DETROIT — Detroit rapper Royce da 5'9" has suffered in recent years from involuntary muscle contractions in his tongue that have affected his ability to speak and create music, he tells Rolling Stone.

Royce told the outlet he's been dealing with lingual dystonia, a neurological condition that causes spasms of the tongue. "There's some kind of interruption in the nerve firing off in my tongue," said Royce, who said the abnormality made it difficult for him to talk.

"I had involuntary movements in my face and in my tongue. So they went on this long thing where they would put me on all these different kinds of medicines," he said, adding he went through several improper diagnoses before doctors settled on a proper course of action.

Royce, 48, is an associate producer on "Harlem's Finest: The Return of the King," a new posthumous album from late New York rapper Big L, which was released last week. The set features guest appearances from Jay-Z, Nas, Method Man and more.

Royce's affliction didn't allow him to contribute vocally to the album, but he's "almost through it" and is back to recording, he says.

The rapper's most recent full-length studio set, "The Allegory," was released in 2020 and netted him a Grammy nomination for best rap album.

He released an EP, "The Heaven Experience," in 2023.

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