A-Reece On Nearly Quitting Music Due to Feeling Unappreciated

In a candid interview with SA Hip-Hop Reloaded on YouTube, South African rapper A-Reece revealed that he came close to stepping away from music altogether. The artist spoke openly about a period of doubt and emotional exhaustion that nearly led him to abandon his craft.

“Prior to even conceptualizing the whole project, I was damn near like borderline ‘f*ck everybody,’” he said. “I was like I’m not even tryna release music anymore ‘cause I felt as though I’m not being appreciated as I should be.” The project A-Reece was referring to is his most recent release, the Business As Usual EP.

A-Reece explained that the moment was not just about music fatigue, but a deeper sense of creative underappreciation. He described how the emotional toll almost caused him to walk away entirely.

The turning point came during a conversation with someone who offered perspective on the challenges of public reception and staying true to one’s purpose.

“But I had a conversation with Zaph and he was like: you’re great bro, you’re dope. What do you expect? Like, you expect people to just love you ’cause you’re dope?” A-Reece recalled. “Obviously it’s gonna be polarizing, people are gonna love, people are gonna hate you bro. Your duty is to keep making music because that’s what keeps the fire burning inside you.”

The exchange, A-Reece said, helped him reframe his passion for music that it’s no longer just a personal drive, but a responsibility that now extends to his family and supporters.

“I realised that my passion is more of a responsibility than anything else,” he explained. “At this point, my passion is intertwined with my family ’cause I have a family of my own now that I have to look out for. So it’s like if I’m not doing it for them, who the f*ck am I doing it for?”

For A-Reece, the decision to continue making music despite emotional setbacks reflects a deeper commitment, not only to his career but also to those who rely on him.

“It’s like if I go off of emotion, if I decide to say ‘f*ck everybody’ because I feel like I’m not being appreciated, I’m doing a disservice to the people who actually matter the most to me – my fans, my slimes, my family,” he said.

The rapper concluded his thoughts with a return to focus, stating that he is moving forward with renewed clarity and purpose.

“Just to extend on that – it’s business as usual, bro. I’m just tryna make this money.”

A-Reece’s reflection offers insight into the pressures artists face behind the scenes, where public perception, personal doubt, and creative responsibility often intersect. His story highlights the emotional weight of the music industry and the internal battles that can come with it, even for established names.