During a recent appearance on TV host Emmanuel Acho’s “Uncomfortable Conversations,” Lil Wayne opened up about challenges with mental health which also included an attempt at suicide when he was 12 years old.
The ‘How To Love” rapper said he’s “hoping to help anyone else out there who’s dealing with mental health problems” by “being vulnerable” and “brave” as he shares his story.
He added: “What I wish they knew is that it’s real. That it’s real. There is no bar to measure how real. It’s real.”
Wayne has been dealing with mental health difficulties since he was ten years old, according to him. He struck rock bottom during his teens when his mother, Jacida Carter, discovered he had been skipping school. He attempted suicide at the age of 12 because he was afraid she would tell him he had to quit rapping.
Weezy described dialing 911 and then walking into his mother’s room to retrieve her firearm. He started by holding the pistol to his head, but as he became afraid, he chose to shoot himself in the chest. He narrowly missed his artery while aiming for his heart.
He recalled, “I didn’t feel a thing.” The cops were responding to his call when he awoke to hammering on the door as he fell into shock.
Wayne recalled being brought into a police car and rushed to the hospital as at the time, waiting for an ambulance in New Orleans would take too long. He also remembered the sheriff repeatedly assuring him, “You’re not going to die on me.”
Lil Wayne goes on to say that his sense of pessimism stemmed from his inability to communicate himself to his mother. Their relationship, however, would never be the same following his attempted suicide.
“What I never said was: The mom that I knew before that day… I have never met or seen or heard that lady again in my life,” Wayne stated.
“So I didn’t die that day, but somebody was gone. She’s never been that way [again].” Explaining that seeing her son suffer and in turn learning to be supportive of him, “Changed life for her, [me] and our whole family.”
Weezy also talked about how his mental health issues later on in his career after he rose to prominence, and how he worried in his 20s if anybody would care about him if it wasn’t for the music he made.
Speaking of his present, however, Lil Wayne claims to be in a better position and that he is “so happy” to be able to do what he does. He acknowledges prayer for assisting him while he is dealing with his emotions while attributing being able to perform, create, and assist others resulted in his current positive state.
Listen to Wayne share about his journey down below.
Education: Computer Network Engineering, Computer Desktop Administration
Fave Song: Destiny's Child 'Dangerously in love'
Fave Colour: Grey.
With £1m what would you do: I would do my part to provide opportunities to the less fortunate. Then do my best to change the world in my own way through sports and talent building.
