Hip-hop artist Matt Colwell a.k.a ‘360’ has posted a brutally honest rap video about his recent history with drugs, the viral post reaching five million views in less than 24 hours.
Simply entitled ‘Sorry,’ Colwell’s video shows him emotionally rapping for three minutes over ‘Intro’ by the XX, offering never before heard revelations about his latest tour cancellation and deep personal struggle with painkillers and mental health issues.
“Exactly 1 year ago I was on tour, something happened and I had to cancel the rest of the tour. This is what happened,” the video caption foreshadows.
360 opens: “I should be dead. Maybe I’ve got nine lives. Seven left -- ‘cause I’ve already died twice...”
“See talking about it hurts. It’s when I was an addict but I was at my worst.”
Colwell’s rap goes on to reveal how he was taking three to four packets of Neurofen Plus or “Ninety pills, daily” to satisfy his codeine addiction.
“I know that’s extreme and I should be dead right -- But I was so f***ed up my tolerance was that high.”
Colwell’s fall from grace has been a largely private affair behind a façade of success with his album ‘Falling & Flying’ picking up two ARIA awards in 2012, the single ‘Boys like You’ featuring Gossling going 4× Platinum, and touring with American heavyweight rappers Kendrick Lamar and Eminem in 2014.
Eventually he was discovered by his manager, collapsed and convulsing from an overdose that brought an immediate end to his touring.
Colwell revealed the horrors of later being placed on suicide watch and spending a month in a hospital bed, apologising for how he says he let his fans and his family down.
The Facebook post is awash with support, many fans sharing their own stories of highs and lows from addiction, and many receiving appreciative responses from 360 himself.
Colwell is no stranger to personal struggle. At the age of 18, he contracted a disease in his right eye which left him without vision in that eye and ended his dreams of playing professional basketball.
In 2012, Colwell and then-fiancée Crystal Bale campaigned for the awareness of depression and suicide issues in a series of videos.
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about substance abuse and addiction contact Lifeline or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.