Wayne ‘critical after seizures’
Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne tweeted Friday that he was "good," as record company executives dismissed a report that the singer had been in critical condition after a string of seizures.
The hip-hop star declared on Twitter: "I’m good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love," after celebrity news website TMZ reported he was in an induced coma in hospital, and that his family was rushing to his bedside.
Vickie Charles, a spokeswoman for Cash Money/Young Money/Republic Records, pointed out the star’s tweet in an email to AFP, adding: "Wayne is doing well. We appreciate your concern."
According to TMZ, Lil Wayne (30) was rushed to Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles on Tuesday after suffering multiple seizures. He left the following day but was re-admitted hours later, and his condition had not stabilised.
Citing "hospital sources" in an update a couple of hours after its initial report, TMZ said the singer was still in critical condition but stabilising, adding that his prognosis was "uncertain."
It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles, and that any decisions about his treatment, including on whether to stop life support, would not be made until she arrived.
According to TMZ, there was evidence that Wayne went on a "Sizzurp binge" – drinking a concoction of cough syrup and fizzy drinks – after being released on Wednesday, with doctors finding high amounts of codeine in his system.
The website reported that Wayne’s stomach was pumped three times to flush the drugs from his system and that the scene at the hospital was "violent", with Wayne having to be restrained because his seizures were so strong.
But Mack Maine, the head of the Young Money record label to which Lil Wayne is signed tweeted: "Dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe … that’s false!!"
And Birdman, a rapper and co-founder of Cash Money Records to which Lil Wayne is also signed, tweeted: "My son is in good spirit..feelin much betta…be home soon."
In October the star, who won four Grammy awards in 2008 including best rap song and best rap album, reportedly suffered a number of seizures while on his private jet.
Last September Lil Wayne celebrated his 30th birthday by overtaking Elvis Presley for the number of times he’s been on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop chart, his 109th time as a featured artist on Celebration by West Coast rapper Game.
At the 2008 Grammys he won best rap album for The Carter III, best rap song for Lollipop, best rap performance Swagga Like Us with Kanye West and Jay Z, and best rap solo performance A Milli.
Lil Wayne, who counts President Barack Obama among his fans, has been rapping since the age of eight. He has made 10 studio albums – and served time in a New York jail in 2010 for unlawful possession of a firearm.
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