In a recent interview with Chude Jideonwo on With Chude, rapper Vector opened up about his childhood that shaped his resilient mindset and approach to life.
The artist shared, “My childhood instilled in me this mindset that no matter what, whatever I want to do, I do it. Also, I was detached and stubborn, like my mother and grandmother used to say. I was the one who would always ask questions like, ‘Why do they always say that elders are always right?’ and I would say, ‘That’s a lie.'”
Vector praised his parents for their balanced approach to parenting, noting that they never showed favoritism towards their children, even towards his sister who has sickle cell disease.
“I learned to question myself. You know, African parents are usually in default parenting mode, so they loved us all. I think they tried their best not to show who was their favorite because in my family, there is a sickle cell warrior. You would think she would get the most care because of her disease, and to show you how exceptional the care was, she now has two children. They had no preferences and they took care of us as we were.”
“At one point, at home, they even started calling me Vector the viper because that’s how I identified myself. Even my brother is a DJ and they called him that. My parents were pretty free, but they made you work for what you believed in and what you needed. I felt loved regardless and I think I grew up sheltered, not protected in the silver spoon sense, though,” he concluded.
It’s fascinating to see how childhood and family support can shape a person’s identity and mindset. Vector has learned valuable lessons from his experiences and applied them to his professional and personal life.
Understanding the importance of unconditional love and family support, the rapper has followed his own path with determination and resilience. His story is a reminder that our backgrounds and past experiences can give us an inner strength that guides us throughout our journey.