Jul 18, 2026 at 10:02 AM Relapse promotions were actually good for the time. All Over magazines, MTV, Radio, and really brought back the appeal of Shady. D12 recorded a lot of songs for relapse, they just were never released. Relapse was always gonna be a 2 album project. Fall to winter 2009 it was supposed to happen. Banks was gonna be on it.Royce, 50, and D12 all had songs and verses already recorded.
Jul 18, 2026 at 10:12 AM Do you think maybe those songs were a reminder of how things used to be and with Recovery it was a deliberate sharp turn the other way and this was gonna be a new Eminem and the beats were gonna be different and it was like shedding his old image?
Jul 18, 2026 at 10:28 AM Recovery mainly spawned from Paul and the label wanting Eminem to hit the charts and become popular again (getting constant radio play etc), something Relapse failed to do for him. Hence the forced pop collaborations and bringing in producers that were known for hit records. Eminem made out like it was all at his own will “yeah I just started recording again and it started sounded different” blah blah. He was forced into the Recovery direction. And it was a formula that worked, hence why they re-used that formula for his next two albums after Recovery, until it stopped working with Revival (although every album since Revival has still had bits of the formula scattered throughout, just not as prominent).
Jul 18, 2026 at 10:35 AM I also think Recovery onwards is when Paul really starting taking a hold of the reigns of Eminems career. He most likely put his neck on the line with the whole Recovery thing (convincing Eminem to work with new producers, getting pop stars on hooks) and it obviously paid off for him when Interscope saw how much it worked. From then on they probably insisted Paul has more influence on Eminems direction, which is how we end up getting a sequel to MMLP (nostalgia bait) and maybe even the Rick Rubin collabs. Joe Strange said on this very forum a while ago that Eminem has to be forced into releasing an album, because he just makes songs upon songs with no real direction or concept in mind. He said when there’s enough songs Paul usually swoops in and starts putting things in order, helping choose songs, helping creating an image for the album etc…
Jul 18, 2026 at 10:53 AM it makes me feel a little better if Eminem wanted Relapse 2 but Interscope didnt. I can digest more easily that he didn't want to look like a slave to the record label rather than sucking up to the public as the reason for his lying.
Jul 18, 2026 at 11:09 AM But didn't those FBI files say something along the lines of any music he records in his studio Interscope owns? In a way he does have to play the game. If Paul really is the one pulling the strings then you need to be grateful for some of the songs we have gotten because it was probably him that pushed for them. I think as a fan I don't want to know or see that everything is so micromanaged. You want to believe that it's Eminem in control of everything and it's his vision. Even going back to the Slim Shady LP,when you look back every album did have a gimmick. For the amount of people to hate on Paul he's probably the main reason we have so much music.
Jul 18, 2026 at 2:19 PM Recovery is the most successful album since encore for a reason. Relapse is now basically a cult classic. The facts speak for themselves.
Jul 18, 2026 at 3:06 PM Nah. In fact @Marsh give me a quick breakdown of what you believe to be Eminems greatest album, and tell me what makes you think this and why. Don’t be afraid to go in depth either.
