Why I now focus extra on singing than dancing — Rudeboy

Nigerian singer and songwriter Paul Okoye, popularly referred to as Rudeboy, has defined why he now prioritises singing over dancing throughout performances, saying age and the necessity to preserve power have influenced his strategy to music.

The former P-Square member stated though dancing performed an necessary position in his musical journey, he had grow to be extra deliberate about his stage performances to make sure he delivered high quality vocals.

Rudeboy made the remarks throughout an interview with Luna Lifestyle TV in Zambia, the place he carried out in Ndola over the weekend.

Asked whether or not he thought of himself a greater dancer or singer, the artiste recognized singing and songwriting as his main strengths, whereas acknowledging his expertise as a dancer.

“I’m a very good singer and songwriter. I’m everything music. Dance, first of all, I dance, but I think when I was young, that was the energy that was there,” he stated.

Why Rudeboy is lowering dance routines

The singer defined that his strategy to performing had modified as he grew older, noting that elaborate dance routines may have an effect on his skill to ship vocals successfully on stage.

According to him, conserving power has grow to be more and more necessary as a result of dancing all through a efficiency may go away him exhausted and have an effect on his singing.

“As I get older and I start singing, I realise dancing can take your energy, which might not make you perform well. No, I don’t need that, so you pace yourself,” he added.

Rudeboy additionally recalled his early involvement in dancing, explaining that he joined a dance group established by his elder brother, Jude Okoye, earlier than turning into extensively recognised for his vocals and songwriting.

He stated dancing was an integral a part of his growth as an entertainer and contributed to the efficiency model that helped P-Square set up itself as one in all Nigeria’s main music teams.

The singer additionally recalled how he and his twin brother, Peter Okoye, popularly referred to as Mr P, recognised the significance of choreography in making their reside performances extra partaking.

Their mixture of vocals, synchronised dance routines and elaborate music movies turned a defining function of their performances throughout their rise to fame.

‘We kicked that door’ — Rudeboy on African music

Beyond his private efficiency model, Rudeboy mirrored on the evolution of African music and the contribution his era made in direction of securing better worldwide recognition for Nigerian artistes.

He argued that African musicians who embraced their languages and cultural identities helped create a particular sound that attracted audiences past the continent.

Reflecting on P-Square’s contribution, the singer stated his era helped problem the notion that African performers ought to occupy supporting positions each time worldwide artistes visited the continent.

“We’re the one that kicked that door,” he stated, referring to the efforts of African musicians to enhance the visibility and recognition of performers from the continent.

Rudeboy additionally highlighted the significance the group hooked up to music movies, explaining that manufacturing high quality was central to their ambition to compete with worldwide artistes.

He recalled that producing movies to fulfill worldwide requirements required important monetary funding, significantly when the group started taking pictures in South Africa utilizing costly movie gear.

According to him, the group’s dedication to high quality visuals fashioned a part of its broader effort to determine Nigerian music as a aggressive pressure within the worldwide leisure trade.

Social media has lowered artistes’ privateness

The singer additionally criticised the stress on musicians to keep up fixed visibility on social media, arguing that the event has lowered the privateness artistes loved up to now.

He stated musicians beforehand maintained a long way from their followers, who primarily encountered them by music movies, interviews and public appearances.

However, the expansion of social media has modified that relationship by giving audiences entry to extra points of celebrities’ on a regular basis lives.

Rudeboy described the state of affairs utilizing the Nigerian expression ‘see finish’, which refers to turning into overly acquainted with somebody to the purpose of diminishing their perceived worth or respect.

“Social media, I think I call it Nigerian language, call it ‘see finish’. You know what ‘see finish’ means? Like, it finishes you, like you are too exposed,” he stated.

His feedback counsel that the rising demand for on-line visibility could make it tough for entertainers to keep up boundaries between their skilled careers and personal lives.

Rudeboy raises issues about synthetic intelligence in music

The former P-Square member additionally expressed concern concerning the rising use of synthetic intelligence in music manufacturing, questioning whether or not the expertise may undermine originality and threaten the livelihoods of inventive professionals.

“Where is the content? Where’s the originality?” he requested whereas discussing the rising use of AI instruments to generate songs.

He argued that the expertise may cut back demand for songwriters, music producers, graphic designers and video professionals by enabling customers to create content material with minimal human enter.

“You see how people are losing their jobs. You don’t need a producer, you don’t need a songwriter, you don’t need a graphic designer. Okay, you don’t even need a video anymore,” he stated.

The singer additional urged that the convenience of producing music by AI instruments may contribute to the manufacturing of songs that battle to stay related over time.

“That is why music nowadays doesn’t last,” he stated, contrasting AI-assisted manufacturing with songwriting pushed by private experiences, feelings and creativity.

His feedback come months after his twin brother, Mr P, confronted on-line allegations that synthetic intelligence could have been utilized in his June 2026 comeback single, ‘I Can’t Look Away’.

Following the tune’s launch, some social media customers, music producers and commentators alleged that it displayed traits related to generative AI or Suno-style vocal and melodic patterns. The allegations, nonetheless, weren’t established as details within the report.

P-Square’s longstanding disagreements

Rudeboy’s newest feedback come amid renewed public consideration on his strained relationship with Peter and disagreements over their respective contributions to P-Square.

In a 2024 interview with City FM, Rudeboy addressed criticism that he had lowered his twin brother’s contribution to the group to dancing whereas presenting himself because the singer.

“I was being accused of saying that he [Peter] was the dancer and I’m the singer. I know whenever we go to the airport, people ask, ‘Are you a singer or a dancer?’ I didn’t know it was touching him,” he stated.

He added that the brothers had beforehand mentioned how to reply to questions on their particular person roles, saying he had inspired Peter to take satisfaction in his contribution to the group.

The concern resurfaced in January 2026 when Rudeboy reportedly declined a fan’s request to bop extra in his movies, saying he was a singer and was too previous for the exercise.

The remarks attracted criticism from some followers who remembered P-Square for combining vocal performances with elaborate choreography.

Rudeboy and Peter rose to prominence within the 2000s as members of P-Square, constructing a profitable profession round hit songs, coordinated dance routines and high-quality music movies.

Their standard songs embrace ‘Do Me’, ‘Busy Body’ and ‘Temptation’, which helped set up their status as one in all Nigeria’s most profitable music duos.

The brothers first separated in 2017 following disagreements involving household relationships, inventive variations and administration. They reunited in 2021 however cut up once more by 2024, with their disagreements subsequently taking part in out in public.

The dispute intensified in 2026 after Peter alleged monetary misconduct in opposition to Jude, who managed the group. The allegations included claims regarding royalties, enterprise preparations and entry to monetary information. Jude has denied wrongdoing, whereas the issues stay topic to authorized proceedings.

Despite the persevering with disagreements, Rudeboy’s newest remarks have provided perception into his strategy to performing, his views on the altering music trade and his issues about expertise’s rising affect on inventive work.