Rapper Reportedly Cuts Off Penis, Jumps Off Balcony in Suicide Attempt
Andre Johnson, an L.A.-based, Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated rapper, jumped off a second-story balcony Wednesday morning in an apparent suicide attempt after cutting off his own penis, TMZ is reporting.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ they responded to a call and found Johnson lying on the sidewalk at a North Hollywood apartment building critically injured. He is now at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The status of his penis is unknown.
Johnson, a.k.a. Christ Bearer, is a member of the duo Northstar, who were discovered by Wu-Tang's RZA outside an L.A. radio station in 1998. The Wu-Tang producer took them on and provided beats for their 2004 debut, RZA Presents Northstar.
Johnson is also affiliated with other groups in the Wu empire, including West Coast Killa Beez. Just yesterday, he released this music video with Rugged Monk of Wu-group Black Knights.
Update: TMZ confirms the man in the incident was Christ Bearer, and reports other members of Northstar who live in the same building said the self-mutilation and dive off the balcony came suddenly and without warning. They say Johnson wasn't on "any hard drugs" that would cause him to do such a thing.
Meko the Pharaoh is the only other official member of Northstar, but the Wu-Tang spinoff group has its own affiliates, including Black Knights.
Update 2: CNN reports the severed penis was transported to the hospital. No word on whether it's being reattached.
Update 3: TMZ reports that doctors' attempts to reattach Johnson's penis have failed. Unsurprisingly, the other rappers at the scene said they believe Johnson "may have mental issues."
Yet Another Update: The Wu-Tang Clan has disowned Christ Bearer, writing on their official blog that he's "not affiliated with the Wutang brand."