Big Sean’s secret depression battle after Nipsey Hussle’s death

Big Sean breaks silence on mental health struggles

By Maryam Nadeem February 17, 2026
Big Sean’s secret depression battle after Nipsey Hussle’s death
Big Sean’s secret depression battle after Nipsey Hussle’s death

Big Sean has opened up about the heartbreaking reason he was forced to step away from music.

The Detroit-born star admitted that he was locked in a “very deep battle of depression” after the tragic death of Nipsey Hussle.

He poured his pain into Deep Reverence, a powerful tribute featuring a posthumous verse from Hussle. 

The emotional track appeared on his 2020 album Detroit 2 and quickly became one of the most personal songs of his career.

Speaking to ABC News, Sean admitted he didn’t even realise how vulnerable he was being at the time. 

“I was just sharing what was going on in my life,” he said, confessing he never set out to be a spokesperson for mental health.

But behind the scenes, the rapper was struggling. 

Therapy became a lifeline as he battled “heavy ups and downs” and hit what he described as an emotional wall. 

“I either had to climb over it, or it was gonna fall on me and crush me,” he revealed.

Sean, whose real name is Sean Anderson, said he had lost himself in his work and needed to put his wellbeing first. 

Stepping back from the spotlight, he insisted, was the only way to survive.

Detroit 2 also saw him address rumours of tension with Kendrick Lamar, making it clear that any supposed feud was simply down to “wrong information”.

Now, Sean says choosing himself over the industry saved his life.

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