YCee Reveals Mental Health Diagnosis Forced Him Out of Music
Nigerian rapper and singer Oludemilade Martin Alejo, known professionally as YCee, has opened up about a six-year health battle that forced him to step away from music at the peak of his career. The 'Omo Alhaji' hitmaker disclosed that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, leading to a prolonged absence from the spotlight.
Diagnosis and Treatment in London
Speaking on the Afropolitan podcast, YCee explained that his absence was not a deliberate choice but a result of an unexpected health crisis. He traveled to London in 2020 and remained there for six months, spending about three months in and out of the hospital after doctors diagnosed him with a mental health condition. He stated: "In 2020, I got diagnosed with a mental health condition during the lockdown. I was in London for six months and was in and out of the hospital for about three months."
Return to Nigeria and Continued Recovery
Due to visa limitations, YCee returned to Nigeria, where he continued treatment, medication, and therapy. He described the journey as physically and emotionally demanding, admitting that recovery was not straightforward. "I had to return to Nigeria to continue treatment because of the type of Visa I was on. Coming back to Lagos and getting into the system of mental health in Nigeria, it was a very, very long six years," he said.
Ups and Downs of Recovery
YCee revealed that there were periods when he felt optimistic, only for difficult moments to return unexpectedly. "I was on medication and had to be hospitalised several times, and still dealing with therapies. It was up and down. Sometimes it looks good, and sometimes, it just gets really dark." Despite the setbacks, the rapper says he is now in a much better place after years of treatment and therapy.
Public Reaction
Social media users reacted to YCee's confession. @iamurbanaira commented: "I hope this story is on his Latest album ? Or just another Cho Cho Cho .. let me go and stream the album …. You can’t go thru this and not put it on a song." @ezekielakpan66 shared: "This is so sad worse part is that if people doesn’t talk to you about what they’re going through, you will never know, the truth is that everyone is fight!ng something that nobody knows."
Jarvis Claps Back at YCee
Meanwhile, TikTok creator Jarvis responded to YCee after his controversial comments about an "olodo uprising" in Nigeria. She defended content creators, arguing that many educated young Nigerians have embraced digital platforms not because they lack intelligence, but because the country's economic realities have left them with few alternatives.
