Lil Uzi Vert has revealed that they spent more than half a year in rehab, crediting the stint with turning their life around.
The Philly rapper recently spoke to 032c magazine about their time in the treatment facility, explaining how they initially doubted the effectiveness of rehab but came away a better person.
“I’m lucky to have people in my life who truly care about me and my well-being. Specifically, Desiree Perez, who helped me get into this program,” they said, referring to the CEO and co-founder of JAY-Z’s Roc Nation, to whom they’re signed. “I didn’t want to do it, but I had to — and I can say now that it was a great thing to do.”
Uzi also spoke about the different techniques deployed in rehab and how they became close with other people who were seeking treatment.
“I spent seven months in rehab. The first month and a half were hard, but after that, it was easy, because the people there became my family,” they added. “They showed me so many different outlets and ways to cope with life. We did a lot of group talks, a lot of writing on whiteboards.”
They concluded: “I was so sure that it wasn’t going to work, but surprisingly it’s pretty effective.”
In 2017, Lil Uzi Vert revealed they were taking steps toward sobriety in the wake of Lil Peep‘s death.
“We Would love 2 stop ….. But Do You Really Care Cause We Been On Xanax All Fucking Year,” Uzi wrote on Twitter at the time. “Rip Buddy I 100 % Understand and I Don’t Fault U.
“Sober 2 day I have been shaking. I have been cursing my love ones out and fighting. In the studio with no thoughts in my head. Teeth biting down because I just wanna be angry at something …… maybe I will just smoke weed tonight.”
Years later, Uzi opened up about being sober this past March and explained how it improved their creative process while making their upcoming album The Pink Tape.
“It was challenging at first but then, probably after like a month I got used to it,” they said. “I thought that my creative process wasn’t gonna be the same because I wasn’t on drugs no more, but it was the same – even better.
“I could think more clear and could actually like, instead of my words slurring, even though that’s kinda cool, everything made sense. I didn’t just make random music. How can I say, I didn’t just play off the beat, I actually made songs with topics this time.”
Lil Uzi Vert also encouraged other rappers to quit drugs and alcohol, stating: “It’s the best thing to do — it’ll change your life. And you’ll look better.”
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