Inside Utopia: 360's Album On Getting Sober & God

Today is album release day for local hip hop star 360. Utopia is his first studio-length album in three years and according to the man himself, it covers a wide scope of topics - the idea of "selling out", getting sober, god, depression and "some light-hearted shit."

360 has taken us through the LP track by track - here's what he had to say about it, plus we've got a mash-up of the tracks by DJ Mat Cant:

Still Rap

One of the biggest things I cop is being called a sellout but anyone who gets popular and gets commercial success, especially in hip hop, is a sellout. But the definition of a sellout is doing something you don't want to do just for money or success. I wouldn't be able to get up on stage and perform if I didn't like the songs.

You And I

You And I is a song about getting sober, and realising that there are certain natural highs that are 100 times better than any substance can give you.

Live It Up

Live It Up is a song I wrote with Pez; it's about living what little time you have here to the fullest. It's also about trying to find positives in negative situations. We only have one life so why not make it the best time ever?

Man On The Moon

I've had so many fans contact me saying they were going to kill themselves but they had heard the song about suicide, Closer, that I did with Seth Sentry, and said they wouldn't do it after that –­ which is mind-blowing. That song is dark but it has really done positive things for so many. I'm saying, “The sky's the limit, grow and reach the moon and reach your potential. Move beyond the dark moments. Every negative has a positive.”

Purple Waterfall [feat Daniel Johns]

I wanted to write something psychedelic. I really hope people wonder what it is all about like those Beatles songs: “I am the egg man,” – what is that about? I don't know what the hell that is about. The song has drug themes but I didn't want it be either positive or negative. I'm just talking metaphorically.

Price Of Fame

I'm a very open-arms dude; if someone is nice I will let them in, but I had to build up a wall because so many people were coming into my life and so many people were looking for money or to get known. I don't really have many genuine close friends – those that are were friends from back in the day. So many people have tried to rinse me. There are so many people in this business for the wrong reasons.

Must Come Down  

I was writing about sobriety. I wrote half this song while I was still on everything then the rest when I got clean. I strive to be addicted to sobriety – a natural high. I've learned you don't get another rush like performing. I've got a very addictive personality and now I'm not doing drugs and partying or drinking I go to the gym six days a week and I've proved to myself that if I want something I go for it.

Speed Limit

I'm a big fan of a lot of Southern hip hop; Speed Limit is heavily influenced by it. I always like having a few meaningless songs that just show off my rap ability rather than always rapping about a serious topic. So Speed Limit is exactly that – me just showing some different flows while talking shit.

Early Warning [feat Chris Cheney]

This is about my older brother. He had migraines as kid; he'd be on the floor screaming and throwing up. A doctor gave him morphine. I don't blame the doctor. Dave was a depressed kid, too; he got bullied all the time. For him to have the feeling of morphine and forget everything and live in a dream, he started faking migraines. One thing led to another.

Sixavelli 

I love writing funny, stupid shit. It is one of my favourites. I love taking the piss-style humour rap. I wanted some light-hearted shit in there too. One thing I aim to do is show all the aspects of my life. You don't want everything to be intense.

Eddie Jones  

I really enjoy making songs with no real concept – sometimes I just wanna rap and show off my ability to write some egotistical shit and experiment with a lot of different flows, etc. Eddie Jones is probably the hardest song on the album. The beat is next level disgusting, and the raps are on some just shit-talking punchline raps. Eddie Jones is an old basketballer from the '90s so throughout the song there's a few old basketball references in there.

Spiral Down 

This is about mental illness and depression and coming good and fighting off the demon. It's based on my ex-girlfriend. She has struggled a lot. Over time I saw her get better. She was in a dark spiral and then I was able to help her through it and saw her come out. Mental illness is always so touchy and people are afraid to talk about it but the best thing for you is to talk. It can be hard to admit but talking is the best thing.

By All Means 

In a dark tunnel trying to find a light that wasn't there – that was me. I was trying to find it. Now it is there.

It's All About To End

People will think I have a problem with religion but things don't add up. The Bible is a book. It's a way people live their lives. Devote yourself to something by all means but I need more proof. I'm sure there are positives but this is about the negatives. There are great points in The Bible but I really believe God is a metaphor for the universe. To me God is the Universe.

360 is playing Splendour In The Grass next month and touring nationally this September. Check out theGuide for details.