Charles Hamilton Talks Overcoming Depression And Bipolar Disorder

Charles Hamilton’s last attempt at rap superstardom ended with him finding out he was dropped from Interscope Records via the Internet. A supposedly playful rap battle of him and his on-and-off girlfriend on video concluded with him getting punched, and later, headlines surfaced of the promising rapper/producer undergoing psychiatric treatment. In a new interview with Billboard, Hamilton’s mother and members from his new management team detail how he got back on track.

“I locked myself in my house with the lights out and a turntable turning with no record on it,” Hamilton told Billboard. “I was depressed, paranoid and confused.”

After being misdiagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, Hamilton eventually got the proper diagnosis and the help he needed thanks to his friends, family, and new management team.

“I told him, ‘I really want to help you get well,’” said Sarah Stennet, the CEO of Hamilton’s new management team Turn First. “‘We want to be a part of that. We want to pay for your medical care and support you to be the best you can be.’”

Hamilton is now showcasing new music, and he is scheduled to debut his duet single with Rita Ora on the March 18 season finale of Empire. You can read the full profile on Hamilton at Billboard.com.