Men feel emotions too—they’ve just learned to mask them behind success, drugs, music, and the company of friends. That’s the raw truth at the heart of Rugratz Sound’s debut album, Still Hurt Never Sober. This isn’t just a project—it’s a confession. A bold, genre-blending journey that dives headfirst into heartbreak, addiction, and the kind of pain most try to bury.
The album opens with Valentino on “DOJA,” an R&B thriller that immediately sets the emotional tone. From there, HeyGwuapo and Nvrland build on that foundation, lacing soul-drenched vocals over hard-hitting beats. The energy begins to darken as Sopperior steps in on “GUN,” delivering a raw, haunting performance that signals the shift. That emotional weight is carried by features from Coach K, Brax, and a striking JaZiah / Snow team-up that brings depth and grit.
Long before Rugratz Sound came together for this project, there was a whole lot of self-improvement happening behind the scenes. JaZiah charted in the fall of 2024 with his debut album Villain. Valentino went through a full rebrand. EJ dropped Starparty. Brax kicked off 2025 with two projects after six months of delays. Jono and Gwuapo expanded their production catalog, flooding the underground with new sounds. Snow made a major move to London, starting a whole new chapter.
“2024 was a rebuild year for us,” says JaZiah. “We went through a lot of individual growth, and a lot of challenges… but that’s exactly why now is the perfect time for us to drop this. Still Hurt is about the trials, but Never Sober is a reflection of what’s to come.”
Bringing in Sopperior and Nvrland gave Rugratz exactly what they needed—versatility. With street rappers, pop artists, and smooth R&B voices all under one roof, the group covers every lane. And the craziest part? Everyone in Rugratz is between 18 and 23.
They’ve been a hot topic for the past 3 years, but now they’re bigger than ever. With 12 artists and 4 producers, Rugratz Sound has collectively racked up over 20 MILLION streams individually. Which only raises the question: how big can they really get if they stick together?
“We’re not just a collective,” says K4, JaZiah's personal assistant who has helped revitalize the group. “We’re a movement—young, hungry, and nowhere near our peak.”
The second half of the album doesn’t slow down. JaZiah leads the way with “TIGER BIDNESS,” serving up a punchy grunge sound that fans have come to expect from him. Then the bounce returns with energetic tracks from Simba and Cornski, adding variety without losing focus. The tape rounds out with powerful contributions from Jonoftf, Tuck, and EJ Star, each one putting their own stamp on what it means to be part of Rugratz Sound.
From start to finish, Still Hurt Never Sober is a thriller. Sixteen tracks. Thirteen distinct voices. Wordplay that cuts deep, tackling tragedy, heartbreak, and the harsh realities of substance abuse. Rugratz Sound isn’t here to blend in—they’re here to shake things up.
We recently sat down with JaZiah, the CEO of Rugratz Worldwide, and he gave us a glimpse into the future.
“Rugratz Sound is gonna be one of those groups we look back on in 20 years and say, ‘they changed music.’ I want this to last forever. I want to make music that you hear everywhere—for decades.”
Though he didn’t give us a release date for their next project, he did confirm it’s already in the works. If the debut is any indication, what comes next might just raise the bar again.