Relapse (Eminem album)

Relapse is the sixth studio album by American rapper Eminem, released on May 15, 2009, by Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. It marks Eminem’s first studio album after a five-year hiatus following his 2004 release, Encore, which was due to a combination of writer's block and an addiction to prescription sleeping medication. Of all Eminem's albums, Relapse features the most production work by his mentor Dr. Dre, who produced every track on the album except for "Beautiful", which was produced by Eminem himself. Mark Batson collaborated with Dre on several songs, while Eminem, Dawaun Parker, and Trevor Lawrence Jr. each co-produced one track with him.

Relapse is a concept album that revolves around horror, drug rehabilitation and relapse. A return of his Slim Shady alter ego, Eminem stated that the album's theme was more reminiscent of The Slim Shady LP (1999) and The Marshall Mathers LP (2000).^[5] In September 2007, Dr. Dre stated his intention to dedicate two months to the production of the album.^[6] Working with Dr. Dre allowed Eminem to pick the beats from Dr. Dre's catalog that challenged his rhythm to experiment with different flows.^[7] During the recording period, a handful of songs intended for Relapse were leaked on the Internet.^[8]

One of the most anticipated albums of 2009, Relapse debuted atop the Billboard 200, selling 608,000 copies in its first week.^[9] It also reached number one in 12 other countries. It spawned five singles: "Crack a Bottle", "We Made You", "3 a.m.", "Old Time's Sake", and "Beautiful", the first of which peaked the Billboard Hot 100, while others also entered the chart. Relapse was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Critically, the album received mixed responses upon release. Reviewers generally praised its production, but were divided in their responses towards the writing and overuse of accents throughout the album. Nonetheless, it won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, while "Crack a Bottle" won for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Despite the lukewarm reception upon its initial release, Relapse has been the subject of re-evaluation from both fans and critics over the years. This has resulted in the album developing a strong cult following, while also being viewed more positively as occupying a unique position within Eminem's wider discography.^{[10][11][12][13][14]}