Culture Craze
Offset’s Wake-Up Call: How His Son Helped Him Quit Codeine for Good
In an industry where fame often masks the pain behind the spotlight, Offset’s latest confession cuts through the noise. The rapper, known for his work with Migos and his high-profile marriage to Cardi B, has shared that he’s been four years sober from codeine, and that his son was the reason he finally stopped.
Speaking on the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast, Offset opened up about how his teenage son Jordan’s innocent question changed everything.
A Father’s Turning Point
Offset revealed that his addiction started when success became overwhelming. During Migos’ early rise to fame, he began leaning on codeine to cope with pressure and exhaustion. What started as casual use eventually grew into dependency, a habit that crept into every part of his life.
“I was taking to the cup,” he admitted, explaining that like many artists, he believed he couldn’t create without the drugs. “That’s cap,” he added, acknowledging that creativity doesn’t come from a bottle.
The realisation that he was slipping came not from industry peers or critics, but from home. His mother had already voiced her concern, telling him bluntly that she didn’t like who he became while using. But it was Jordan who delivered the wake-up call that finally broke through.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Offset recalled the day his son visited him in the studio. Jordan noticed his father’s drink and casually asked why it was a different colour from his own pineapple Fanta. That simple question stopped Offset in his tracks.
“It killed me,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Oh no, I gotta get off of this.’ That’s what touched me.”
Even though his son didn’t know what was in the cup, he was watching and learning, and that was enough for Offset to see what was at stake.
From that moment, he began the difficult journey to sobriety. Four years later, he says the clarity, health, and presence he’s gained are worth every challenge.
Breaking the Cycle
Codeine, often mixed with soft drinks or sweets to create “lean” or “purple drank,” has long been romanticised in hip hop culture. From Lil Wayne’s Me and My Drank to Future’s Codeine Crazy, the drink has been portrayed as part of the creative process, a coping mechanism, or even a symbol of success.
But Offset’s story cuts through that illusion. He isn’t condemning his peers; he’s offering an honest look at how easily experimentation can turn into addiction and how hard it is to face it when you’re at the top.
“When your mama calls you saying, ‘You need to get off that stuff,’ and she says it two or three times, it hurts,” he said. “It hurt for sure.”
A New Chapter Beyond the Cup
Offset’s openness comes at a time when the conversation around mental health and substance use in hip hop is becoming more public. Artists are increasingly talking about the toll of fame, pressure, and creative burnout.
For Offset, sobriety has become more than recovery; it’s a reclamation of purpose. He’s now finding inspiration in family, music, and truth rather than in substances. And in a culture that often rewards excess, that honesty feels radical.
Jordan may not have realised it in that studio moment, but his question didn’t just change his father’s life. It likely saved it.
Also read: Taylor Swift vs Charli XCX: Why ‘Actually Romantic’ Has Fans Talking
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Los Angeles Times
