Offset credits questions from his teenage son and tough love from his mother as catalysts in his decision to quit codeine, which he had relied on for years during the height of Migos’ fame.
The Atlanta rapper reflected on his four years of sobriety in a revealing chat on the “Baby, That’s Keke Palmer” podcast, in which he explained how his drug use escalated following the success of the group’s 2016 hit “Bad and Boujee.”
He describes how the pressures of the music industry pushed him towards slimming down – a potent concoction of codeine cough syrup, soda, candy and other additives.
The moment of truth came when his 15-year-old son Jordan, who rarely drank soda, started asking for Pineapple Fanta. One day, he noticed something was wrong in the studio.
“Then one day he walked into the studio and asked, ‘Why are your colors different from mine?’ It killed me,” Offset recalled.
Offset admitted that he lied to cover up the truth. “I was like, ‘Mine is old, I’m going to throw it away,’ and I just grabbed it and walked away. When I walked into my room, I almost cried.”
That moment forced him to confront the impact he had on his children.
“He didn’t even know there were drugs here. He didn’t know, but in my mind he even just said he wanted the same soda that I wanted. Like, ‘Oh no, I’m influencing him,'” he said.
Offset also revealed that his mother repeatedly criticized his behavior, prompting him to reflect on how drugs had changed him.
“My mom starts telling me, ‘Hey kid, I don’t like this about you, what is this.’ You fall asleep, you get more irritated, you’re not my son, you’re arguing,” he said.
The family’s intervention, while painful, made a difference.
“I’m successful, I’m rich, and when your mom calls you and she’s like, ‘You need to get rid of this stuff,’ and she says it two or three times, it’s definitely painful,” Offset shared.
The rapper, who has six children and recently released his solo album Kiari, said he’s grateful for the support system that helped him change course.
“I always get a wake-up call from my core people, my family. I’m grateful to feel that way,” Offset said.
