Controversial Nigerian singer and rapper, Speed Darlington, has revealed that his over two decades in the United States yielded little beyond criminal records, contrasting sharply with the success he says he has achieved since returning to Nigeria.
The artist made the disclosure in a recent video shared online and cited by DAILY POST, where he compared his experiences in the US with his life and career in Nigeria. According to him, despite spending 23 years in America, he left the country with no tangible achievements.
Darlington stated that the mansion he currently owns, complete with a swimming pool, was built entirely with money made in Nigeria, not the United States.
“America did not favor me, and I’m not ashamed to say it,” he said. “The only thing I got from the USA is criminal records — arrest after arrest.”
The rapper explained that although he still has access to the United States and visits occasionally to see family, he prefers living in Nigeria, citing mental and emotional well-being as major reasons.
He lamented that his confidence suffered significantly in the US, attributing it to racial prejudice and societal pressures faced by Black men.
“In America, my self-confidence is in the gutter. I can’t even talk to girls. I’m always worried about my accent, whether I’m adequate or if I’ll be laughed at,” he said. “A Black man has to overprove himself before he gets respect. That’s not how I want to live.”
Speed Darlington added that prolonged stays in the US left him lonely and depressed, while Nigeria offered him a sense of belonging and freedom.
Highlighting his financial breakthrough, the singer revealed that proceeds from his activities in Nigeria — including his widely publicized altercation with fellow artist Portable — contributed significantly to completing his mansion.
“That fight didn’t happen in Las Vegas; it happened in Lagos. That money helped me finish my mansion decking,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Darlington noted that while he values having access to the US, his success story was made in Nigeria.
“It’s better to be free in a forest than be caged in the center of everything,” he said. “I did not leave America with money.”
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