Veteran Nigerian rapper Remilekun Abdulkalid Safaru, popularly known as Reminisce, has asserted that in the world of hip-hop, respect is not earned through wealth or streaming numbers but through raw lyrical talent and skill.
The ‘Eleniyan’ crooner made this statement during a recent appearance on the On The Record podcast, where he was joined by fellow rap heavyweight, Vector. Their discussion came in the wake of a growing supremacy battle between two new-generation Nigerian rappers, Odumodublvck and Blaqbonez, which has sparked widespread debate among fans of the genre.
Speaking on what defines greatness in rap, Reminisce emphasised that hip-hop is one of the few music genres where commercial success takes a backseat to artistic merit.
“Hip-hop is the only genre that doesn’t respect numbers or money,” he said. “No matter how much money you make as a rapper, you can’t buy the respect of the hip-hop community. That’s one thing I love about the culture — you have to earn it.”
Reminisce used the recent global battle between American rapper Kendrick Lamar and Canadian superstar Drake as an example, highlighting how Kendrick was widely perceived to have won the battle not because of popularity or streaming dominance, but because of his superior skill set.
“If you like, see 5 trillion streams or name your album ‘The Greatest,’ nobody cares. Rap respects pure skills. That’s why Kendrick Lamar is widely adjudged the winner of his battle with Drake. Even though Drake is far ahead commercially, hip-hop focuses on lyrical quality, and Kendrick came out on top because of that.”
The remarks by Reminisce underline the deeply rooted values of the hip-hop genre, where lyrical prowess, authenticity, and storytelling often hold more weight than chart-topping hits or flashy lifestyles.
His comments serve as a reminder to emerging Nigerian rappers that beyond the fame and financial rewards, it is the craft — the bars, the delivery, and the message — that truly defines a rapper’s legacy.
