Behind Ab-Soul’s dark shades is a battle with a rare disease that has hindered his eyesight. The TDE rapper was diagnosed as a child with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a skin and mucous membrane disorder that has lead to the scarring of his corneas. In a recent interview with GoodFella Media, Ab-Soul discussed his treatment options, which include a corneal transplant. And one of his friends is all for it.
“I was talking to Puffy, or Dr. Sean Combs. He really suggests that I try to go get a corneal transplant,” Ab-Soul said. “But I’m just a little eerie about that, because what if they mess up?”
While he is admittedly on the fence about whether to take his mentor’s advice, Ab-Soul remains optimistic about the gradual loss of his vision, remembering his earlier days when it was perfect. He also shared another way he has found to tap into his vision, through “‘shroom, psychedelic trips,” that allow him “to see in HD.” Soulo also explained the effects of the disease in layman’s terms.
“And I’m not completely blind. The analogy is like your cornea is your windshield. So if your windshield is cracked, you get bad glares from the sun sometimes. That’s why you want to get that fixed.”
Watch Ab-Soul talk his battle with Stevens-Johnson syndrome below: