Imagine pouring your heart and soul into your art, only to have a rare health condition threaten to silence you forever. This is the chilling reality Royce Da 5’9” has faced, and now, he’s finally breaking his silence. In a candid interview with Rolling Stone, the acclaimed rapper revealed the grueling battle he’s been fighting behind the scenes—a battle that’s made his creative process a Herculean feat. Despite dropping impressive projects in recent years, Royce confessed that his journey has been anything but easy. But here’s where it gets controversial: his struggles stem from a neurological condition called lingual dystonia, a disorder so rare that it’s often misunderstood, causing spasms that affect his speech and music recording.
Royce explained, ‘There’s some kind of interruption in the nerve firing off in my tongue. My cranial nerves and my vagus nerve were all inflamed. I have a genetic condition called the COMT gene, which processes dopamine slower than normal.’ And this is the part most people miss: a neurochemistry test revealed that the left hemisphere of his brain produces less dopamine than the right, creating an imbalance linked to conditions like Parkinson’s and ADHD. This led to involuntary movements in his face and tongue, prompting a barrage of misdiagnoses and experimental medications.
Yet, in a testament to his resilience, Royce declared he’s ‘almost through it’ and has even resumed recording. Reflecting on his role as executive producer for Big L’s posthumous album Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King, he wistfully shared, ‘I wish I was recording when we were doing this album.’
Here’s the bold question: How do we, as fans and society, better support artists battling invisible illnesses? Royce’s story isn’t just about his struggle—it’s a call to shed light on the challenges many face silently. Let’s keep the conversation going. What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below.
