I Don’t Flaunt My Wealth But There Is Nothing I Need That I Can’t Afford – Reminisce

Indigenous rapper, Remilekun
Shafaru popularly known as
Reminisce speaks with JAYNE
AUGOYE about his journey to fame
Indigenous rap, no doubt, is one of
the most preferred music genres in
Nigeria today and Remilekun
Shafaru, better known as
Reminisce , is one of the poster
boys, alongside the likes of
Olamide and Phyno, leading a
thriving campaign to spread it
across the globe.
Famous for his versatility and the
street appeal of his songs,
Reminisce was the only rapper
from Africa mentioned in TIME
Magazine’s recent ‘One of the
seven world rappers you should
meet’ list.
He earned this recognition a few
months after he had dropped his
second album titled, Alaga Ibile.
Many music fans, who had always
known him as a very reserved and
under-celebrated rap artiste in the
country, were practically
speechless with surprise when the
news was broken.
Even Reminisce himself learnt of
this single honour while travelling
to neighbouring Ghana by air.
He tells E-Punch, “I got to know
about the listing by TIME
magazine on my way to Ghana. I
didn’t influence it. I only saw a
statement posted on Twitter by the
chief executive of Chocolate City,
Audu Maikori.
I didn’t pay much attention to it
and all the while, I wondered what
business I had with the magazine.
By the time my plane landed in
Ghana, the congratulatory
messages began to pour in. I don’t
even follow those who sent them
on Twitter. But, being the only
African listed by Time Magazine is
something else.”
For the light-skinned rapper, the
road to stardom was fraught with
challenges.
At one point, he was forced to
leave home because his father
wanted him to become a medical
doctor.
Recounting his humble beginning
and how frustration almost drove
him to quit music, the 31-year-old
Samsung brand Ambassador says
, “It’s true that I almost quit music
four months before my fortune
improved. I became a star around
late 2011, after I released Kako Bi
Chicken .
The video of that song was
released around the period that
Nigerians were protesting against
the removal of fuel subsidy. I had
just become a father at that time
and I realized that I couldn’t
continue the same way.
“I almost quit music because
I wasn’t making any money.
You know, money controls
the industry today, unlike the
past when talent did.”
Reminisce owes his versatility in
Yoruba to his father’s insistence
that he must learn to speak the
language. Often pitched against
Olamide, the artiste, who studied
Purchasing and Supply at the
Kwara State Polytechnic, simply
regards the latter as his ‘partner in
progress.’
“Olamide and I have always
complemented and supported each
other’s career. We don’t see each
other as rivals. We have been able
to change the image of indigenous
rappers and as sensible people,
the only thing to do is to support
each other and improve the genre.
Only the fans can tell who is a
better rapper. At the end of the
day, the issue is not about who is
better, but who is successful.”
The artiste, who once hawked
second-hand clothes and shoes at
the popular Yaba Market, Said
“I wrote the hit song, Don’t
Touch my Body for late
Goldie and was never
credited. But, it is okay.
There are many songs you
write and don’t get credited
for. I don’t really care about
such things, neither do I like
to complain or bear grudges.
I don’t really want to reveal
or speak about others.”
Reacting to the display of wealth
by some of his colleagues on
social media, he says, “I am a very
reserved artiste. I am able to
differentiate between Reminisce
the artiste and Remi the family
man.That is why I don’t promote
luxury.
There is nothing I need that I
can’t afford, but I am not
going to show off on social
media. When artistes do
such a thing, they appear
superficial and
unapproachable to their
fans. Instead, I simply invest
in people.”
Reminisce notes that loyalty is one
virtue that is absent in the global
entertainment scene.
“One reason why I don’t have
friends is because nobody is
willing to see you take their spot.
The moment you become a star, a
lot of people will be unhappy. But
they will smile with you,” he says.
Although the rapper, who was
discovered alongside Jahbless,
9ice, Lord Of Ajasa and Olamide by
ID Cabasa, was blessed with a
second child early in the week, he
appears to be in no hurry to walk
down the aisle.
“Yes, we live together. But we have
issues with commitment. I think
we are not ready for marriage yet.
We will formalize things when the
right time comes. I am still
planning my future because I am
not going to be a musician forever.
I will quit music, maybe after a
decade. I hope to also study
Political Science overseas because
I want to go into politics (House of
Representatives) at some point as
well,” he notes.