Rapper recalls drug abuse days and recovery
Dumisani Ncube | Friday July 28, 2017 15:12
The 37-year-old rapper was part of the 1990s and early millennium rap/kwaito outfit Able Bodied, which was established in 1995. “In my early days of rapping its’ when I was introduced to ecstasy, which I enjoyed more than marijuana. Everytime I took it I felt like a butterfly floating and I was hyper active,” G’Word said, as he showed a butterfly tattoo on his shoulder which was inspired by the feeling. He noted that after consuming the drugs he felt good as it also eased the shot temper he had when sober.
While taking his drugs he kept the habit a secret from his family, which was only known to his accomplices and suppliers that he would not mention. His family was suspicious of the habit that he was hooked to drugs such as marijuana because of his behaviour.
The love for drugs was influenced by his rap lifestyle, as he would see the likes of Easy E on their music videos talking about drugs and smoking. “Growing up without a father in the family played a role also because I needed to fill that void. I did music, which took me to alcohol and drugs. I later had a step father who loved us, but I kept on doing drugs secretly.” While at it he was implicated in a rape case in 1998.
He was accused of raping a female friend and got arrested. “I was in prison for about six months and I was later released as it turned out that I was innocent. While in prison I developed hatred towards women and even wrote a book titled, How To Kill A Woman,” G’Word said.
Upon being released from prison G’ Word regrouped with his friends and continued with drugs, at this point he stated that the drug demon was controlling him as he even thought of killing his own family. When Able Bodied spilt he formed a group with Slyza in 2001 called New Clan, but it too spilt before they could release their debut album. He later got a job at the Department of Road Transport and Safety where he kept his drug life as a secret, as he was a people’s favourite through hard work, being humble and energised.
As a bad boy he got involved with an older woman who would spoil him with money, which he used to buy ecstasy. He, however, lost his job because of the addiction to both drugs and alcohol, which led him to be on the wrong side of the law at work, as he received numerous written warnings.
As time went by he continued with his ecstasy, as it became part of his daily routine with alcohol and other drugs included. As time went by his health, finances and life in general started deteriorating, as it was visible that he was struggling. “I lost my financial stability as well as had a broken relationship and neglected my children. I would get drunk everyday with the guys around my area in Old Naledi.
They had no problem with me drinking with them even if I did not have money. I would get drunk and start rapping for them. At one point I nearly died because I had a case of non-stop bleeding through one nostril and had to be rushed to the hospital.
I had the nostril blocked, but the blood still came out through the openings on the roof of my mouth. I was suffering to a point that I nearly turned grey due to loss of blood,” he recalled. His health continued to deteriorate as he went through a relapse stage that had him lose his appetite, experience insomnia for days, shiver and vomit when he was craving for ecstasy. The 37-year-old rapper stated that during his era of using ecstasy he used tens of thousands of pula and even got a loan from the bank at one point.
Relationships with his family members and children were in shambles as he stopped talking to them despite staying under the same roof. “In 2014 I met a woman who is now my fiancée who spoke to me in a very truthful manner that I understood. I realised that this was not my life and I re-established my relationship with God. If I hadn’t turned to God the struggle would be worse,” he said.
Upon cleaning up he had to tell his mother the whole truth about his drug life and escapades, which he kept a secret from her and the family for close to two decades. As a clean man he is now a Christian as he even changed his rap name from Rwude Bwoy to God’s Word, but prefers to be called G’Word.
Through his company he goes around schools, prisons and community talking about Christianity, sexual immorality, drug and alcohol abuse using his life as an example. “God didn’t want me to have stardom because I was going to die,” he said. G’Word is still involved in music and is working on new musical material, which has a positive message for motivating people facing challenges.