Former Chicago drill rapper Lud Foe explains why he quit music: ‘I was tired of feeding BS to the youth’ [VIDEO]

The “Cuttin Up” rapper says personal healing and growth made his old drill lyrics impossible to continue

Lud Foe, a former Chicago drill rapper who rose to prominence in the mid-2010s with tracks like “Cuttin Up” and the No Hooks mixtape series, has revealed that he stopped rapping because his personal growth and healing process made his previous lyrical content incompatible with his current mindset.

In a 70-second clip from an interview on the Drea O Show, posted by @mymixtapez on X yesterday, Lud Foe explained the decision in his own words. He emphasized that he no longer wanted to circulate what he called “BS” or negative content to younger members of his generation and to youth in general.

His words have since spread across Instagram, Facebook, and Worldstar, sparking conversations about personal growth, authenticity, and the influence of hip-hop on younger audiences.

Lud Foe Emerged From Chicago’s Drill Scene in the Mid-2010s

Lud Foe, born William Akins on July 15, 1996, on Chicago’s West Side, emerged as a notable figure in the drill rap movement during 2015 and 2016. His music stood out for its aggressive, high-energy delivery and raw street perspective. Tracks such as “Cuttin Up,” which gained significant attention through a remix featuring Lil Durk, along with “What’s the Issue” and his “No Hooks” mixtape series, helped establish his presence in the competitive Chicago rap landscape. He performed under the Boochie Gang moniker, a name honoring a deceased family member that became central to his brand.

During his rise, Lud Foe collaborated with several key artists in the Chicago scene. Foe’s list of collaborators included Lil Durk and G Herbo. His lyrics consistently reflected the harsh realities of his upbringing. He drew inspiration and concepts directly from street-oriented experiences and the environment he navigated daily. This authenticity resonated with fans of drill music. However, his momentum faced a major interruption in 2017. That year, he was involved in a serious car accident with a semi-truck. The crash left him with multiple injuries, including a broken jaw, broken wrists, and other fractures. Despite the setback, he continued releasing music despite the physical challenges.

Following the late 2010s and into the early 2020s, Lud Foe’s output slowed considerably. He shifted toward sporadic releases rather than consistent projects, leading many fans to notice his reduced public activity. Reports from 2025 indicated he was arrested on an outstanding warrant. However, details of the incident remain limited. He is also the father of a son named Zayden, born in 2018, who has been a meaningful part of his life during this period of transition.

A Reflective, Candid Moment of Honesty Where the Words Shined Through

Lud Foe speaks directly and thoughtfully about his decision to stop rapping. He explains that he had to walk away from music after beginning a serious process of personal growth and healing. According to Lud Foe, as he started growing, healing followed, and his entire mindset shifted. This change made it impossible for him to continue creating the same type of content he was previously known for in the drill scene.

He stresses that he did not want to keep putting out what he calls “BS” or negative material, particularly to the younger generation. Lud Foe repeatedly emphasizes his unwillingness to feed that type of content to youth. So, he framed his departure from music as a conscious choice to protect his own peace and avoid influencing younger listeners negatively. His tone remains steady and sincere throughout the discussion of this internal transition.

Lud Foe also opens up about the social consequences of his growth. He reveals that many people he once considered close friends and associates did not support his healing journey. Instead, they resisted the change. According to Foe, they preferred that he stay the same and even attempting to pull him back to his former lifestyle and mindset.

Personal Healing Influenced Lud Foe’s Choice to Stop Rapping

Lud Foe delves into the core reasons behind his departure from music, emphasizing the role of personal growth. “I had to stop rapping,” he states. “I started the processes of growing and healing. When you start growing, you start healing. Your mindset changes. The stuff I was talking about — I can’t talk about that no more.” He presents this as a natural evolution, explaining that continuing to make his old style of music would no longer feel genuine after undergoing this internal transformation.

He ties his decision directly to a sense of responsibility toward younger audiences. Lud Foe makes clear that he did not want to keep releasing content that could negatively influence the next generation. Instead, he chose to prioritize his own healing and development over maintaining output that no longer matched who he had become.

The clip also highlights the challenges he faced from his inner circle. “Once I started healing, a lot of people who I thought was with me — they wasn’t with me,” Lud Foe says. “They was against it. They wanted me to stay the same.” He notes that even after he had moved past his previous lifestyle and completed his healing process, some former associates continued trying to pull him backward. The video makes clear he is not ruling out music entirely, but the version of himself that made drill records no longer exists.

X Users Show Love and Respect to Lud Foe for His Maturity and Evolution

@mymixtapez’s X post with Lud Foe’s interview quickly amassed thousands of replies, with many users expressing respect for Lud Foe’s decision to step away from music. Several comments highlighted nostalgia for his early work, particularly his 2016 run. One user wrote, “Lud Foe was different in 2016. ‘Cuttin Up’ was a anthem.” Another added, “It takes a real man to walk away from the bag for his peace. Respect,” while a third posted, “Healing over everything. Glad he found his way.”

Some users pointed out the irony of a drill rapper citing negative influence as the reason for quitting. One comment read, “He rapped about what he lived. Now he’s living different. That’s growth.” Others agreed with the logic, with one writing, “Drill music is about the streets. If you leave the streets, you leave the music. Makes sense.” Several also acknowledged the personal cost, noting that his old friends likely felt he was leaving them behind.

Many responses focused on the wider significance for the drill genre. One user observed, “Drill rappers don’t usually get to talk about healing. Most of them don’t make it out.” Another wrote, “Lud Foe was never the biggest name, but he was respected. This interview is going to make people go back and listen.” As of press time, the clip had been shared more than 2,600 times.

Lud Foe’s Long Noted Absence From the Rap Game

Lud Foe’s reduced presence in music has been noticeable to fans for several years. After his breakout period between 2015 and 2017, his output slowed significantly. Even following his 2017 car accident, in which he suffered serious injuries, he released only sporadic tracks and never returned to the consistent pace he maintained during his peak run in the Chicago drill scene.

The 2025 arrest on an outstanding warrant briefly brought him back into the public eye, but it produced no new music. The recent Drea O Show interview stands as his most direct public explanation for stepping away from rapping. Notably, Lud Foe does not place blame on the industry, record labels, or external pressures. Instead, he takes complete ownership of the decision, presenting it as a personal choice driven by his mental and emotional well-being.

Fatherhood appears to have played a meaningful role in his shift. Although he does not mention his son Zayden by name in the clip, his strong emphasis on not releasing negative content to the younger generation suggests that becoming a father in 2018 influenced his reevaluation of his career.

What the Interview Reveals About Drill Rap’s Toll on Artists

Drill rap emerged from Chicago’s South and West Sides in the early 2010s, pioneered by artists such as Chief Keef, Lil Durk, King Louie, and G Herbo. The genre is known for its dark production, aggressive delivery, and lyrics that frequently reference street violence, survival, and personal loss. Many artists who came from this scene have faced tragic outcomes, including untimely deaths, lengthy incarcerations, or significant difficulty transitioning away from the lifestyle they once documented in their music.

Lud Foe’s decision to step away from rapping in favor of personal healing stands out as relatively rare within the genre. While some drill artists continue releasing music, pivot to different styles, or simply disappear from the public eye without explanation, few have publicly articulated the internal conflict between their past content and personal growth. His willingness to openly discuss the lack of support from former associates provides a rare window into the emotional and social costs that often accompany the drill lifestyle.