Eminem placed himself in exile shortly after 2004’s “Encore” wound down, a seclusion initially designed as creative down-time but which soon descended into darkness fueled by yet another failed marriage to his wife Kim and the death of his best friend Proof, culminating in years of drug addiction. Em none too subtly refers to that addiction in the title of “Relapse”, his first album in five years, and “3 A.M.” is an appropriately psychotic drug-induced nightmare that makes time for a murder spree, masturbating to an episode of “Hannah Montana” and one of the album’s many, many references to Kim Kardashian’s great big ass.

by Mark Emge

How has Eminem been spending his time off? Drugs, mostly. Em’s first album in nearly five years, “Relapse”, is studded with brands–but instead of Lexus and Cristal, Slim Shady name-checks Lensta, Ambien, Vicodin, NyQuil, and all the other brain candy the rapper used to cope with the three-day second marriage to–and subsequent second divorce from–Kim Scott and the shooting death of his hip-hop mentor Proof. “Beautiful” is Eminem’s touching attempt at an inspirational ballad.

by Mark Emge

Since “We Made You” features a chorus from R&B singer Dina Rae, we can assume it will be the thirteenth track on Marshall Mathers’ upcoming “Relapse” album; Rae has sung on the lucky number of every Eminem full-length. Em’s first collection in four years has an early May release date. If you dig “Relapse” you’re in luck, as the rapper has promised “Relapse 2″ later in the year. “We were on such a roll,” he enthuses. “We wound up with a ton of new music produced by Dr. Dre. Putting out ‘2′ will let everyone get all of the best stuff.”

by Mark Emge