360 (rapper) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 360
360 at his Falling & Flying CD Signing, Cheltenham in February 2012
Background information
Birth name	Matthew James Colwell
Born	(1986-07-12) 12 July 1986 (age 39) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper singer songwriter
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Inertia, EMI Music Australia, Soulmate, Forthwrite

Matthew James Colwell (born 12 July 1986), who is better known by his stage name 360, is an Australian hip hop artist. He is famous for his unique style that mixes rap with pop, electro, and dubstep sounds.

He has released four studio albums. His second album, Falling & Flying (2011), was a huge success. It reached number 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum. His other albums are What You See Is What You Get (2008), Utopia (2014), and Vintage Modern (2017).

One of his biggest hits is the song "Boys like You". It climbed to number 3 on the ARIA Singles Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2012, 360 won the award for 'Breakthrough Artist'.

Early Life

360 was born on 12 July 1986, in Melbourne, Australia. He went to Luther College in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. He later graduated from Box Hill Senior Secondary College.

Music Career

2003–2006: Getting Started

360 began his music career in 2003. He appeared on a track called "Situation Critical" with other Australian rappers like Hunter. A year later, he released his own collection of songs, an EP called Rarities. Most of the tracks on it featured his best friend and rap partner, Pez.

In 2006, 360 was featured on a mixtape by Sydney producers X & Hell. He recorded a remix of the popular song "In Da Club" by 50 Cent.

2007–2012: Rise to Fame

In 2007, 360 signed with Soulmate Records. He released his first album, What You See Is What You Get, in 2008. Reviewers liked how the album showed both his funny side and his ability to rap about serious topics.

His second album, Falling & Flying, came out in 2011. It was a massive hit, reaching number 4 on the Australian album charts. It stayed at number one on the Australian iTunes charts for three weeks. The album sold so many copies that it was certified double platinum.

The most famous single from the album was "Boys like You", featuring the singer Gossling. It was released in November 2011 and became a top 3 hit in Australia. The song was also popular in New Zealand. Other successful singles from the album included "Child" and "Run Alone".

2012–2014: The Album Utopia

In June 2012, 360 announced he was working on his third album. He said it would be a "quite a dark album" because it would explore some of the difficult things happening in his personal life.

In 2013, 360 and Pez started their own music label called Forthwrite Records. They planned to release their own music through the label.

During a performance in 2013, 360 introduced a new song about racism in Australia. He spoke out against prejudice, saying that judging people based on their background is "ignorant and uneducated and stupid."

In February 2014, 360 had a major career highlight when he toured with the famous American rapper Eminem. His third album, Utopia, was released on 13 June 2014. It featured collaborations with artists like Daniel Johns from the band Silverchair.

2015–2021: Vintage Modern and Personal Growth

In January 2016, 360 shared a powerful video called "I'm Sorry". In the video, he rapped about his personal health struggles, which had caused him to cancel a tour the year before. The video was viewed millions of times and helped many people understand the challenges he was facing.

In 2017, he released a series of six new songs, one every two weeks. One of these tracks, "Tiny Angel," was about the sad experience of a friend who lost a baby. These songs became part of his fourth album, Vintage Modern, which was released in October 2017.

2022–present: New Music

In January 2023, 360 released the song "Made Me Like This". It was his first release with his new management company. Throughout 2023, he released several more singles, including "Knowing My Place" with Australian DJ Joel Fletcher.

On 17 January 2025, 360 released "Back to You," the first single from his fifth album, Out of the Blue. The full album was released on 11 July.

Working with Other Artists

360 has often worked with other musicians. He and his friend Pez formed a duo called Forthwrite. 360 was also featured on Pez's 2008 hit single, "The Festival Song," which was very popular in Australia.

In 2010, 360 started an online project called Rapper Tag on YouTube. In this project, one rapper would record a verse over a beat and then "tag" another rapper to add their own verse. This created a chain of raps from many different artists in the Australian hip hop community.

He has also collaborated with the hip hop group Diafrix and appeared on an album with international rappers like Iron Solomon and Kool G Rap.

Media Appearances and Activism

In October 2014, 360 appeared on the Australian TV show Q&A. He spoke about racism in Australia and how he had seen people using the Australian flag while being unkind to others. His comments started a big conversation in the media. 360 stood by his comments, saying, "If you are not racist then you have nothing to be offended about."

360 is also an advocate for animal rights. He supports the 'Oscar's Law' campaign, which is against the factory farming of pets. He also took part in PETA's 'Ink not Mink' campaign, which speaks out against wearing fur.

Personal Life

360 was diagnosed with a rare eye disease called keratoconus. This condition affects the cornea and required him to have a cornea transplant in one eye. His vision is still affected by the disease.

In July 2010, 360 was in a serious go-karting accident while celebrating his birthday. He suffered several internal injuries and had to recover in the hospital.

360 has been open about his personal challenges, including his experiences with depression. He and his former fiancée, Crystal Bale, have both worked to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. They have shared videos and messages encouraging people to seek help and support each other.

As of 2021, 360 often livestreams on social media. He shares his process of writing new raps and performs for his fans. He continues to promote messages of healthy living and mental health awareness.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Promotional singles

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".

ARIA Awards

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2012, 360 was nominated in six categories and won the 'ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist - Release' for Falling & Flying, while Feugo won the 'Producer of the Year' in the Artisan section.

EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards

The EG Awards (known as Music Victoria Awards since 2013) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.