Atlanta-based rapper Gucci Mane has spoken publicly for the first time about his long battle with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, revealing the difficult journey he and his wife, Keyshia Ka’oir, endured to protect his privacy and help him recover.
In a candid interview on The Breakfast Club, the 45-year-old rapper — whose real name is Radric Davis — opened up about living with the conditions and how they affected his life, career, and relationships. He described the experience as “living in a warped world,” admitting he often heard voices that made him believe people were plotting against him.
“You’re hearing voices … I might think that you’re trying to fight and you ain’t did nothing,” he said. “In my mind, it’s the truth.”
The rapper recalled moments during his episodes when he gave away expensive jewelry to friends who, he said, “took advantage” of his condition. “I gave my friends jewelry. And they knew I wasn’t well, they’d take it,” he revealed.
Facing His Diagnosis
Gucci Mane explained that his episodes were often triggered by drug use, stress, and lack of sleep. He said the breaking point came during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when he suffered a severe episode that convinced him he needed to seek professional help.
“After that, I was like, man, I got to really just hold myself accountable and take care of my health,” he said. “I don’t ever want to have an episode again. If I have to see a therapist, if I have to take medicine, I will.”
At the time, his wife Keyshia Ka’oir was pregnant with their son, Ice Davis — a turning point that made the rapper reflect deeply on his life and future. “What if I have an episode I can’t come back from?” he recalled asking himself.
Ka’oir shared how she noticed signs of his mental health struggles even before their 2017 wedding. She became skilled at recognizing early symptoms, such as his silence, loss of appetite, and unusual texting patterns.
“How you catch it is he doesn’t speak to you, he wants to be left alone, he doesn’t eat, he doesn’t sleep,” Ka’oir said. “Text messages — there’s a period after each word.”
She described his episodes as if “you’re seeing someone you don’t know” but said she chose to stay by his side through the hardest moments. “I felt like if I left, he wouldn’t have been the same,” she said. “He needed someone to help him.”
To protect his privacy, Ka’oir even deleted his social media accounts during episodes. “I have a system. First thing I do, I delete Instagram. I delete everything,” she said. “Even if I gotta change his password, I’m changing it because I don’t need the public to know he’s having an episode.”
Gucci Mane has since detailed his experiences in his new memoir, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, released on October 14. The book gives fans an inside look into his struggles with mental health, addiction, and the path to recovery.
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