Rhymefest Feeling Brand New After Hospital Scare, "Now I Understand A Little Of What Phife Dawg Is Going Through"

Chicago rapper Rhymefest has announced his release from a local hospital after being rushed to the emergency room last week.

Thanking fans for their support, Fest cleared up any confusion and confirmed speculation that he is now a diabetic.

"I'm back y'all, thanks 4 the prayers and well wishers. I got released from the hospital over the weekend. Diabetes is manageable so I'm good," he tweeted Monday (June 6th).

"Got a new diet, work out plan and lease on life. Gotta get off this insulin"

"Thanks to my close homies and family for helping me organise my new life style. No more pepsi hotchips and laffy taffys"

"And thanks to everyone who tweeted me a get well soon. Now back to the lab"

"Now that my sugar is down I feel much better I was operating on overdrive for years and had no idea"

"Now I understand a little of what Phife [Dawg] is going thru" (Rhymefest's Twitter)

Over the weekend, one of Fest's associates updated fans on his medical condition via Twitter.

"On thurs june 2, Che Rhymefest Smith was admitted into the ER at risk of Diabetic Coma his sugar levels were 739 normal being 80," a tweet read Saturday (June 4) morning.

"Rhymefest has since been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and is awaiting release from the hospital"

"Rhymefest apparently had the disease for years and never knew it."

"This is his twitter account, he will continue tweeting from after his release. thank you" (Rhymefest's Twitter)

Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah learned that he had diabetes in the mid-1990's.

In 1996, Ghostface discovered that he was diabetic, a condition that would weaken his health. According to "Trials of Life", a 2007 song with fellow New York rapper Prodigy (himself a sickle-cell anemic), Ghostface assumed he had been stricken by a sexually transmitted disease until he received the diabetes diagnosis. (Wikipedia)

Outside of health concerns, Rhymefest's recent run at becoming his city's alderman ended in defeat last April.

With 84 percent of precincts in, Willie Cochran had 54.6 percent to 45.4 percent for Smith, a Grammy-winning rap artist. Earlier tonight, Smith's election night party was underway with hip hop music blasting from large speakers when the candidate arrived. A small group of mostly young people followed his mist green Cadillac. Holding his grandmother on one arm and his wife on the other, Smith said he felt a lot of energy at the polls. "It's not about me winning or losing, it's about hope," Smith said. "Eleven and 12 year old children ask me 'can you stop the gang banging?' I say 'you have to help too.' " "People want little things like a quizno's or subway in the neighborhood. They want somewhere to get a sandwich on 63rd," he said. (Chicago Tribune)