Lil Nas X says he has bipolar disorder and is working on a musical comeback

Lil Nas X said he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, nearly a year after his highly publicized mental health crisis. In a video posted on social media on Wednesday night, the rapper and singer said he had spent time in a rehab facility and in a mental health treatment program, and that he is now feeling better and making new music.

The artist, whose real name is Montero Hill, was arrested in August after reports said he attacked a police officer while seen walking through Los Angeles wearing only underwear and cowboy boots. In April, the most serious charges against him were dropped after a judge ordered him into a specialized mental health treatment program following the diagnosis.

“I felt like I had already known it for years, but I did not want to admit it,” he said of the bipolar diagnosis. “I did not want to take medication and I did not want people to look at me differently. I am already Black and gay. Like, God... I am living life on extreme difficulty.” He said treatment by a psychiatrist and psychologist helped a lot, and that he is now “creating freely” and feels there is “less fear in my heart.”

Alongside the personal revelation, he told fans he is preparing a new phase in his career. “There is new music on the way,” he said. “I am excited to go through this journey with you. Thank you for staying with me all the way.” His upcoming album, Dreamboy, is expected to be his second, after he released the first single from it, “Light Again!,” last year.