Now free from his painkiller addiction, Swollen Members MC Madchild feels optimistic for the first time in a long while.
And just as light follows darkness, the just-released Swollen Members’ album Dagger Mouth signals a return to the rap group’s energetic, “up” sound after the much grimmer last CD, Armed to the Teeth.
“There’s a lot of negativity associated with that (previous) album,” said Madchild, who performs with his hip hop partner Prevail on Thursday at The Club in Red Deer.
He noted Armed to the Teeth was created during “a black time in my life.”
The Vancouver-based MC became addicted to Oxycontin, blowing thousands of dollars on what he described as his $500-a-day drug habit.
In the process, he lost his Battle Axe record label and ended up in legal trouble.
While Madchild believes the dark vibe on the last recording was probably inevitable, considering his Juno Award-winning group almost imploded because of his drug-fueled troubles, all the unsavoury references to street life on Armed to the Teeth “left a bad taste in my mouth,” added the MC, also known as Shane Bunting.
He worries about the album glorifying a bad lifestyle to young fans.
Madchild is now all about healthy living and staying upbeat — and so, he said, is Dagger Mouth, which debuted at No. 1 on Canada’s rap charts and produced the single Bring Me Down. It features New York rapper Saigon and is being played on college radio stations.
“It’s about how nothing’s going to bring me down. Things can come at you and you keep getting back up,” said Madchild, who found the strength to beat his addiction “when it got to a point when it felt like life or death.”
Madchild had gained 55 pounds because of the sugar rush that he needed because of his opiate dependency. He was also getting no exercise and was no longer capable of writing music or lyrics.
“I was at a point when my left arm was numb and everything had fallen apart.”
He contacted his doctor, who prescribed a methadone-like drug called Suboxone to help him bypass the dire physical effects of disengaging from the painkiller. The performer admitted he’s still on it because things are going so well, “I don’t want to do anything to affect it.”
Madchild now speaks in schools about drug abuse and has recorded an anti-drug YouTube video.
Parents who worry about their children getting hooked on something might want to keep an extra close eye on their teens if they appear depressed or are hanging out with questionable friends, he advised.
Madchild, who’s working at rebuilding his finances and recording company, admitted his descent into Oxycontin abuse began in 2006 when his group’s fortunes and popularity appeared to be slipping. “Things don’t keep going up forever. I guess I was looking for another high, trying to find a rush again. . . .”
One of the things he’s since changed is who he hangs out with — “I keep a very close circle of friends.”
He’s also back to writing music every day, and is discovering other kinds of rushes — Madchild said he’s looking forward to the release of Dope Sick, his first solo album, due out on Aug. 5.
“It reflects on where I was and where I went to get off drugs . . . I don’t even drink anymore. I don’t feel the need to use drinking as a crutch to do shows.”
Entry to the 7 p.m. show at 4720 50th Ave. is $25 for ages 18 and up.
lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com