Popular hip hop star Quando Rondo, 23, is in the hospital fighting for his life, according to a post on his Instagram page. And one report, viewed by Media Take Out suggests that the rapper suffered from an overdose, and is now dealing with acute kidney failure.
This report came from a popular Atlanta blogger who told her readers that Quando suffered “acute kidney failure after drinking lean, a concoction of prescription codeine and hard candy mixed in a soft drink”
Lean is an illicit substance made with Codeine, containing cough syrup, soda, hard candy, occasionally alcohol and the antihistamine, Promethazine. Codeine is derived from the Opium poppy plant (similar to Morphine) and is one of the weaker Opioids. However, it’s still highly addictive and potentially damaging to the body. It’s possible for an individual to develop a Lean addiction in a relatively short period of time due to the way Opioids short-circuit the brain’s reward response system.
Also known as Purple Drank, Sizzurp, Dirty Sprite and others, Lean became relatively popular in the late 90’s when rappers and other artists were referencing the drink in their music. Because it is not a packaged and sold product, the makeup and amount of the differing components vary significantly, which makes it quite difficult to study and fully understand all of the effects.
Last night Rondo’s IG page contained the message: “pray for me, in da hospital fightin for my life [sic].” The post ended with the hashtag #fuclean.
Quando, who has has over 3.7 million followers on Instagram,is believed to be partially responsible for the killing of Chicago drill rapper King Von in 2020. King Von was fatally shot by Rondo’s brother Timothy Leeks, a.k.a. Lul Timm, outside a hookah lounge in Atlanta.
Leeks is out on bond awaiting trial.
Assuming this reports is true, Rondo would not be the first rapper to face harsh health consequences from drinking Lean. Rapper Lil Keed died from multiple organ failure after drinking Lean in May. He was only 24.