Following a shooting in Chicago on Dec. 23, King Louie, real name Louis Johnson Jr., was recovering in the hospital all through the holidays. The Yeezus collaborator and Chicago-based rapper, who is also credited with inventing the term "Chi-Raq" in a nod to his native Chicago, had a near-death experience after being shot in the head, and taking a full seven bullets. Two have yet to be extracted from his chest and one is still embedded in his head. In an interview with CNN, Johnson talks the shooting and the topic of gun violence in Chicago.
"They said the suspect shot 22 times and I was hit seven times," Johnson said to CNN's Don Lemon. "Three of the slugs are still with me today - two in my chest, one in my head. The devil's working overtime, that's what's going on in Chicago."
He continued with, "I think there's hope for Chicago. I don't think I'd be here today if it wasn't for prayer so I deeply appreciate all the prayers people had made for me, my family, 'cause they kept me strong and got me through my situation."
The rapper additionally said, "We gotta be strong, pray for our city and the right people gotta do the right things."
CNN also took note of the Music Vs. Gun Violence project, a part of Chicago Ideas Week, where King Louie joins other Chicago rappers Common and Katie Got Bandz on a track entitled "Put The Guns Down."
While recuperating in the hospital last week, Johnson thanked his fans for their support in a series of tweets that featured Minister Louis Farrakhan in addition to a few photos on Instagram. He also sent out well wishes in return to Kanye West, with whom he collaborated with on Yeezus.
A photo posted by @__king_louie__ on Dec 24, 2015 at 4:55pm PST
