Popular Nigerian singer, Charles Chibuezechukwu, widely known as Crayon, has revealed his harrowing experience with drug addiction, which nearly cost him his life and led to his admission to a psychiatric hospital.
In a recent interview with YouTuber Korty EO, the ‘Ngozi’ hitmaker recounted a frightening episode outside his record label’s office, where his colleague, Rema, intervened to save him.
Crayon explained, “There was a day my manager saw me and was alarmed by my condition. He asked what was wrong with me and I told him I only smoked weed.”
He went on to describe the intensity of his breakdown, saying, “So I started acting crazy. All of a sudden I started walking on the street. I walked down to Mavin studio barefooted. I feel like I’m God’s favourite because nobody recorded me during the episode. If someone had recorded me, it would have messed with my confidence, my career and everything.”
Recalling the incident in vivid detail, Crayon said, “When I got to Mavin studio gate, I sat in front of the gate and I was like, ‘I’m tired, mehn.’ I took off my shirt and smashed my iPhone. Then calls start coming in. Rem called, BabyFresy and everybody was shouting. They were asking what was wrong with me and I said I was tired.”
Rema, who had sensed the gravity of the situation, arrived at the scene prepared to protect his friend. “Rema drove there and carried a stick, he was ready to fight. I was lying down on Rema’s lap. Rema was like, ‘Bro, trust me, once you pass this stage, you will come out great because I feel like this is the final battle you’re about to fight,’” Crayon recalled, noting how the words of encouragement stayed with him despite his state of confusion.
He continued, “I could not recognise anybody but I remember that word. It was so bad I almost jumped out of a moving car. It was that crazy. It was similar to Mohbad’s situation.”
Crayon’s situation escalated to the point where he needed urgent medical attention, leading to his admission to a psychiatric facility in Lekki.
“They took me to one of the psychiatric hospitals in Lekki. It was deep and after everything, I came back and went to Don Jazzy’s house,” he concluded.
Crayon’s candid revelation sheds light on his personal struggles and the pivotal role his support system played in his recovery, underscoring the importance of mental health awareness in the music industry.
