industry.
“We don’t need to fight,” he asserted, emphasizing the importance of fostering a supportive and collaborative environment for emerging artists. For Jzyno, the focus lies not in dwelling on past grievances but in collectively working towards a shared goal of improvement.
Echoing sentiments of maturity and resilience, Jzyno expressed a commitment to paving the way for future generations of artists. “We just need to make the industry a better place for the young artistes coming after us,” he declared.
Jzyno is set to perform in Kenya on February 25, 2024, at The Alchemist, Westlands. This will be his first performance in the country.