The opinions and views expressed in this article on Mental Health and Hip Hop are meant to be constructive and are never intended to be malicious. These views are solely those of the author and do not reflect the sentiments of the Black Girl Nerds editorial staff or the Editor-In-Chief, either wholly or in part.
In an interview with an American music journalist and culture critic, Toure Neblett, Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan discussed how he managed to forge some of the most unforgettable lyrics of his era.
This includes work on the Only Built 4 Cuban Linx album in 1995, which dealt with what appeared to be schizophrenia. While Ghostface nor Toure explicitly named his mental diagnosis (and for a good reason), the interview highlighted a significant evolution in hip-hop and the discussion of mental health and mental health issues within the Black and Brown communities.
In the interview, Ghostface recalls having a really bad episode following some cannabis use. According to him, he felt a sudden sense of weakness or loss of balance that caused him to drop the glass of water he was holding. He didn’t pass out, but the sensation was intense enough to make him feel like he needed to lie down. He also explained that he started hearing menacing whispers like, “I’m gonna get you.” Then he woke up the next morning with blurry vision that he compared to TV static, which marked the beginning of his struggles with mental health.
The voices Ghostface heard were telling him to do awful things, like jump off the train, jump out of the car, or even to “snuff” his friends. Like many others, Ghostface didn’t open up about his struggles to those in his life, save for fellow Wu-Tang member RZA, who, as Ghostface described, would bring him back by trying to figure out what Ghostface was going through.
At the time, smoking seemed to reliably trigger the voices, while alcohol seemed to quell the noise inside his head. All of this took place while Ghostface was working on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.
Ghostface finally went to a psychiatrist, who prescribed several unspecified medications, which, according to Ghostface, weren’t effective. That’s when the doctor ordered bloodwork, which revealed that Ghostface was diabetic.
The rapper shared that he has been on insulin for quite some time now and that he no longer experiences such symptoms. Please note that we’re not medical professionals, but it’s entirely possible that he experienced psychotic episodes or symptoms that resemble schizophrenia due to other factors.
Substance-induced psychosis, paired with depression caused by chronic diseases such as diabetes, can lead to short-term psychosis and psychotic episodes that mimic schizophrenia. This includes schizophasia — a symptom of schizophrenia that includes disorganized thought and speech, also known as “word salad.” So, it’s entirely possible that his utter brilliance on Cuban Linx is more than just lyrical brilliance. It could also be Ghostface’s way of dealing with his mental health issues, which yielded some of the greatest pieces of art in hip-hop history.
However, Ghostface Killah isn’t the only rapper to suffer from mental health issues. Other artists, like Kid Cudi, Megan Thee Stallion, Kevin Gates, and the late DMX, were also quite open about their mental health struggles.
Mental health is a complicated issue and an important one, and these artists are making their voices heard and helping spread the word about the importance of mental well-being. And their voices are heard; research conducted by US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy — who declared the loneliness epidemic — found that the message was heard by the youth.
According to Murthy, 40% more high school students reported having emotional or mental health issues compared to students from 10 years ago, clearly indicating the de-stigmatization of mental health.
Hip-hop, often described as a soundtrack for coming-of-age and adolescence — especially in the Black community, where mental health has frequently been a stigmatized topic — has had a massive impact. My Mind Is Playing Tricks on Me by the Geto Boys (originally spelled Ghetto Boys) referenced mental health, doing so indirectly because mental health was often perceived as a weakness.
Songs like these, as well as the artists who performed them, have paved the way for the more literal and mainstream songs about mental health that we hear today, like Reborn (and the entire Kids See Ghosts album) by Kanye West and Kid Cudi, or Shawn Mendes’ Breathin and In My Blood, and Jay-Z’s Song Cry.
This is particularly important from the perspective of minority groups, who often have disproportionately less access to mental health care. In fact, the American Psychological Association highlighted that ethnic minorities have a quite pronounced lack of access to mental health support and assistance.
This wasn’t just due to stigmatization but also due to lack of insurance, distrust of care providers, and racism. Thus, many have turned to hip-hop for therapy. Music has been known to have healing effects on one’s soul.
While it might not be as effective as medical treatment, it’s incredibly relatable and emphasizes the struggles and mental health concerns among Black people. More importantly, it has the ability to make people more comfortable when talking about mental health, which helps spread awareness further.