Veteran Nigerian hip-hop artist Reminisce has highlighted that in the world of hip-hop, respect is earned through pure skill rather than wealth or streaming numbers. According to the seasoned rapper, no matter how rich or influential a rapper becomes, true recognition in hip-hop comes only from demonstrating exceptional talent.

Reminisce made this point amid ongoing debates about supremacy between Nigerian rappers Odumodublvck and Blaqbonez. Speaking as a guest on the On The Record podcast alongside fellow rapper Vector, he underscored the importance of skill over commercial success in hip-hop culture.

He referenced the widely discussed rivalry between American rapper Kendrick Lamar and Canadian superstar Drake, saying, “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.’”

Reminisce continued, “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 success, it’s very wide. But because it’s about skill set, which is the primary thing in hip-hop, Lamar won.”

His remarks reinforce the enduring principle within hip-hop culture: talent and lyrical ability are what truly command respect.