American rapper, singer, and composer Fetty Wap (Willie Maxwell) came to the attention of the mainstream following the tremendous success of his debut single “Trap Queen.” Known for his use of “Trap & B” – a combination of R&B and trap approaches to music – Fetty was able to secure a deal with Atlantic Records following his ascension in the Billboard Hot 100 and 200 charts for the United States. And yet, despite his chart-topping success for his rap songs and collaborations with artists like Lil Wayne and Gucci Mane, audiences seem less interested in the music Fetty makes than in the details of his personal life – namely, what happened to his left eye. There have been many rumors about what happened – we’re intent on setting the record straight.
Early Days
After becoming a member of the Remy Boyz 1738 in 2013, Fetty Wap would go on to write the new song “Trap Queen” and upload the recording to the SoundCloud platform. By hustling mixtape CDs and music video DVDs at local basketball courts, pizza shops, and malls, Fetty was insistent on generating buzz around his art. “Trap Queen” became a tremendous hit – not only did the recording gain a position in the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten listings but “Trap Queen” was able to hold its position on the charts for 25 consecutive weeks.
Fetty’s Eye
Following Fetty’s rise to fame, fans and popular culture critics alike began asking a number of questions about what exactly happened to his missing eye. Had he been in an accident? Was there a particular incident that led to its transformation? Was this a childhood injury, or had it come later on in life? People were clearly curious and looking for answers.
Rumors began to spread. Some inquired as to whether the injury was the result of a little accident playing with firecrackers in high school. Others suspected that it might have been as a result of a gunshot – especially given the fact that he had spent quite a bit of time in dangerous parts of Paterson, New Jersey. As the rumors swirl, Fetty did not seem to be bothered. Instead, he let people create stories, and he refused to confirm or deny any of the narratives that were being spun – especially when he was asked during interviews.
When he did eventually discuss his eye in public, fans and popular culture critics learned Fetty Wap was born with congenital glaucoma in both of his eyes. In a 2015 interview with TMZ, Fetty Wap, along with the help of his mother, revealed that when Fetty Way was six years old, he had lost his eye. Doctors were unfortunately not able to save his left eye due to this disease.
He admitted that it wasn’t until his teen years that Fetty was able to get reconstructive surgery on his eye and be fitted with an ocular prosthesis in the place where his left eye used to be. He also admitted that he removed his prosthetic eye because he started to recognize that he didn’t want to look like other people. Fetty Wap felt that doing so meant that he was hiding who he really was.
And yet, despite the visible trouble with his left eye, Fetty Wap does not let his particular disability get in the way of his success. Evidence of this is in his refusal to apply for disability benefits even though he is clearly eligible for the support. Fetty claimed that instead of learning on institutional support, he preferred to earn his resources through hard work. He felt uncomfortable relying on disability checks.
He also is at a stage in his life where he is able to find the lighter side in his disability. Case in point? Once he had begun gaining some mainstream traction, he claimed that his challenges with his left eye were attributable to the increase in his fans – especially those who fell in love with his music while trying to find out the truth about what really happened. The problem with Fetty making these jokes is that as time went on, a number of other people began joking around as well, and jokes about his disability became really prevalent in mainstream conversation.
By 2015, just shy of his self-titled debut album, Fetty Wap found himself in a dangerous motorcycle accident. While riding his father’s motorcycle in Patterson, NJ, his hometown, Fetty, found himself in a head-on collision with another vehicle. As a result of the accident, Fetty broke his leg. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, at the scene of the accident, police also decided to ticket Fetty Wap for driving without a license, not having insurance, and failing to produce a vehicle registration card. The accident was challenging for Fetty.
As a result of the accident, the New Jersey rapper had to cancel a number of his tour dates. Even when he was well enough to go back to live performance gigs – as in the case of the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in December of 2015 – he had to do so while wearing a walking boot. While performing, Fetty was unable to move around the stage and had to sit on a large golden throne instead as the remaining members of my musical group – the Remy Boyz – moved around the stage and kept the crowd energized.
Despite having to deal with the accident and the way it inhibited his live performance, ‘Trap Queen’ rapper Fetty Wap continued on – scoring three Billboard Top 10 hits as a result with songs like “My Way.” He also released a new mixtape the next year titled “Zoovier.”The other members of his group agreed that this challenge was not as difficult as it might have been. Montana “Monty” Buckz, the founder of the group that Fetty was a part of – Remy Boyz – told the press that it was “just a minor setback.” Like his other group members, Monty, who had long been Fetty’s right-hand man in personal and professional matters, stood by his side. He recalled that when Fetty Wap had his cast that he had to help Fetty up the stairs, along with going with him to the doctor’s office.
Love & Hip Hop Drama
Along with the issues that he has had with his eye and the injuries that he had sustained as a result of his motorcycle accident, Fetty was also embroiled in a case on paternity. Masika Kalysha, former castmate on VH1’s Love & Hip-Hop New York, claimed that she had unprotected sex with Fetty and that the child she has is his.
The two were, as a result, clashing over whether Fetty was indeed the father. In an interview with The Shade Room, a prominent entertainment blog, Fetty claimed: “she knew what she was doing.” Kalysha, angered by Fetty’s response, took to the social media platform of Twitter, where she wrote:
“Go back to The Shade Room and make up some more lies.”
Despite Fetty’s fame, he admits that it is really difficult living in the public eye, and there are certainly dark elements as a result of being so publicly visible. That said, he also believes that he is well prepared to deal with all the negativity that comes from this newfound fame. In an interview, Fetty claimed:
“Negative attention doesn’t bother me. Coming from Paterson and all the negative energy around here, I feel like I was prepared for all this — the good and the bad.”
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