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Royce Da 5’9″ Says Lingual Dystonia Nearly Ended His Career, Reports Return to Studio

He cites a COMT-related dopamine imbalance with inflamed cranial nerves after years of misdiagnosis.

Overview

  • In a new Rolling Stone interview, the Detroit rapper disclosed a years-long bout with lingual dystonia that disrupted his speech and halted recording.
  • He described inflamed cranial and vagus nerves along with a COMT gene variant that slows dopamine processing and leaves the brain’s left hemisphere with less dopamine.
  • After multiple improper diagnoses and medication trials, he says he is "almost through it" and has begun recording again.
  • During his recovery, he served as executive co-producer of Big L’s posthumous album Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King, released around Halloween 2025.
  • Addressing skepticism, he said the verses on the album were not throwaways and framed the release as honoring Big L’s legacy and supporting his family.