Blue Pappi Reveals Why He Dropped Out Of School For Music. In a world where education is often seen as the ultimate path to success, Blue Pappi—one of the standout members of The Qwellers—took a different route. At just 20 years old, the Durban native made a daring decision to drop out of his electrical engineering studies, choosing instead to follow his true calling: music.
“I had to do this,” he explains, speaking candidly about the moment he left behind his studies in Durban to chase his music dreams in Johannesburg. “I was in school doing electrical engineering, but I dropped out. It was something I had to do. I didn’t tell my parents—I kept that to myself,” he admitted, revealing the internal pressure he felt in making such a bold choice.
For Blue Pappi, school had always felt like an escape from reality. “It felt like I was running away from what I was supposed to be doing,” he reflected. “Deep down, I knew exactly where I was supposed to be. I was meant to be in Jozi, making music.”
At just 20, Blue Pappi’s decision seemed risky, especially given that he was in his first year of study. But that didn’t stop him. With no money in his pocket, only the support of friends, and a burning passion to succeed, he leapt to Johannesburg.
Once in the city, things started moving fast. Blue Pappi entered a competition where he not only met prominent names like MashBeatz and Maglera Doe Boy but also had a breakthrough moment when his song “Oh No” was heard by industry insiders. “When I played it, they were like, ‘No way, this kid has something,’” he recalled. “Even though it wasn’t that big, I knew people would love it when they heard it. It was just a matter of time.”
Today, at 22 years old, Blue Pappi reflects on how far he’s come. His decision to leave school and pursue music was not just a career move—it was an act of self-belief. “I had to put pressure on myself,” he says, remembering how overwhelming it felt to be in a new city with no guarantees. “You don’t even know how long you’re going to last. I didn’t have any funds when I got here, just friends who supported me. That’s how I made it through.”
