Compton rapper MC Eiht appears to have contracted COVID-19, sharing a photo of himself from the hospital and hoping that his fans begin to take this health crisis seriously. 

“Watch yaself out here its no joke,” wrote the rapper/actor on social media.

The picture shows the man in a hospital bed with a mask over his face. 

He has not confirmed that he is in the hospital because of coronavirus but, given the times we currently live in, that would appear to be what he’s suggesting. At 48-years-old, MC Eiht is not very at-risk but he seems to be suffering from some symptoms, considering he was admitted to a medical facility.

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The post garnered comments from some of Eiht’s closest peers, including Spice 1, Goodie Mob, and Marcellus Wiley.

MC Eiht is the latest rapper to imply he has contracted the novel illness. Before him, Slim Thug, Scarface, and others broke their silence to tell the world they had come into contact with COVID-19 and were recovering.

We wish MC Eiht a speedy recovery as he appears to battle the virus.

Earlier this year, the rapper explained why Tupac Shakur was fired from Menace II Society. Read more about that story here.

As MC Eiht matures and evolves, fans aren’t going to hear the same subject matter that he rapped about early on in his career. The legendary emcee once had a longstanding beef with fellow Compton rapper DJ Quik as the two traded vicious bars on wax. The feud didn’t dissipate until fellow West Coast artists like Snoop Dogg and Daz Dillinger stepped in to mend fences. Afterward, Quik dropped songs that talked about making peace, but fans weren’t as accepting of his tracks because they were used to a more gangster rap persona.

During his talk with People’s Party with Talib Kweli, MC Eiht shared that he receives that criticism from some longtime fans as well. “I’m like, dude, it’s 2020,” Eiht said. “You want me to rap about drive-by killings and jumping in a six tre with my pistol and hittin’ corners? I’m like, dude, I’m beyond that.” The seasoned rapper said artists try to please their fans, “but there comes a time when you as an artist and a mature artist, you feel like, let me try to transition into some different music that’s not about” the gangster lifestyle.

“I am no longer thinking like I did when I was 18-years-old, still hanging on the block making rap records,” MC Eiht added. “Now, I’m about peace, I’m about trying to stack money, invest, and still have a good time. So, let me try to figure that out for my fans to enjoy. For people like Quik, myself, and in that arena that we came from, it’s like a tightrope you’re walking.”

The rapper also said that fans not only want for him and other veteran gangster rappers to continue on with their street life message because it’s familiar, but because there was an authenticity attached to it. The lifestyle wasn’t something manufactured that they created and rapped about; it was something that they actually lived, unlike many artists who attempt to mimic the style without truly going through that struggle. Check out Mc Eiht’s clip from People’s Party with Talib Kweli below.

In an alternate universe, Tupac Shakur starred in Menace II Society. In our real world, however, the late rapper didn’t make an appearance. The classic film is a favorite to millions, and during a talk with People’s Party with Talib Kweli, MC Eiht shared that early on, Tupac was hand-picked for the role of Sharif. The part would later go to Vonte Sweet, so Eiht explained why Tupac was booted from the film.

“The Hughes brothers worked all of Pac’s earlier sh*t,” Eiht said. “‘Brenda Got a Baby,’ all that sh*t. So they knew him [and] knew he was difficult to work with, but I think New Line [Cinema] wanted him in the movie. Juice, Poetic Justice, you know, and y’all have a relationship with him… We want him. So, who knows what happened, but, okay. We’ll get him in the movie. I don’t think it was the plan to keep him in the movie. We all know Pac, very vocal. Very outspoken.”

According to MC Eiht, Tupac questioned why he was cast as Sharif when everyone else got to be gangbangers. The rapper wanted the movie producers to give his character more of a backstory so that the audience knew why he was the “voice of reason.” The film’s production team didn’t have time for that. Tupac in turn, allegedly, made the table readings difficult because he wouldn’t participate. Soon, Vonte took his place.

MC Eiht said that he thinks Tupac was given the role of Sharif because they knew he would fight it and they’d have a way to get rid of him. Check out the full clip of MC Eiht chatting about Tupac Shakur on People’s Party with Talib Kweli below.