'I felt like a monster': Chris Brown contemplated suicide after bashing Rihanna

Singer Chris Brown has revealed he contemplated suicide after his assault of girlfriend Rihanna before the 2009 Grammy Awards.

In the trailer for a new documentary, Welcome To My Life, the US singer gives an emotional explanation of how he went from "America's sweetheart to public enemy number one" after the attack that almost buried his career and has plagued him ever since.

"I felt like a f------ monster," the 26-year-old says.

"I was thinking about suicide and everything else. I wasn't sleeping, I wasn't eating. I just was getting high."

Brown's mother, Joyce Hawkins, opens up in the trailer about her fears for her son after he was charged.

"That was the worst day of my life and probably his life," she says.

"I felt like I was going to lose my child."

As recently as December Brown's tour to Australia and New Zealand had to be cancelled when his visa was refused because of his conviction for domestic violence.

In the documentary — which interviews multiple big-name celebrities, including Usher and Jennifer Lopez — Brown talks about a comeback, saying: "If there was ever a doubt in your mind Chris Brown was done, he was finished … I wouldn't bet on it."