SKIP-DAWG returns with comeback single after 20-plus collapsed lungs

Veteran rapper SKIP-DAWG is back with “Lyrical Playboy,” a rap-R&B single tied to his return to music after nearly a decade away following more than 20 collapsed lungs and eight lung surgeries. The release also doubles as an awareness push for recurrent collapsed lung sufferers through the Collapsed Lung Project.

Why it matters: - SKIP-DAWG’s comeback turns a severe health crisis into a public-facing music return, giving his new single personal and emotional stakes. - The release also aims to spotlight recurrent collapsed lung sufferers, a condition he says has caused years of pain, surgeries and complications.

What happened: - SKIP-DAWG released “Lyrical Playboy,” a new single that blends rap, R&B and touches of alternative rock. - The song centers on the split between SKIP-DAWG’s everyday self and the more confident persona he brings out in music. - The Philadelphia-area rapper had been away from recording for close to a decade after a life-threatening lung condition interrupted his career. - He is from Havertown, Pennsylvania.

The details: - SKIP-DAWG has already released five albums. - His health history includes more than 20 collapsed lungs and eight major lung surgeries. - He continues to live with significant nerve damage and severe chronic chest pain after the surgeries. - The single has a mid-tempo sound and a prominent R&B refrain designed to emphasize both reflection and swagger. - SKIP-DAWG says the song reflects the difference between his normal life and the more expressive version of himself that comes out in music. - He is also using the release to raise awareness of what he calls Bleb Disease. - Through the Collapsed Lung Project and his own story, SKIP-DAWG wants to increase visibility for people living with recurrent collapsed lungs. - His music has appeared across NBC, the NFL and Grand Theft Auto.

Between the lines: - The comeback gives SKIP-DAWG a way to reclaim an identity that illness had forced into the background. - The awareness campaign broadens the release beyond music and frames the single as part of a larger effort to speak for patients with recurring lung collapses. - SKIP-DAWG describes the condition as involving intense pain, trauma, medical interventions, lengthy recoveries and frequent complications.

What's next: - SKIP-DAWG plans to continue using his platform and personal experience to draw attention to collapsed lung sufferers. - He directs listeners to the Collapsed Lung Project and his personal website for more information about his experience and awareness work. - His social channels are listed here: Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X.