RAP superstar Eminem nearly died from a drugs overdose and was taking “up to 30 Vicodin a day” before being saved by showbiz pal Elton John, a new book reveals.

The star, real name Marshall Mathers, was once even rushed to the hospital two hours away from death after consuming the equivalent of “four bags of heroin.”

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Eminem nearly died from an overdose after downing dozens of prescription drugsCredit: PA:Press Association

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Elton John has told in the past how he has helped the US rap superstarCredit: Mission Pictures
The startling claims about the 15-time Grammy award winner are made in a new biography obtained by DailyMail.com.

Author Anthony Bozza tells in his book  ‘Not Afraid: The Evolution of Eminem’ that the star was consuming vast amounts of Vicodin – an opioid painkiller.

However, the Detroit born rapper and actor then reached out to pop legend Elton who came to his rescue.

“As a fellow musical superstar with nearly 30 years of sobriety under his belt, Elton John was the perfect mentor to help guide Marshall,” writes Bozza.

“The two started on a program of weekly check-ins and grew very close.”

Eminem openly discussed his prescription drug demons in the documentary ‘How To Make Money Selling Drugs’ released in 2013.

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At one stage the Detroit-born rapper was two hours from deathCredit: Getty – Contributor

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Elton’s mentoring developed a close friendship between the artistsCredit: AP:Associated Press

“I don’t know at what point exactly it started to be a problem. I just remember liking it more and more,” he said.

The rapper then tells how he never felt he had a real problem as he wasn’t “out there shooting heroin” but admitted he was once hooked on Vicodin, Valium and Xanax.

His addiction to prescription pills soon took over his life, and he recalled the moment he nearly died after taking an overdose.

“My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything… They didn’t think I was going to make it. My bottom was going to be death,” he said.

During the peak of his drug addiction, Eminem revealed he was taking up to 60 Valium and 30 Vicodin pills a day.

“The doctors told me I’d done the equivalent of four bags of heroin,” he said about his 2007 overdose. “They said I was about two hours from dying.”

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The book also talks about his ill-fated marriage to childhood sweetheart Kimberly Ann ScottCredit: Wenn

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The warring couple had two ill-fated marriagesCredit: Rex Features

Elton’s mentoring developed a close friendship between the two artists, despite Eminem’s notoriously controversial lyrics often referencing homophobia.

“I didn’t know (Elton) was gay,” Eminem claimed in 2004. “I really didn’t care.”

The Brit star said Eminem was “just writing about the way things are” and never viewed his friend as homophobic.

Eminem’s debilitating descent into addiction rapidly spiralled following the murder of his best friend and collaborator, DeShaun ‘Proof’ Holton, in 2006.

He increasingly used opiates and benzodiazepines to self-medicate, his drug abuse and weight gain made worse by depression.

Some days I would just lay in bed and take pills and cry

Eminem

“Some days I would just lay in bed and take pills and cry… I needed pills in my body just to feel normal, so I would be sick. It was a vicious cycle,” Eminem has admitted.

Elton, who overcame a cocaine addiction in the 1980s, told in 2010 how he had been helping the American hip-hop singer.

Speaking on Radio Five Live, Sir Elton said: “I’ve been helping Eminem over the last 18 months and he’s doing brilliantly.

“I’m there if people want help. If people ask for help you tell them where to go but there’s no point advising if they don’t want it.”

The book also talks about his ill-fated marriage to childhood sweetheart Kimberly Ann Scott.

He married Kim when his career was taking off in 1999, but the love-hate relationship ended two years later.

The pair tried marriage again in January 2006 but this time it only lasted three months.

“I would rather have a baby through my penis than get married again,” he said at the time.

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Eminem’s descent into addiction spiralled following the murder of a friendCredit: AP:Associated Press

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Elton has said he never viewed his friend as homophobic despite his lyricsCredit: Reuters