Lil Wayne spoke about his journey with mental health recently on Emmanuel Acho’s Uncomfortable Conversations series.
Rapping is something Lil Wayne has always had a passion for and at some point in his life this was a dream he was willing to die for. Lil Wayne explains in the interview that he came from a household where being vulnerable wasn’t the norm, he was raised by his single mother who was heavy on discipline and expressing your feelings was a form of disrespect.
Lil Wayne just wanted to rap and when he was told that, that could all be taken away he acted on those suicidal thoughts and attempted to shoot himself in the chest at 12 years old.
The rapper recalled getting in trouble for lying to his mom about his school schedule so he could stay out longer, and she ended up finding out.
“So, I picked up the phone, I called the police,” he says. “Yes, I knew where she kept her gun. And it was in her bedroom. And so I went into her bedroom, grabbed the gun. I already made the phone call. Looked in the mirror.” And he eventually aimed for his heart and pulled the trigger, but he didn’t feel any pain.
The experience caused his mom to change. Wayne also tells Acho it changed everything for him and his family.
Lil Wayne concluded the interview by acknowledging how real mental health is and that he is at a better point in his life because he acknowledged that he was suffering.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
