Veteran Nigerian rapper Reminisce has weighed in on what truly earns respect in the world of hip-hop, stressing that neither wealth nor streaming numbers hold weight without pure skill.
The “Local Rappers” hitmaker made the remarks while addressing the ongoing rivalry between fellow Nigerian rappers Odumodublvck and Blaqbonez. He spoke during a recent episode of the On The Record podcast, where he appeared alongside fellow rap heavyweight, Vector.
According to Reminisce, in the hip-hop genre, accolades don’t come from affluence or digital milestones, but from lyrical ability and authenticity.
He said, “Hip-hop is the only genre that doesn’t respect numbers or money. No matter how much money you make as a rapper, you can’t buy it [the respect of the Hip-hop world]. That’s one thing I love about Hip-hop. You have to earn it. People have to say, ‘Vector is a good rapper, he’s a legend.’”
He further explained that even if an artist amasses record-breaking streams or gives their album a lofty title, it won’t command reverence unless it’s backed by raw talent.
“If you like see 5 trillion streams, if you like name your album the greatest. Nobody cares. Rap respects pure skills. That’s why Kendrick Lamar is widely adjudged the winner of his hip-hop battle with Canadian superstar Drake. If you look at the margin between Drake and Lamar in terms of commercial, it’s very wide. But because it’s about skill set, which is the primary thing in hip-hop, Lamar won.”
Reminisce’s comments underscore a central tenet of hip-hop culture: real recognition comes from talent, not popularity.
