Celebrated Nigerian rapper and music industry veteran, Reminisce, recently shared his strong reservations about his children entering the music industry, candidly expressing the challenges and harsh realities of pursuing a career in music. The outspoken artist voiced these concerns during a recent interview on Pulse On The Record, where he appeared alongside fellow rapper, Vector the Viper.
In the interview, Reminisce highlighted the unpredictability and volatility of the music world, explaining that his experience has shown him how difficult it can be to succeed, even for those with exceptional talent. For this reason, he doesn’t see music as the ideal career choice for his children.
“No, I don’t want my children to do music, and I don’t think they should,” he stated firmly. “I’m not saying this just as an African parent, but as someone who’s seen what the industry can do. The music industry is incredibly unpredictable. You can be the most talented person and still end up with nothing to show for it. It’s similar to football in a lot of ways,” he explained.
Drawing a parallel to his friends who pursued professional football, Reminisce added, “I have friends I used to play football with who landed professional deals, but I also know others my age who are still holding onto hope. They’re 43 now and haven’t given up, but their success hasn’t materialized.”
The father-of-two stressed that if his children do choose to pursue music, he would support them but only after they’ve received a solid education, which he believes should be prioritized. “I’d tell them to get an education first, something that they can rely on if music doesn’t work out. If they decide they want to go into music later on, I’d be there to support them,” he explained.
However, he made it clear that he doesn’t see music as a wise first choice. “It’s a tough industry, with a success rate of less than 5%. You could be incredibly talented and still struggle to make a living out of it,” he said, explaining the reality that only a small fraction of people actually ‘make it’ in music.
In underscoring the necessity of a “backup plan,” he likened the music industry to a high-stakes gamble. “For every Ronaldo you see out there, there are thousands of talented players who never made it. I’d tell my kids to finish their education first so they have something to fall back on. I wouldn’t encourage any child to rely on music as a sure path just because it worked out for me. That’s no guarantee it’ll work for them,” Reminisce stated passionately.