Copyright syracuse.com
Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane revealed he is living with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in his second memoir, “Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man,” which came out on Oct. 14. Following the book’s release, Gucci — whose real name is Radric Davis — and his wife Keyshia Ka’oir appeared on an episode of “The Breakfast Club” on Monday, Oct. 20, where they discussed his diagnoses. The “Wake Up in the Sky” rapper described the episodes he experienced with hosts Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy as feeling like being in a “psychosis” or a “warped world.” He explained he would hear voices and feel people were against him. Ka’oir added that her husband’s episodes were “scary moments” for her as she felt like she was “seeing someone you don’t know.” Gucci also recounted the costly consequences of his mental illnesses, explaining that he gave away his expensive jewelry, and no one tried to help him. “I gave my friends jewelry. And they knew I wasn’t well, they’d take it. They was taking advantage,” he said. It was during a 2020 episode that Gucci really prioritized getting better, especially as Ka’oir was pregnant with their first child together, Ice, at the time. “I don’t want to raise a family, and then my mental health gone,” he explained. “What if I have an episode I can’t come back from?” Meanwhile, Ka’oir specifically talked about how she has helped her husband when he’s showing warning signs of an episode. ‘I have a system,” she began. “I take his apps off his phone. First thing I do, I delete Instagram. I delete everything. 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.” She continued: “I control that. You’re not going on Instagram, you’re not going on Twitter, it’s deleted. I control everything at home,” she said, adding that she tries to “catch” every episode before it comes. Ka’oir further elaborated on how she knows Gucci is not in a good headspace: “He doesn’t speak to you, he wants to be left alone, he don’t eat, he does not sleep. Text messages, there’s a period after each word.” The “King Snipe” rapper confirmed that he is now in therapy and taking medication to manage his conditions. He emphasized the importance of self-motivation in recovery. “You got to do the work yourself, if you want to really get better,” he said. “People can want it for you, but you still got to want it more than they do,” he said.
