Nigerian rapper Ycee has opened up about his long and difficult battle with bipolar disorder, revealing that the mental health condition kept him away from music for years and affected his creativity.
The award-winning artiste made the emotional revelation during an interview on the Afropolitan Podcast, where he shared details of his diagnosis and recovery journey.
According to Ycee, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020 while living in London during the COVID-19 lockdown, a period he described as one of the toughest moments of his life.
“I was in and out of the hospital for about three months,” he recalled.
After returning to Nigeria due to visa restrictions, the rapper said he continued treatment through medication, therapy and several hospital visits.
Ycee admitted that adjusting to life after the diagnosis was challenging, saying there were moments when things improved and other times when he struggled with dark periods.
He also revealed that his mental health significantly affected his music career, making it difficult to create songs and properly promote his projects.
“The darkest part of everything was how it affected my creativity,” he said.
The rapper explained that he spent years trying to rediscover himself before finally accepting that he needed to embrace a new chapter in life.
According to him, things began to improve towards the end of 2024, and he gradually started feeling like himself again.
Ycee rose to fame with hit songs including “Condo,” “Jagaban,” and “Omo Alhaji,” becoming one of Nigeria’s most recognised rap stars.
His story has sparked conversations online about the importance of mental health awareness and seeking professional help.
Source: Afropolitan Podcast
