Exclusive: Lil Wayne’s Heartbreaking Story of Survival and His Ongoing Fight for Mental Health

In a candid and deeply moving interview on Emmanuel Acho’s “Uncomfortable Conversations” podcast, Lil Wayne, the iconic “Uproar” rapper, opened up about a harrowing experience from his youth that has shaped his life and career. At the age of 12, Wayne faced a mental health crisis so severe that he attempted to take his own life by shooting himself in the chest. This revelation underscores the rapper’s ongoing battle with mental health issues and his resilience in the face of profound challenges.

Wayne recounted the tragic day when an aunt’s comment about his future in rap, after being caught ditching school, pushed him to a breaking point. Struggling with suicidal thoughts, he took a gun from his mother’s bedroom and made a fateful decision.

“I was just looking and was like you know what — start thinking I had to get myself mad and then noticed I didn’t have to,” Wayne shared. “That’s what scared me. And how I know I have mental health problems was [that] I pulled the trigger.”

Wayne’s original intent was to shoot himself in the head, but he ultimately chose to aim at his chest. After calling the police, he followed through with the act, believing he was facing the end. “As a kid, all you remember is that when you’re going to see the white and I thought that was the white — I swear to God I did,” he said. “Then, the knocking woke me up out of that, but then they stopped and once they stopped knocking I said, ‘OK, they must’ve left.’ It took too long. It took too long for getting me to that death. I was still just laying there and didn’t feel a thing, but it was taking too long. So, I said s— I am here for a reason.”

Describing the scene, Wayne recalled the blood pouring from his chest and how it helped him slide across the floor to the door, where he kicked it in a final plea for help. When police arrived, their initial focus was on finding drugs, rather than saving his life. However, one officer, whom Wayne affectionately refers to as ‘Uncle Bob,’ took charge and ensured that Wayne received the urgent medical attention he needed.

Wayne attributes his survival to a higher power, saying, “The only thing that kept me alive at that moment was God. Plain and simple.” His struggle was compounded by the inability to discuss his mental health issues with his mother or friends. “You don’t speak in that language. You don’t speak up. You don’t tell your opinion,” he explained. His father was absent, leaving him without a crucial support system.

The aftermath of his suicide attempt was transformative, particularly for his mother. Wayne noted, “The mom that I knew before that day, on my life, and everyone’s life. I have never met, or seen, or heard that lady again in my life. So I didn’t die that day, but somebody was gone. She’s never been that way ever again.”

Wayne’s rise to stardom in his late teens and early twenties brought new dimensions to his mental health struggles. He described how the issues “didn’t go away” but evolved with his maturity. “You start to think, ‘Do anyone actually care? Will it matter when it’s all over? Will I matter?’ And that’s always the question,” he explained.

Today, Wayne finds solace and purpose in his music. “I’m happy” and feels productive, continuing to do what he loves. “That’s what I love,” he said. “That’s who I am I guess — a simple cliché. That’s who I was born to be.”

He now prays daily to manage his mental health and hopes to raise awareness about the reality of mental health issues. Wayne urges parents to respond authentically and supportively if their children face similar struggles. “If you are a parent of a kid with a mental health problem or something, even if you think, react with the realest reaction,” he advised.

Lil Wayne’s story is a poignant reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and the power of resilience. His journey from a troubled youth to a celebrated artist continues to inspire and educate, emphasizing that mental health struggles are real and deserve understanding and compassion.