Ycee Reveals Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis and Hospitalisation
Nigerian rapper and singer Ycee has spoken candidly about his struggle with a mental health condition, revealing that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020.
Diagnosis During the COVID‑19 Lockdown in London
The artist, whose real name is Oludemilade Martin Alejo, explained that the diagnosis came while he was living in London amid the COVID‑19 lockdown. He said he spent approximately three months in and out of hospital during that period.
Return to Lagos and Continued Treatment
Due to visa restrictions, Ycee had to leave the United Kingdom and return to Lagos, where he continued his treatment. He noted that before 2020 he had never openly discussed mental health, and adjusting to care in Nigeria proved to be a lengthy process.
Medication, Therapy and Repeated Hospitalisations
Ycee described the years that followed as being marked by medication, regular therapy sessions and multiple hospitalisations. He said there were moments of improvement, but also times when his condition felt overwhelmingly dark.
Effect on Music Career and Creativity
The rapper disclosed that his mental health battle significantly hindered his creativity, which had always come naturally to him. He mentioned that his 2021 project “Love Drunk” did not receive the promotion it deserved because he was not in the right frame of mind to push it.
He added that even the single he released in 2022 was affected by the ongoing challenges he faced, noting that his brain often felt foggy during studio sessions.
Road to Recovery and Looking Forward
Reflecting on the last four years, Ycee said he spent much of that time trying to reconnect with the person he was before the diagnosis. Eventually he accepted that the former version of himself might not return, prompting him to look ahead.
By the end of 2024, he began to feel more like himself again, noting that things started looking up and his sense of self was gradually restored.
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