A rapper has been hospitalised after reportedly cutting of his penis before jumping from an apartment building in an apparent suicide attempt in North Hollywood at around 01:00 local time on Wednesday.

Andre Johnson, 40, who performs under the name Christ Bearer and is a member of the Long Beach hip hop group Northstar, is in critical condition at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

TMZ reports that doctors were unable to reattach his penis.

The artist had released a new single, Rugged Monk as Black Knight, only hours before the incident and was scheduled to release an album on 28 April.

The incident took place less than 24 hours after he released a new video with Rugged Monk as Black Knight. He also has an album scheduled for release on April 28, his 41st birthday.

The media has been reporting that Johnson was affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan, but the influential rap group has posted a message on their website denying any links, saying:

“Parental Advisory : Don’t Believe The HYPE. This Mother F*cker Ain’t Got Sh*t to do with The WUTANG Brand”