Over the last weekend, former collaborators 9ice and Ruggedman who had a long period of quibbling- were spotted together bonding over a game of Playstation.
Both men were participants at Ruggedman’s Rugged Premier League Challenge in Lagos which saw a number of celebrity gamers go head to head in a Fifa football competition. Known for his lyrical skills, it seemed as though Ruggedman had a secret gaming superpower as he won the first two games against actor Daniel K Daniel and musician OD Woods. But the story changed when 9ice took on the console. He beat Ruggedman after a keenly contested session.
It was surprising for fans to see both men who are close to 40 years old show their competence at what most people assume to be a game for younger people. Ruggedman has a career almost twenty years old and 9ice is not far behind either.
For a while, things soured between them but Ruggedman and 9ice have since buried the hatchet and are friends again.
The Rugged Premier League is a football based gaming competition led by Ruggedman. The rapper has over the years, shown his ability to create other entertainment and lifestyle endeavours apart from music, having founded a clothing label, Twentieth September.
Last week’s event had in attendance like Daniel K Daniel, 9ice; popular police officer Aliyu Giwa, OD Woods; Instagram comedy sensations Thespian Nozy and Kastropee; Blossom Chukwujekwu, Bryan Okwara, model Marieclaire Miller, Flex B, YGC Records,Baudex, Deejay Shevco, Fidobeng, Fatty Rule, Voice and many others.
The main competition is set to kick off in Calabar and will go round seven other cities before climaxing in Lagos.
Ruggedman describes this new initiative of his as a way to use entertainment as a strong tool for education and social change which can help curb the growing negative trends among youths such as sexual abuse, abortion, drug abuse, as well as create awareness on HIV/AIDS while promoting peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.