Relapse

After a five-year silence caused by writer's block and prescription drug dependency, Eminem dropped Relapse on May 15, 2009. This sixth studio record arrived via Shady Records and Interscope as his first full project since Encore. The album features twenty tracks of hardcore hip-hop where Dr. Dre produced every song except "Beautiful." Eminem leans heavily into the Slim Shady persona, adopting various accents to portray a serial killer navigating recovery. The narrative unfolds through skits featuring Dominic West and Paul Rosenberg alongside guest spots from Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. A December reissue added verses from Drake, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne to the mix.

Critics initially praised the gritty production but questioned the heavy use of accents and repetitive themes. Despite mixed reactions, the album dominated charts immediately, selling 608,000 copies in its opening week to top the Billboard 200. Singles like "Crack a Bottle" reached number one on the Hot 100, and the project eventually won Best Rap Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards. While Eminem later expressed dissatisfaction with the final product, Relapse gained a cult following over time. It earned triple platinum certification from the RIAA in 2022, proving its staying power long after plans for a sequel shifted toward Recovery. [edit]