Controversial Nigerian singer Speed Darlington has revealed that his long stay in the United States yielded little personal progress, claiming that all he gained from spending 23 years there was criminal records.
The rapper made the disclosure while comparing his life in Nigeria to his experience in the US, noting that he returned home with nothing and later built his mansion through opportunities he found in Nigeria.
Speaking in a recent video, Darlington explained that America was unfavourable to him as a Black man, adding that his confidence suffered greatly during his time there.
“America did not favor me. I have access to the USA but I don’t want to be there all the time. America no favor me and I’m not ashamed to say it. The only thing I have is criminal records, arrest, arrest, arrest, arrest is all I got from the USA,” he said.
He added that after years of struggling, he decided it was better to only visit the US briefly to see family before returning to Nigeria.
“So, after 23 years, I told myself it’s better for me to have access to America. I can go whenever I want to see my family for maybe 10 days, one week or 4 days, and I will turn around and return. Because American society is not conducive for my mental and physical well-being,” Darlington stated.
According to him, living in the US negatively affected his self-esteem and social life.
“In America, my self confidence is in the gutter. I can’t even talk to girls, I lack confidence whenever I’m in America. I’m always lonely. If I spend 9 months or two years, I will be lonely throughout, which means endless masturbation. It gets tiring,” he said.
He further explained that racial dynamics and cultural pressures made life difficult for him abroad.
“If I want to talk to a girl, firstly I’m worried about my accent. Is she going to laugh at me? Am I adequate? American society has an atmosphere where a black man is nothing and he has to over prove himself before he can get any respect. This is not how I want to live my life,” he added.
Contrasting this with his experience in Nigeria, Speed Darlington said he feels valued and confident at home, stressing that his financial breakthroughs happened locally.
“While here I amount to something. Everybody is black and dark skinned. All these things are what I’m thinking. I love having access to the US anytime I want but my mansion money with swimming pool on top came from Nigerian,” he said.
The singer also credited his much-publicised clash with Portable as a turning point in completing his house.
“That fight I had with Portable was how I finished my mansion decking. That money helped me very well. That fight did not take place in Las Vegas, it took place in Lagos, Nigeria,” he noted.
Reflecting on his decision to leave the US, Darlington concluded: “It is better to be in a forest climbing trees and be free than to be in a center of everything and being caged. I did not leave America with money.”
