Ghanaian rapper Joey B has disclosed that an undiagnosed asthma condition was responsible for his prolonged absence from the music scene, saying the illness significantly affected both his health and his ability to work.

Speaking in an interview on 3Music TV on Wednesday, 10 June, the artiste said he struggled with recurring health challenges for years without knowing the underlying cause, often mistaking the symptoms for malaria, sinusitis, or general fatigue.

“I got sick. I didn’t know I had asthma. Before then, I used to think it was malaria or sinusitis because I would feel weak and get tired easily. Sometimes I couldn’t even breathe properly,” he said.

Joey B explained that his condition went undiagnosed until around 2019 or 2020, when a doctor identified asthma after observing his symptoms.

According to him, the diagnosis came as a surprise, although he later learned there was a family history of the condition.

“A doctor asked me if I knew about asthma. My dad also had asthma, although he says he’s healed now, so that’s when I found out what was really happening,” he added.

The artiste said the illness forced him to step back from music to focus on recovery, noting that his working environment also worsened his condition.

He explained that long hours spent in recording studios aggravated his symptoms, as the environment frequently triggered asthma attacks.

“What was triggering it was the studio environment. I practically lived in the studio and slept there. The more I stayed there, the worse it got, so I had to take proper care of myself,” he said.

Despite the setback, Joey B stressed that quitting music was never under consideration.

“Did I ever think about stopping music? Oh, hell no. I just needed my strength back,” he said.

His revelation sheds light on the personal health struggles that kept him away from the spotlight, while reaffirming his continued commitment to music.