Forty-year-old artist taken to hospital in California with serious injuries a day after releasing latest video

Wu-Tang-linked rapper cut off penis and leapt off balcony, say reports

A rapper affiliated to US group the Wu-Tang Clan has been taken to hospital after apparently severing his penis and then jumping from a second-floor balcony.



Andrew Johnson, who performs under the name Christ Bearer, was seriously injured in the incident, according to Los Angeles police who responded to an emergency call about 1am on Wednesday.

Johnson, 40, was taken from outside the apartment building in North Hollywood to Cedars-Sinai medical centre for treatment, CNN reported. It was unclear whether doctors had attempted to reattach the rapper’s penis.

Two members of Northstar, a rap group Johnson has collaborated with, told TMZ the rapper cut off his penis without warning before jumping off the balcony.

The musicians, who live in the same building as Johnson, said he had not been taking any drugs that would cause him to commit such an extreme act. The two men said they rushed downstairs, where they found Johnson screaming beside the road.

The incident took place just a day after Johnson released Oooh!, a new video featuring Rugged Monk. An album is scheduled for release on 28 April, Johnson’s 41st birthday.

Johnson and Northstar have worked with Rza, a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan who produced the group’s debut album.

Despite this connection, the Wu-Tang Clan appears keen to distance itself from Johnson. In a media statement, the legendary New York hip hop group displayed a picture of Johnson with a red line placed across him.

The statement read: “Parental advisory : Don’t believe the hype. This mother fucker ain’t got shit to do with the Wu-Tang brand.”