Ruger’s second EP, “The Second Wave” is a shorter, lovelier, and better offering than his first “wave.”
The youngster seems to have found his sound and is now on a journey to find a balance between his sound and the pop expectations of the music industry.
For a guy like Ruger, that can be really hard. First of all, he is no Rema. And, this is not 2019. Rugerentered the scene with an EP, was only able to snuggle out with one hit—a very good one, considering—and that’s all she wrote. “Bounce” might not even be the best song on “Pandemic” EP, but I guess we’ll never know.
With this new project, though, Ruger explores a chance to create something that sticks in totality; a real project, not just a trial-and-error EP that houses one major hit. What we have here is bigger than that. It is growth, a refined sound, and possibly two or three major hits, I tell you.
Ruger is a storyteller, as evidenced by the first song of his first project. But while on “Ruger,” he was just exploring and making his abilities known, on “Champion,” he’s in a more conscious headspace, and he’s reflecting on his humble beginnings and his sudden rise to the top.
“Useless” is the kind of afro-pop not more than three young artists in this industry can do right now. Ruger is one of the three.
He has described his sound as “afro dancehall,” and has cleared up the Rema comparisons. He’s not on the same path as his labelmate. His own style is more eclectic than the average guy’s. I suppose I will call “Useless” an afro dancehall track, if that were a thing, anyway.
“Snapchat” is everything like “Bounce,” and at the same time as reasonably different as it can be. This should eliminate any fears of Ruger“sounding the same” anytime soon. Boy knows his game, obviously.
“Dior,” the last track on the EP, is a dancehall and afro mashup of Ruger eulogizing himself and the celebrity lifestyle that has now become a part of him.
“The Second Wave” is exactly what “Pandemic” wasn’t; a proper extended play for a proper artist.
Rating: 8/10
Which Do You Think Is Better? “Pandemic” Or “The Second Wave”?
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