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Nigerian rapper Ycee discusses his six-year battle with bipolar disorder
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Nigerian rapper and singer Ycee, whose real name is Oludemilade Martin Alejo, has revealed he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020 while in London during the COVID-19 lockdown. He shared this information during an appearance on the Afropolitan Podcast, describing the period since his diagnosis as a difficult six-year journey. Ycee stated that he had little understanding of mental health issues at the time of his diagnosis and had to navigate treatment and recovery away from home. He spent about three months in and out of the hospital in London before returning to Lagos due to visa restrictions, where he continued his treatment. The artist explained that this period involved medication, therapy sessions, and multiple hospitalizations. Ycee noted that the illness significantly impacted his creativity and contributed to his prolonged absence from the music industry. He mentioned that his 2021 project, "Love Drunk," did not receive adequate promotion due to his mental state. He also spoke about the challenge of adjusting to life after the diagnosis, stating that he spent years trying to reconnect with his former self. Ycee indicated that by the end of 2024, he started feeling more like himself again. He highlighted that the most difficult aspect of his experience was how it affected his ability to make music, which had always come naturally to him. Ycee rose to prominence with his hit single "Condo" and later released other popular songs like "Jagaban" and "Omo Alhaji."
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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